Lest anyone think that things are all puppy whiskers and Frozen princesses over here, I thought I’d get really raw today.
Maybe I think “raw” sounds less negative than “whiney”.
Yes, it most certainly does.
Let’s call my straight-up-whining being “raw” instead and it’ll have an authentic vibe.
I’m not even sure where to begin…
August?
Yeah, August: the last time I knew life without this disastrous cough.
AUGUST, PEOPLE!
I’m on week 10 (ten!) of this blasted cough and I think I might go out of my mind.
It’s taken several forms over the past few MONTHS.
Subtle. Phlegmy. Dry. Deep. Shallow. Productive. Dry-heave inducing.
Unbearable.
So yeah.
I’ve been on a round of antibiotics. I have an inhaler. I have been eating healthy. Drinking lots of water. Making batch upon batch of green juice chock full of spinach and kale.
The cough persists.
I’m SO.OVER.IT.
I’m tired of it interrupting me when I talk. Stopping me from making plans. Making me pee myself.
Yes, TMI.
But I don’t have enough underwear to keep up with this damn cough.
For real.
On top of the cough that never ends (which is also accompanied by congestion, wheezing and a runny nose) Avery has decided that she’s going to sleep like a baby these days.
And I don’t mean that like it’s usually said because anyone who has had a baby knows that babies wake up every few hours crying!
That’s Avery’s new M.O.
Go to bed easy around 7:30 or 8:00, then wake up a few hours later crying incessantly.
We get her up, give her water, cuddle her, sing to her, pray for her and put her back down.
Only to have her wake up AGAIN several hours later and straight up demand that we do something.
She’ll start out crying, then move into calling us by name until we retrieve her.
“Mamaaaaaa”
“Daddyyyyyyy”
The thing of it all is that I don’t think anything is wrong with her! She’s not thirsty or hungry or teething or sick that I can tell.
She just wants to sleep with one of us.
In our bed.
Where she can flail about and smack us in the face and wiggle like it’s her j.o.b.
Then, when she’s had a little cat nap, she wants to wake us up an hour earlier than usual so that we can get her “juice!” and “bre-fast!”
Don’t forget to “change diaper!”
I know parenting is demanding. I know it’s a regular sacrifice of my own needs for those of my children.
I get that.
I even enjoy it much of the time.
But lately, it makes me want to admit myself to the psych ward.
Just to get a good night sleep!
But I wouldn’t.
Because of the cough. Or the wetting myself due to the cough.
Pray for me, will you?
Ohh Rebecca…I truly feel for you. After baby number 3 I discovered pantiliners for uncontrolled leakage and you might just think about it. They’re cheaper than 100 pairs of underpants! Just sayin’… Not that I’m a meanie or anything, but is it possible to go one or two nights with just leaving Avery to herself so she knows you mean business? I’ve always heard that they usually always put themselves back to sleep. Or possibly, keep her up later until she’s super tired and then put her down? You know, I’m a M(Mothers) O(of) P(preschoolers) S (MOPS) mentor Mom and I’m practicing my skill on you! I’ve actually learned more from my Moms than I’ve been able to share with them! I’ll be praying for you. If it gets too bad and you’re too exhausted, I’ll come get them for a day so you can sleep!
Hi AB! I don’t know how I’ve been missing all your comments till today!!! Thank you so much for the encouragement! Things have evened out with Avery and I’m ALL ABOUT letting her work it out herself in her crib but at 20-30 minutes that starts to feel cruel, so we’ve been getting her. I figure they’re only little for a while and someday I’ll wish she cried to sleep with me :) Love you so much! Those MOPS mom’s are blessed to have you! :)
Praying for you sweetie!!!
Hang in there Rebecca! Aunt kim and I had that same three month cough! It will eventually stop. XOXO
Oh I will be praying! How exhausting!