Memorial Day and Mastitis

Not much energy for blogging this week as I'm laid up with a miserable case of mastitis. (104 degree temperatures, heart rate through the roof, violent chills, cold sweats, vicious headaches, vomiting... who knew? Nobody ever tells you about this, and then when you ask around they're like "ohhhhh yeah. Sickest I've ever been." WTF.)

I finally went to the doctor yesterday and was about to be admitted when they told me I couldn't bring Ford with me. Which is beyond ridiculous. Non-army hospitals have no problem with this, for one (meaning if I weren't active duty this wouldn't be an issue), and anybody with five seconds and a google-enabled device knows that the best way to get rid of a clogged duct is to continue to breastfeed. So Seth, who can't take time off school or he won't graduate ILE which would severely complicate everything and at minimum mean we wouldn't PCS together, was supposed to handle a 6 week old and an 18 month old by himself, figure out how to ferry breastmilk back and forth since I'd have to pump in the hospital, and what? Take Ford to class with him?

That was obviously not going to happen. In tears and with a 104.5 degree fever and a hungry six week old, I signed a form that said I refused to be admitted over doctor's advice and would use the less-effective antibiotic pills (knowing that the IV form would work days faster), and was told to go get in the hourlong pharmacy line. Oh, Walter Reed. You're terrible.

We survived the evening though, and I'm hopeful that the antibiotics will kick in any second now. Bethesda Breastfeeding (the same people who got Finley to be able to nurse after her rough delivery) saved the day again, as I called them desperately from the doctor's office. They found us a night nanny within minutes. She was wonderful and, other than a couple hours of shivering chills, I got a decent night's sleep for once. Seth, who's been a saint, got Ford into hourly care at CDC today. (I was beyond worried to leave him at only 6 weeks, but it's in Finley's old classroom which made me feel much better. The care providers there are like family.) So I'm hopeful that one more day in bed (and trying all the home remedies the four corners of the internet and all my well-meaning friends can provide) will have me at least functional sooner rather than later.

There really is nothing worse than being super sick with a baby, I'm reminded, as memories of Seth's last-minute trip to Nebraska with Finley when I had meningitis last year drift through my addled brain. You really just don't have a lot of options.

At any rate, we had a nice Memorial Day/ anniversary (seriously- only 3 years?!?!) weekend before this all kicked off. I was determined to have a getaway as it's kind of a tradition, and although we're still not quite sure the juice is worth the squeeze on getaways with newborns, it's nice to remind yourselves that you can still do it. Plus, Seth got to play golf (his anniversary present) and our children both love luxury accommodations. These pictures both crack me up and make me concerned about our vacation budget in future. Finley in particular enjoys a nice plush hotel bathrobe.

We had a condo at the beautiful Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, which has an amazing kids' pool (with a bar!) and Finley loved the lazy river. (The resort and pool really are stunning, although for some reason the angle on this picture makes it look as if the lazy river runs through Detroit.)

Ford did not love his first time in the pool (it was a tad cold for him- look at his little hands!) but didn't mind lounging poolside.

We did have our first poop-in-the-pool-diaper incident, and it was every bit as horrifying (and hysterical) as one imagines. We all recovered nicely with the help of french fries and (some of us) beer. This picture makes me laugh. All of our nieces and nephews have gorgeous tan skin and I get these beautiful pictures of them running around happy and sunkissed on the beach. Our little white babies, on the other hand, hate sand, do not care to have sun in their eyes, and enjoy the pool under umbrellas, with hats and SPF 100.

The times have certainly changed (and not just because I, personally, love the sun.) This was our anniversary dinner. Super romantic (and hilarious). I think Finley was crying because Seth wouldn't let her throw forkfuls of his lasagna on the floor.

This is my favorite photo of the week. They look to be sharing a moment... and this is why we have two. I probably need to print it and keep a copy by my bed to remind myself.

I also liked this one (Seth, inexplicably, went to the store for laundry detergent and came back with a badminton set for Finley. Who loved it, but is a bit dangerous with the racquets)

and this one, of Finley in the hated lifevest. I considered cropping it to artfully exclude my muffin top, but hey- this is what 5 weeks postpartum looks like. Although I should probably locate a onepiece swimsuit, I feel good about the fact that I'm taking my kids to the pool.

And maybe mastitis-induced nausea will turn out to be the diet of champions.
Kidding.
Sort of.

Oh, one more thing. Ford got to meet his Aunt Jackie on Monday, when she was overnighting at Andrews (Seth took Finley out for crabcakes.) He (Ford, that is) snuggled like a champ and then peed all over her bed. Twice. It seems that it has not been a good week in the "Nieman bodily fluids" department. (But I love this picture.)