Walk the dogs: Tote around Cameron where he pleases. Then you may name off everything he points to. “Yes mama, that is a tree. You would never have seen the 23 trees we just passed without my eagle eyes. Oh and ROCKS! Pick those 2 up & hand them to me. No, NOT those 2. The other two that look just like those 2. Ay yi yi mama, you need to listen.” Up until he’s had enough & demands to be put down. “oh that’s right. I CAN walk mama. You may put me down. I’ll let you know by pointing to the floor squealing DAAAAA!! Then fling my body toward the ground.” Only to get extremely upset if you try to “help” guide him back home. You will know when this happens by the stiffness of his body while standing still, all while swinging his arms & shaking his head no.
Put together dinner: Tell Chunker not to throw food at least 30 times. Play “guess what I want” while offering every cracker, fruit & drink possible. Ask what’s “uh-oh”? only later to find Oscar with a half eaten corn on the cob. “Not sure how he got that mama.”
Bath time: Which will only begin when the tub is full of bubbles & his Muno & Gatorman are in plain sight. Then you may stand them up so he can knock them down. While applauding his remarkable BOOM!ing talents (knocking over Muno & Gatorman) you may then & only then put him inside the tub. “Did you just sit down to wash my hair mama? Because I see my toothbrush & I don’t understand why we’re not brushing my teeth. LOOK! LOOOOOOOOK do you see it?! Thank goodness you have me to point these things out mama. Wait, what? Bathtime is over? NOOOO!!! I’ve only been in here for 3 hrs, I’m not ready to leave yet!” *lays down to gather all of the drop of water left*
Bedtime stories: Now that Chunker walks he more or less escapes after bath time. In fear that Oscar or Sadie are trying to take over his toys he needs to rush & make sure that they’re all accounted for by playing with his legos, cars, blocks & push car. Luckily this is a form of cardio so not only do I get to sing, dance, poke myself with something dangerous to make him laugh, but I now get to chase him. “Do you have my water mama? I can’t read books with my water.” *GULP* *GULP* “Hmm, I’m not feeling the Big Book of Animals tonight mama. I know you don’t understand me so I’ll help you better understand by slapping it out of your hand.”
The moment Chunker rubs his eyes that’s my cue to ask if he’s tired. He then wraps his arms around my neck & lays his head on my shoulder.
Love.
Ok so this mama gig is pretty awesome.
Then we turn the lights off, mobile music & fan are turned on & we say our prayers with Tiger, Kitty Cat, Bear & blanket.
All before 7:15, 7:30 the latest. ;)
So when something doesn’t go quite as planned, it throws our “game” out of whack.
Which is just what happened last Thursday.
The thrown food was picked up & it was bath time. As I turned on the water & washed down the tub Cameron, who was walking right behind me & fell.
HARD.
Chin first onto the outside of the tub.
Cameron instantly cried, I scooped him up & saw it.
Blood.
Screaming child + Blood + First time mom = Instant Fear.
I grabbed his ducky towel & headed to the living room. I flipped on the tv & turned on Yo Gabba Gabba. As I held the towel to his chin, the crying stopped, Magic Mark appeared & Cameron wiggled away to join MM & color along. So I sat there fighting back the tears not really knowing what to do. I called Paul, the dr., my aunt, even had our next door neighbor’s husband Chris (who’s a dr.) look at his chin & tell me what to do.
I know common sense would be to take him into urgent care but I was afraid to. I didn’t want to admit he was hurt that bad & questioned whether I was over reacting or not. It stopped bleeding. He was happy, he was laughing & playing. The only fussy one was me. So after hearing a definite yes from Chris, I called Paul & told him to meet us there. As I packed his bag I realized I was shaking. I couldn’t help fear that they would give him stitches. My poor baby. :(
On our way to the children’s urgent care Cameron fell asleep. Great, not only may my child needs stitches but now I have to wake him up. Guilt was making itself nice & cozy.
I didn’t feel guilt from not preventing what happened. Honestly, there’s nothing I could have done to prevent his fall. Maybe stick him in a bubble? But the guilt of dragging him around & knowing how miserable this was for him, made me full of guilt.
Even with the staff being extra sweet & accommodating Cameron was not buying into it. He was tired, injured & just wanted his own bed. Guilt was wearing me down & I think the dr. knew it. He walked into the room & before even telling us his name looked right at me & said, “ this is the most common accident. Let me look at his chin.......Not bad at all. He won’t even need stitches, dermabond should do the trick.”
I could have danced a little jig right there & then. Weight lifted, thank Jebus!
DB added, stickers & puppy given as a peace offering, then we were out of there!
The DB application wasn’t fun, but at least Cameron wasn’t screaming from pain. Just pissed that people were touching him when he should have been in bed. There are two things you don't mess with in Cameron's world.
His sleep.
And of course, his food. ;)