Willow stepped into her role as a mom (flour sack baby school project) with excitement and gusto. She bought clothes and a carrier with her work earnings. And, upon Yeelissa's (Don't ask me about the name) arrival, Willow shown bright and proud. It didn't last long. She was quickly exhausted to her core. The added weight, even without the crying and the pooping, was quite a lesson in and of itself. The ache and the strain of toting 10 pounds around with her constantly for 7 days straight (not to mention hefting along a backpack and her costume which was more than uncomfortable and the hustle of the stage) did her in. More on that later... Another interesting aspect of her lesson was how she was perceived in public. Because of the carrier she had you could not tell it was a flour sack. People looked at her with such.. disdain. While at the chiropractor one lady glared so much that Willow pulled out Yeelissa and began reading her nutritional facts. The woman then burst out.. "My son had a flour baby!" Then she quietly took a picture. I suspect it ended up somewhere on social media... "Son, remember when this was you? #funtimesinparenthood #Rememberwhen " Anyway, it was quite an assignment and she learned more than a little bit from it. Primarily she learned parenthood is pain and endurance. And if you are a teen mom it takes a hell of a backbone.
Speaking of backbones.. Wednesday Willow started to complain of neck pain. Well not only complaining. crying too. Long story short all of the things going on with her had lead to a twisted neck, pinched nerve. Or so it seemed to be the likely culprit. We got her straight to the chiropractor. (Her flour sack baby project had ended two days earlier) And adjustment and then off to school. She managed but still in pain. Then off to rehearsals (Which were just watching the rough cut of the play on cd). Friday a full day at school, a revisit with the chiropractor and the addition of a neck brace then an evening show. She managed.. painfully.
High Schools now requires volunteer hours in order to graduate, Willow has been struggling to find a cause worthy of her interest. Well the theater partners with the Reach program which gives Autistic and other severely challenged youngsters a chance to participate in theater. This is right up her alley. So her Saturday started with her volunteering at the theater at 8:30 which consisted of pushing a wheelchair about. At 11:30 she was in costume and in the farmers market promoting the show and then... curtains. After the first showing was the cast party.
I got a standing ovation from the kids for my help. And then we walked to a park and had a picnic with most of the cast. It was a little chilly but the kids kept warm dashing about. Then back to the theater for the last show. After which was the after party.
By the end of it Willow was a mess and the next day rather immobile.
I took her to Urgent Care on Sunday.. looking for a little bit of pain relief. We sat for two hours before getting her in to see the 90 year old deaf Dr. He was a very pre-cautious fellow who became concerned that it might be meningitis and hurriedly sent us off to the ER. What an experience that was. Willow was placed in a mask as she might be contagious and we waited another 3.5 hours before getting a room.
When the dr. finally strolled in he asked her to take off the mask. She did. He said, "She doesn't have meningitis. If she did it would be impossible to pull off the mask and she has no other signs. Im not going to take spinal fluid". I was fine with that. And then he left. He didn't touch her... nothing. So then they came in to release us and I was like.."What?! She needs pain relief. Get the Dr. back here." He explained that based on chiropractic assessment and all that had happened, this was not an "emergency" and he could do no more to help us. I asked for meds and he said no he wasn't giving her any. There was nothing he could do. He left and after a little bit longer we were released. It was a very long day.
Needless to say, I kept her home today and I got her into the chiropractors once more. They suspect the flu has gotten into her muscles with the added complication of a sinus infection coupled with the stresses she has been challenged with. She needs to be on her feet for finals which start tomorrow. Ack! With the chiropractors recommendations and adjustment she is showing signs of improvement. At least we are moving in the right direction and I am super pleased we are not dealing with meningitis! Next week will be dedicated to recuperation. Then its off to summer school for a solid month.
Anyway... Nell and David brought Nells mom down last weekend to watch the play and afterwards go hunting out Nells grandmother (and namesakes) old home which was not far from the theater. They arrived for brunch and after dropping the kids to the theater we wandered the farmers market and got in a beer. It was wonderful as always to see my dear friends and catch up on their (and their mom's) adventures.
Speaking of backbones.. Wednesday Willow started to complain of neck pain. Well not only complaining. crying too. Long story short all of the things going on with her had lead to a twisted neck, pinched nerve. Or so it seemed to be the likely culprit. We got her straight to the chiropractor. (Her flour sack baby project had ended two days earlier) And adjustment and then off to school. She managed but still in pain. Then off to rehearsals (Which were just watching the rough cut of the play on cd). Friday a full day at school, a revisit with the chiropractor and the addition of a neck brace then an evening show. She managed.. painfully.
High Schools now requires volunteer hours in order to graduate, Willow has been struggling to find a cause worthy of her interest. Well the theater partners with the Reach program which gives Autistic and other severely challenged youngsters a chance to participate in theater. This is right up her alley. So her Saturday started with her volunteering at the theater at 8:30 which consisted of pushing a wheelchair about. At 11:30 she was in costume and in the farmers market promoting the show and then... curtains. After the first showing was the cast party.
I got a standing ovation from the kids for my help. And then we walked to a park and had a picnic with most of the cast. It was a little chilly but the kids kept warm dashing about. Then back to the theater for the last show. After which was the after party.
By the end of it Willow was a mess and the next day rather immobile.
I took her to Urgent Care on Sunday.. looking for a little bit of pain relief. We sat for two hours before getting her in to see the 90 year old deaf Dr. He was a very pre-cautious fellow who became concerned that it might be meningitis and hurriedly sent us off to the ER. What an experience that was. Willow was placed in a mask as she might be contagious and we waited another 3.5 hours before getting a room.
When the dr. finally strolled in he asked her to take off the mask. She did. He said, "She doesn't have meningitis. If she did it would be impossible to pull off the mask and she has no other signs. Im not going to take spinal fluid". I was fine with that. And then he left. He didn't touch her... nothing. So then they came in to release us and I was like.."What?! She needs pain relief. Get the Dr. back here." He explained that based on chiropractic assessment and all that had happened, this was not an "emergency" and he could do no more to help us. I asked for meds and he said no he wasn't giving her any. There was nothing he could do. He left and after a little bit longer we were released. It was a very long day.
Needless to say, I kept her home today and I got her into the chiropractors once more. They suspect the flu has gotten into her muscles with the added complication of a sinus infection coupled with the stresses she has been challenged with. She needs to be on her feet for finals which start tomorrow. Ack! With the chiropractors recommendations and adjustment she is showing signs of improvement. At least we are moving in the right direction and I am super pleased we are not dealing with meningitis! Next week will be dedicated to recuperation. Then its off to summer school for a solid month.
Anyway... Nell and David brought Nells mom down last weekend to watch the play and afterwards go hunting out Nells grandmother (and namesakes) old home which was not far from the theater. They arrived for brunch and after dropping the kids to the theater we wandered the farmers market and got in a beer. It was wonderful as always to see my dear friends and catch up on their (and their mom's) adventures.
In other news, After getting home from the hospital it was time to get Greg ready for his next BIG adventure. Greg is off to Germany. Checking out a foreign country. Looking all swank and dapper. It will be interesting to see where all this leads. But in the meantime I will just enjoy the view.
In other news, Greg takes and gives all sorts of personality tests for work. He was curious about what Myers Brigs would say about me. So I took it and it turns out I am an INFJ. Its pretty dead on. Interesting. Says, among other things, that I should be a writer. I have been working on the start of a piece. I think it is a pretty solid beginning. Now Im wondering where to take it. It will develop over summer I am sure. That is the extent of the plans I have set for summer so far.
And that is the news for now. Hope all is well!
XOXO
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