Are we there yet…

Mary Reese was quite busy last week. Not only did she celebrate her four month birthday, but she also got to spend the week with her grandparents. Big Daddy had a conference here for work and Gran C came along for the ride to hang out with the grand girls.

On Saturday, we enjoyed some of Bill’s burgers while Mary Reese experienced her first bite of cereal. Car came prepared with a silver spoon and the very same bowl that was used for her first meal. Unfortunately, Mary Reese was not that impressed by the effort. After a few bites — well, sips of mush, she decided cereal was not her thing. We didn’t quite have our proportions down yet, and let’s just say it was runny. We’re still working on the mix, and she’s still trying to decide if she likes it.

Gran C and Big Daddy went to church with us the next day and Mary Reese had yet another first, attending the church nursery. We dropped her off in a pretty, white dress and picked her up in a green burrito. I thought I could swaddle…

After the service, MR had to endure another round of cereal and a 30 minute photo shoot. We just couldn’t resist snapping a few pictures before changing her. She was patient at first, but soon realized she could use that pretty dress to hide form the camera (as you can see below).

A few days later, she went to the doctor for her four month shots. Car’s efforts to continue breast feeding while student teaching were validated…Mary Reese weighed in at a healthy 15 pounds and 12 ounces. She is now 25 1/2″ long and is in the 90th percentile for her height, weight, and head size.

By mid week, we were all looking forward to a relaxing weekend of family and food. Unfortunately, it was not to be. On Thursday night, I became the first one to fall victim to a horrible stomach flu. That’s right, Mr. Mom found his kryptonite. Within hours, Carly joined me in misery. After a long night, we confirmed that Julie, Max, and Bill also shared in our pain. Gran C was the only adult left standing. The girls dodged the worst of it, simply sleeping the day away with their parents.

Gran C was gracious enough to make a grocery run for her ailing kin, studiously driving up in her green, cable-knit sweater. Her look was deceiving. When Car opened the door, she was greeted with Soulja Boy Crank That kickin’ on the cd player. For those of you that may not know, the Bulldawgs made Crank That a household standard this past football season. Especially at the Blackout. By far one of the funnest games I’ve ever been to. I still get chills watching the video.

Our readers in Georgia might have been safe given the distance between our sick house and their own homes, but this bug had legs. Gran C became victim number six shortly after arriving home. In case you weren’t counting, that’s six for six… Any weight we might have gained from the meals Gran C put together all week was easly lost in half the time.

g

Mr. Mom was back in action this weekend with both girls out of commission. Car was hit by a 48 hour bug Friday night, just in time for the weekend…which she spent in bed. Mary Reese wasn’t feeling well either and had a decent fever. Lucky for them, a trained professional was on the job to make them as comfortable as possible.

g

Over the last two days, I have become that which some men can only dream of…That iconic figure misunderstood by bachelors, adored by bachelorettes, aspired to by fathers, and admired by mothers and mothers-to-be…They made a movie in anticipation of me, and even a song. That’s right, I am Mr. Mom. I don’t know why the standard term of Dad won’t do. After all, we offer the same services on a routine basis. It must just be that in these circumstances we are resigned to our fate, no longer negotiating for a reduced workload while performing at a higher level.

Situation report – my girls and their respective afflictions:

• Mary Reese – newbornitis (not currently recognized by the AAP, but parents everywhere understand the trying condition)
• Sadie – sprained ankle (I swear it wasn’t my fault)
• Car – infection, resulting in extremely high fever, exhaustion, aches, pains and every other flu-like symptom

My girls kept me busy…”Car, take your medicine”…”Mary Reese, I just changed you”…”Sadie, there’s no way you have to go again”…”you can’t be hungry, you just ate”… During these two days, Car never set foot downstairs and Sadie was carried up and down the stairs. I probably took the vet’s orders of “strict rest” a little too seriously, but she could barely walk and I’m a sucker for a lady in distress.

By Thursday afternoon, the fever broke and Car was feeling better. Sadie was walking again and Mary Reese was potty-trained. Oh wait…that was a dream. Lately it’s been getting harder to tell dreams from reality as the sleep deficit continues to grow. No worries though, at this point Mr. Mom can change diapers in his sleep.

g (a.k.a. Mr. Mom)