Want Some Popcorn?

You know that feeling after you've just ended a bad relationship, that mix of elation and dread? One minute you're happily belting out the Soupdragon's "I'm Free" and the next you're furtively throwing popcorn at the couple making out in front of you at the movie theater? (Um, that wasn't me. I'm just imagining here. You know, creative license.)

Last night I ended a bad relationship. Or rather, a bad part of a relationship. As this is really one of those relationships that never ends, just evolves. . .

ChunkyMonkey slept in another room last night.

A couple of months ago, ChunkyMonkey slept through the night, or only woke up once. But as he's gotten older, he's actually become a worse sleeper. I think he was bothered when Hot Guy and I came to bed, often at separate times. And I think I was so bothered by any noises he made in the night that I may have been a little too attentive. Suffice to say, this past week he's been waking every hour and a half.

So I have ended the first stage of our relationship. We're now sleeping in separate rooms.

When I went to bed last night, I felt a moment of freedom and joy as I flipped on the overhead light and the TV. And I think ChunkyMonkey felt it was right as well, since he slept from 8pm until 4:45am, and then went back to sleep until 7am. I haven't been so well-rested since. . .since that brief period when he was sleeping through the night.

But waking up this morning, well, I felt a little bit of the dread. A little bit of the "my last baby sleeps better without me and doesn't need me quite so much anymore" feeling. And thus I am tempted to throw popcorn at passing moms with newborns.

I won't, of course.

At least, not until ChunkyMonkey stops nursing and I'm really, really free. And sad.

It's A Boy!

We think. That's what he looked like on the ultrasound yesterday, anyway. It's early, but the ultrasound tech was pretty sure.

At first, I was disappointed. I thought I was having a girl. (And I was so right on the first two that it kinda sucks to go from a 100% average to a 66% average) And I thought that having a girl last would mean that Lovebug wouldn't have as many middle child issues since he would be the only boy. Ironflower wanted a baby sister. And girl clothes are cuter.

But I think Lovebug will handle sharing a room far better than Ironflower would have. And this way we don't have to switch rooms (Lovebug's room is bigger - it has blue carpet, which is why it's his. Ironflower's room has pale pinkish/purple carpet, so room switching also would have meant new carpet for everyone. Not cheap). And while I do think (generally) that boys are more challenging at first, after about six or so I think they are easier.

So, I'm pretty happy overall. He looks very healthy and all his measurements are right on time. Besides, I think we've been pretty successful so far:

Marry Me, Dr.Adler

Okay, maybe not. The fact that I love Hot Guy deeply might cause problems. And I noticed you already had a wedding band (don't ask me why I noticed, I just did, I was single for a long time, sheesh). But there must be some way to show the world how deeply I esteem you. How deeply I appreciate you. You have made my life so much better. You are one great doctor.

Are you all wondering whether I've had liposuction? Or maybe if my colitis has been cured? Or that I've grown five inches? No. Dr. Adler is neither a plastic surgeon nor a gastroenterologist. Dr. Adler is a pediatric neurosurgeon.

Last month when we brought Lovebug in for his 12 month check up, his pediatrician was worried about his head shape. Specifically, that the plates might have fused too early. Unfortunately, we were moving less than a week after the appointment - so we had to get it checked out in NJ. The pediatrician here was also concerned. He wanted us to see a neurosurgeon - to skip the in-between step of the neurologist altogether. Naturally, our (affordable) insurance is not accepted by most doctors in Bergen County. The ones that did accept our insurance could see us in October.

By that point, I had done some research. While Lovebug's head did not resemble any of the mis-shapen heads of babies with craniosynostosis, I was still worried. If they did not fix it soon, there could be pressure on his brain. So between my mother talking to her doctor, a doctor he knew (and his kind appointment maker) and me talking to my insurance company, we found a pediatric neurologist. I made the regular pediatrician give us a referral to the pediatric neurologist.

Yesterday we went to our first appointment. Dr.Adler came out to the waiting room and brought us back to the exam room himself. He was warm, kind and clear. There's nothing wrong with our son. He has a bumpy head. Dr.Adler explained everything in layman's terms and even offered to show us pictures of babies with real problems on his computer (we declined, having already seen them). The bottom line was that while Lovebug's sutures (the space between the skull plates) may have fused early, this had not affected his head size (which is very large, to tell the truth), his head shape (round) or his behavior (since he walks, talks a bit and does not have seizures).

After imagining MRIs and  CT scans, rounds with specialists and surgery, yesterday's appointment could not have gone better. But if something had been wrong, you can bet for damn sure that I would want Dr.Adler to fix it.


Thank you, Dr.Adler.



It's been 7 years seen we freaked out over nothing. Lovebug is just fine.