You heard the phrase, “so funny I could cry” but have you ever been so frustrated you also wanted to cry?…how about laugh? that’s what happened to me last night.
I had what we coined a “Code Red” at home last night and nobody was there to help me. When the babies were infants, and we’d have a situation where we would need ‘back up’ (usually both of them crying, one threw up and the other is crying, etc) we would yell out “CODE RED” and between Bao, Mike and I, two out of three will run up stairs…sometimes all three. So last night’s code red involved a very upset Aidan screaming for “Daddy, Daddy” (who isn’t home) waking up her super sleepy and frustrated sister who started to cry which resulted in a pool of vomit all over her crib…bumper and all.
As all seasoned mothers know, every situation can easily be remedied with a plan.
PLAN ONE | Bath both kids, Clean crib, put them back into bed.
I picked Brooke up to console her to stop the crying that will hopefully stop the vomiting (so naturally there is vomit all over me as well). I tried to put her in the tub (Aidan is still screaming in his crib, by the way) but she just won’t let go of me. So I take off all her clothes and my shirt as well. (So let me quickly paint a picture: Brooke is in diapers, I’m in a sports bra and shorts and Aidan is a snotty mess from all his nonstop crying.) I left their bathroom and go back into their room. I thought, “Maybe if I bathe them both, they’ll calm down.”
Mommy to Kids: “Do you guys want to take a bath?”
Both: “No…..”
Mommy: “Do you want to play with the wah wah?”
Both: “No….”
(New plan formulates in head)
Mommy: “Do you want to watch Hot Dog?”
Both: *Nods head Yes*
PLAN TWO | Let kids watch TV, clean crib, bathe Brooke downstairs in sink
I carried both kids downstairs and turned the TiVO on for Mickey Mouseclub (AKA Hot Dog). I went back up stairs took the laundry out of the dryer. Put the stuff in the washer into the dryer and broke down the bedding on her crib, bumper and all. I put all the dirty stuff, including her pajamas and my shirt into the laundry and went back into the room to put the clean bedding in. Every few minutes Aidan will let out a scream if disapproval that I’m not downstairs with them. I’ll just yell back at him “Wait, Aidan! Can you say wait?” Aidan: “wait”. I finally finish dressing her crib, went to the bathroom to pick up the shampoo, a towel, new pajamas, a wash cloth and went downstairs…one more thing and I’m done. (Or so I thought)
INSULT TO INJURY & PLAN THREE | Plan two PLUS clean up more vomit.
Just as I was getting a grip of the situation, I was halfway down the stairs and I hear Pepper regurgitating. “Oh no!” I ran down the stairs but was too late. Pepper threw up a giant hairball on the carpet! I was at a lost and so frustrated and just about to cry when she started to regurgitate again. I don’t know how I had the strength to do it but I lifted her up and carried her to the tile where she threw up a second time. I was just about to cry when I hear on the other side of the room Aidan’s little voice, “Ewwww…” I just had to laugh. I laughed so hard and said to him, “Ew is right! You all are ew.” Both Aidan and Brooke laughed at my statement and I went on to clean up dog vomit, bathe a smelly child in the sink smiling the entire time. It’s amazing how one simple statement from a 1 1/2 year old can make something that felt like such a crisis into an every day trivial event.
I have to say it was a rough night, Mike came home around 11pm and help me put them into bed. I also went to bed but my mood before bed was of pure humbled joy from my little boy’s “Ew”.
Bathing in the sink and pointing at Mommy
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