All this is temporary, right?

I'm worried about Jack. I thought it was the heat, all the family functions, not getting enough sleep, not sleeping in his own bed, pretty much anything that can throw your schedule off and make you uncomfortable.

He had a funky skin rash on Friday. I think it may have been hives, although I don't really know what hives look like and I have no idea why he would have them. (Yes, I have combed through our recent history for any indication of allergic reactions!) It went away on its own, but he woke up with another, different, rash yesterday morning- little tiny red dots all over his face and upper torso. My method for dealing with Weird Skin My Baby Inherited From My Husband is to not immediately freak out, see how Jack acts, see if it goes away, maybe call the doctor.

I ended up calling the doctor in the late afternoon yesterday because the rash was still there AND Jack was the whiniest crabbiest most upset baby he's been in a loooong while. And of course no one called me back because it was so close to after hours and I just resolved to call in the morning and take him in because this fretful clingy kid is a bit out of character.

Phillip put him to bed nearly an hour earlier than usual and I spent the rest of the night in front of the television, alternately cursing NBC and feeling ashamed for my Horrible Parenting Skills that day. (Which I am saving for Parenting. Got to scrounge up material somewhere...)

And THEN! I went to bed and started having CONTRACTIONS. OH DEAR GOD.

Okay, so I don't really know if they were contractions. Kind of a systematic seizing up of my whole abdomen, although it didn't always feel better after the muscles released. I got pretty nervous. On one hand I was all gung ho, on the other I was thinking about how Jack would see a doctor if I had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. And oh yeah, I haven't packed a hospital bag and I still haven't figured out what I want to do about someone watching Jack and THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY BABY and I can't have New Baby NOW, who is going to take care of JACK?!

I didn't show it, but I was in Total Freak Out Mode. Phillip would ask how I was feeling and I'd say, "Just uncomfortable!" and go back to Freaking Out.

Obviously they went away, or else I would not be sitting here at my dining room table in my pajamas listening to Jack wake up on the monitor. But the frequency of Contraction-Like Aches and Twinges is definitely increasing and either I'm going to have this baby early or I'm going to be confused and in pain until the baby arrives on her due date. (We are not entertaining past due dates, all right? Humor me.)

Anyway. I am worried about Jack. I need to go up there and see if he still has little red dots all over him. I need to see how cranky he is. I feel less and less capable of taking care of him all day, especially when he's in Clingy Mode. I honestly can't hold him for too long, you know? And I don't have the energy to fight over whether he gets to keep his blanket while he sits in his high chair. (NO, NO HE DOESN'T.)

Comments

[Morgan S.]

Maggie, I can completely relate to your state of mind. We had no concrete person set up to watch our daughter if I went into labor before my scheduled induction date.

With Baby #1 there were really no early signs of labor and I had her on the induction date. With Baby #2 there were at least 2.5 weeks of off and on again contractions that kept me up most nights, wondering if it was time and who would watch Baby #1?!!! It was AWFUL. But, Baby #2 stayed put until her induction date (mercifully scheduled for Week 39). Hang in there!!!

[Jess]

To answer the question in the title, yes it's temporary, but no that doesn't make it any easier while you're dealing with it. I hope Jack gets all better soon.

[Tara]

Yikes, sounds like you have a ton going on! I am totally not a child health expert, but Shea did have Roseola a month or two ago, in which a rash on the torso appears after a fever (not sure if he ever had one, but thought I'd throw that out there). She sure was cranky, and it was something that just went away.

Hope Jack AND you are feeling better soon! And hopefully baby girl will wait a little longer until you get the rest of the stuff figured out. :)

[Hospital Bag]

Hospital Bag check list - hope this helps!

[Pippi]

If I lived closer I'd say to drop Jack off and he could play with me and my little one today while you chilled out. Unfortunately the drive to Vancouver is rather long for that.

[Elizabeth]

Pack that hospital bag girlie!
And seriously, I hope Jack is ok, but yes, we are also going through a "phase" here and all I can say is that hoo boy, is it ever fun, but I repeat all day long "this is not how my baby will always be" over and over. And also, I have discovered that if you just can't pick up a child one more time during the day and you ignore the sound barrier piercing wailing to be picked up for about 15 minutes, it does end, and then he plays by himself.
Mom of the year, over here.

[lindsay]

Awww, sad. Hope everyone feels better soon at the Cheung house!

I know I am a little late to the party but I recently started watching Olympic gymnastics and Shawn Johnson? possibly the cutest little 16 yr old gymnast evah. I was tearing up big time and then she never even shed a tear at the medal ceremony. AMAZING! I get inspired to try and be an athlete again like every 5 minutes watching this stuff. LOVE IT!

[Liz]

You know I saw it in my sleep! Your labor's going to start in the middle of the night! Get ready...

[Elaine]

My guess is a viral rash? Hope he feels better soon and new baby comes soon, but that Jack's soon comes first.

[Kate P]

Aw, hope everybody is feeling better soon. I'm convinced either the pollen count or stress is giving me a rash!

[Leticia]

Maggie...breathe. Then make a list for that day. 1) Call the dr for Jack. 2) Pack for Hospital. 3) Make arrangements for Jack while at hospital. Then when you get at least these 3 things accomplished at least you won't feel so out of control.

Its funny when I had my daughter, I kind of expected my husband to be at the hospital with me thru everything. With my son, I was worried about my daughter, keeping her routine in tact, who is going to watch her, etc. Its a totally different experience. And, while I had contractions and even lost my mucus plug (TMI!) days before I delivered I STILL HAD TO BE INDUCED. I think I have a wonderful uterus that these kids just don't want to come out.