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Showing posts with label Daycare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daycare. Show all posts

Monday, February 1, 2010

::collapses onto blog::

WHEW.

Okay, so I'm still alive. And things are going really, really well. I had kind of a hard time getting back into the swing of things, but only for maybe two weeks or so. I went pretty quickly from wanting to quit every 20 minutes, to only wanting to quit every day or so, and then it was all uphill from there.

It was hard to sit alone in the lab, drilling my fake teeth (a prerequisite to clinic since I was gone so long), while both my new and old classes were up in clinic. And it was a lot harder than I expected to see all my old classmates so far ahead of me, and so close to graduation. Still is, I guess. I feel a little bit left behind, like I failed somehow. And I know that next year will be really lonely when they are all gone and have DMD after their names.

Getting used to my new schedule has been a little bit difficult, too... I won't lie. I went suddenly from staying at home all day, every day, to the insanity of clinic and classes and daycare. Caroline had kind of a hard time adjusting to napping at daycare, which resulted in interrupted sleep at night, so the first week was kind of a blur. I definitely had days where I'd be trudging up the hill to the health center, two different socks on and my hair all a mess, thinking things like "man, I don't even remember half of my drive here. Hey, what's that crud on my wedding ring? I hope that isn't Caroline's poop. ::sniff sniff:: Nope. Indian food. Phew. ...Wait, when did I have Indian food?"

But overall? I am so glad that I went back. It hasn't quite been a month yet, and I already feel like I am back in the game, and I'm loving it again. Yes, I am tired and I'm stressed and I feel like I've forgotten a lot of really important stuff. But I remember why I wanted to do this. And I'm really glad that I made myself go back and get through the first tough few weeks.

I do miss Caroline during the day. Some days I don't get home until she is already in bed... and that sucks. A lot. I go into her room on those nights and watch her sleep for a little while, half wishing that she'll get up during the night, just so I can see her.

But daycare is good for her. She still isn't mobile (a topic for a whole nother post...) and so I'm hoping that being around all the other kids will help with that.

AND. She's going to be a year old on Friday. A year old. Can you believe it? I can't. I absolutely can't. I want to type all sorts of horrendously dull cliches, like "where did the time go?" and "she's growing up so fast." She is talking up a storm these days. Her latest tricks include (very) short sentences, like "whadat?" and "wassdiss?" and, Tyler's favorite, "ohshish!" (Yes, we can go ahead and blame that one on her father. You have to watch what you say around her, even though she isn't even one yet.) Even though she doesn't crawl or pull up or walk, she is so smart... which helps me feel better about the lack of mobility. We will have to call early intervention back, though, because I'm pretty sure she's going to need some physical therapy. Oh well. At least she can curse. Right? (That was sarcasm, right there.)

What else? I know I am rambling, because I am tired. I still have to study for a final, and probably I should take a shower, because I haven't done that since... well... nevermind. Before I go, I'll share a few recent pictures of Caroline. I do have a video of "ohshish!", but we'll go ahead and keep that particular parenting failure off the internet, kthx.


Sunday, January 3, 2010

The last day (and first Christmas pics)

Today was my last day of being a stay-at-home mom. I start school again tomorrow at 8am.

I was pretty weepy today. I know that's totally lame because I got a whole year at home, which is a heck of a lot more than many moms get. But I can't believe this day is actually here-- it's been in the back of my mind since I left last December.

Our apartment is all clean and organized, the laundry is done, I made lots of Caroline's food and stocked it up in the freezer. Tyler will be watching her for the next week until he goes back to school, and then she'll go to daycare. I'm hoping that will make the transition a little easier. I just keep reminding myself, this was going to be difficult no matter when it happened, and it's got to happen sometime... just push on through the first few weeks and it will get easier. Picking up classes and rebuilding my patient family seems so impossible right now, but my school is being as supportive as they can be, and I guess I will just have to do my best.

It doesn't help, though, when people (professors, or friends, or whoever) say stuff like "oh wow. It's going to be so hard for you." Or "good luck with the transition, this is going to be so tough." Huh... really? It's not going to be easy? That is so disappointing. I thought it was going to be a walk in the park! In fact, back when I was finishing my second year and studying for boards, I thought "you know what would make my life a lot easier? Having a baby. I should probably get on that."

Hrmph. I know it's going to be really hard. Nobody knows that better than I do. And I am already nervous as hell about going back only to fall flat on my face and fail. I don't need to be reminded that that is the most likely scenario. Kthx.

Anyway. I was putting Caroline to bed tonight and I was crying while I rocked with her in the glider (what? It was only like the fourth time today. That's pretty good, right?) She lay there with her head on my chest for a few minutes and then picked up her head and stared at me. I tried to pretend I wasn't upset... until... she pulled her binky out of her mouth and tried to stick it in mine. Like it would make me stop crying and feel better. It was so sweet that I freaking lost it.

Sigh. I'm going to miss her, it's only natural, but I've got to stop making this worse for myself than it has to be.

You know what will make me feel better? Sharing pictures of Caroline's first Christmas. Without further ado...

Okay, everyone watch me open my presents!


Waahh! Too many toys!! Not enough time!


Yesss!! I got a ride-on toy! (Yes, she does pump her fist like this every time she rides it.)


Clearly, her first Christmas was a big success! (Those are for you, Kelly! You are welcome! :)

I will update at some point once I figure out how to operate myself as a mother and a dental student. If I don't show up within a month, send a search party. Wish me luck!