I'm full of it

I can't believe I'm blogging yet again about poop. I can't believe I'm about to tell a story about my personal involvement with poop. However, a lot can't be learned from poop and I need to vent, so I will bury my dignity for a moment to dump my load. Pun intended.

Several weeks ago I got a terrible backache. It was shortly after I carried 80 pound Emily down a dirt trail so it didn't surprise me. The pain began to move to my right side under my ribs and I was needing a heating pad to get through the night. I began to worry
that it could be my appendix, gall bladder, kidney. I had only been to the doctor once in 6 years. I am a pretty tough girl and don't go for just anything. But I was in pain and scared so I went to the dr in the box. After some x-rays it was discovered that the source of my pain was constipation. Yes poop. I saw it all right there. I was full of it. Being a coffee drinker I can tell you I am quite regular but for reasons beyond my control I was backed up.

Fast forward a few weeks on a trip to the beach, Luke began to vomit occasionally and was in terrible pain in his side. After three days of this I took him to the emergency room at the beach. Five hours, blood work, IV fluids and x-rays and his diagnosis...constipation. Yes he was full of it too.

Being the parent of a 10 year old on the spectrum I have had my share of poop dialogues. I could write a book about poop. Here's a short list of what I have learned from poop and how it symbolizes life(for me anyway):

1) It stinks sometimes
2) It is painful at times
3) I always feel better when I empty the negative waste out
4) Even being constant in my daily life sometimes I need a good cleanse.
5) Filling my body full of good things(thoughts) will help eliminate the crap.

My list might be longer but I'm on my second cup of coffee and it's kicking in. Moral of my story...Get rid of the shit that weighs you down. Be so full of life and love that nothing negative can stay for long. And keep smiling no matter what.

Thanks for reading~
Jessica

Tooth Fairy Fall Apart

I am just going to come right out and say it. I don't like being the tooth fairy. For many years that wasn't my job. I was only responsible for the extraction of the teeth. Having three kids who lose teeth simultaneously sometimes gets a bit expensive. I also did not set the monetary value of teeth. But alas I now have three kids who expect a mighty high compensation for their pearly whites.

Just this past week two darlings lost a tooth. Luke lost his 4th tooth. It's still a very big deal to him. After his last tooth was somehow lost on the playground at school he got $20 for the drama that ensued when he couldn't find it. Well the tooth fairy didn't have a twenty dollar bill this time, she only had a $5. So she left it knowing the next morning would bring gripes and complaints. To which I matter of factly told him the extra $15 went to replacing the food I had to throw away after he peed in the pantry while I was away on a mini vacation.

Now here is really why I don't like being the tooth fairy. Emily doesn't like anyone near her mouth. She also can't stand the sensation of a wiggly tooth. So she has pulled every tooth from her mouth since the age of 6. I don't mind this. It's less work for me. However, pulling a tooth out that isn't quite ready creates all kinds of drama. Usually there's a good bit of blood. Over half of her teeth have broken in half as she pulls them out. One part staying in and the other coming out. All while she runs in circles. Literally runs in circles screaming until the other part comes out. All while I'm chasing her in circles to make sure she doesn't hurt herself. It is not fun to know your child is ripping teeth from her mouth before they are ready.

This was the case the other day. It broke. I have no idea where the other half of the tooth went but we got part of it in a ziplock. Thank goodness. Now the part that's stressful. Putting a tooth under a pillow. We used to have a special pillow that hung on the bed but it got lost. So now the tooth goes under the pillow in a ziplock. Many kids on the spectrum are not good sleepers. I am here to tell you once Emily goes to sleep we all tiptoe around and the lights stay off. Well I waited until I knew she was good and asleep before I crawled across the room(yes I crawl) with her money. She sleeps under the covers and not on the pillow so it's usually a 1 minute in and out job. I have perfected it but the stress of waking her up still petrifies me. She's out. I reach my hand under the pillow for that ziplock that I carefully placed there just two hours before. It's not there. It's NOT there. Now time is ticking. The longer I stay the more chance she is going to wake up. That can't happen. I take a quiet breath and feel again under the pillow. Nope nothing. I know she can feel the heat from my body and hear my heart beating as I carefully feel around in the dark for that ziplock. Nothing. I think maybe it's under the bed. I'm back on all fours feeling around. Still nothing. I decide to go out and get my phone to shine the light. This is already 4 minutes in and I am in near panic mode having to bring in a light. I just know she's going to wake up now. I'm quiet as a crawl back across the room with my phone looking under the bed and on top of the covers. The damn tooth is just no where to be found and I've already been on the job 10 minutes. I'm sweating and my breathing is shallow as I am trying not to panic and wake her up. I do what every good parent does at this point. I put the $5 under that pillow and say to hell with the tooth.

I did find the tooth the next day. She had hidden it under a pile of clothes on the other twin bed in her room. Why? Because teeth don't belong under pillows.

Thanks for reading~
Jessica

Throw back picture of Emily at the age of 6