the week that changed everything

It has been so long since my last post that I can't think of one thing to blog about tonight. The one thing I do want to say is that I am really excited. So much good stuff to report. I'll run down the list for you:

1. The herpetic whitlow attack is over. Her thumb is back to its normal state. The blisters grew but never changed color. They popped on their own and are scabbed up. Hip Hip Hooray! I didn't have to bust out the needle and get viral juices on my hands.

2. The vacation went well. The kids had a great time. I had a great time. The rest of the family had a great time. Everyone helped out with the kids and I got to do lots of stuff like: go out to dinner without feeding a baby on my right and trying to keep my daughter from running around the restaurant on my left, waverunning with my husband at the incredible speed of 25 miles per hour and having a full body massage and steam room party with my sisters and stepmom.

3. I spent 15 hours away from the kids! That's right, and entire day out in the world doing what I love most. I acted in a short film until 6pm and then drove over the hill to bang. Improv Studio
to teach an improv class to a brand new group of students.

4. I drove the kids out to Ventura today, by myself, to spend the day with a friend of mine and her family. They live on the East Coast and come out once a year. It went well. The kids had a great time. I had a great time. And the best part... they fell asleep in the car on the way home around 5:30pm and haven't woken up! I put them in their beds and they are still asleep now at 10:00pm. I had the evening to myself to watch the series finale of Six Feet Under that had been waiting patiently for me on my Tivo.

5. I had a "ladies night out" with the Mommies from school last night. Great Mexican food was had by all. The gals had a good time. I had a good time. I even got dressed up.

6. I have a bridal shower to go to tomorrow in Malibu for a dear friend of mine. That's right, another day away from the kids with quality time with the ladies and some good eats.

Reading this over I see why I am so very excited. The past week has been perhaps the best week since my son was born. I feel like myself again. Not part of myself, my whole self. And I am a much better Mother today because I had that week. I think I was able to take the kids on such a big trip today without anxiety because I was able to reconnect with the world in such a huge way over the past 7 days. Not only did I get out of my house, I lived in the world. I remembered what I was good at and I spent quality time with other adults that I care deeply about. So, all you Mommies that feel like you have forgotten who you are, get out of your house... by yourself, and touch the world again.

it's back

the first outbreak - march 2004

I am horrified to report that my daughter's thumb is starting to swell up again with viral blisters. This is a strange condition called herpetic whitlow. The first time she got it was a year and a half ago, when she was 17 months old. She had a terrible virus the week before and she was teething. A bad combination. She had been chewing on her thumb and the virus got in there. She had cold sores on in the corner of her mouth before, but now she had cold sores on her thumb. The blisters turned black and had to be punctured and expressed at the pediatritian's office. This was followed by a treatment of antiviral and antibiotic topical creams. It took weeks for it to clear up completely, and when it did we never expected it to return.

My daughter had a viral infection over a week ago. Not a bad one. She had a fever one day of 100 degrees and mild intestinal issues for a couple of days and she was a little craby. Then, when all her symptoms were gone I noticed a cluster of blisters on her thumb. The same thumb. In the same two spots. She said it didn't hurt. I ran and grabbed the creams from last year and loaded it on. I called the pediatrition who said that was all I needed to do at this point. It wouldn't need to be "popped" unless it got infected. I am freaking out here. I mean, just look at that photo of how bad it got last time. And, how can it not hurt? Oh, and did I mention we are going on vacation Saturday?

arabesque

ah, summer... my kids have been having a good one. Today was the last day of summer camp for my daughter. Jay went back to Atlanta last week. No more cousins will be visiting until the next holiday break. I feel the heat wave beginning to break and with the lowering mercury comes the ever so slight shift in seasons here in California. My kids have grown up a lot since the summer began. My daughter can now sing just about any song she has heard more than once, my son is eating solid food cut into tiny pieces. No more jars of baby food. He only wants what he can shove into his mouth with his meaty little fists. My daughter is not tantruming as much. And when she does she says, "you made me cry, and now I feel better... Let's play toys." My son starting crawling at the beginning of the summer and now he is pulling himself up to standing and walking along the edge of the couch. He has also taken to climbing the stairs in under 5 seconds. My kids are both tan, with blond streaked hair. We still have Vacation Village in San Diego next week with the family. One last hurrah before my husband dives deep into working the fall schedule. The televisions shows are ramping up and he will be warming up TV taping audiences from Warner Brothers to Paramount by night, and directing ADR sessions in a windowless recording studio by day. My daughter will start nursery school, gone 5 days a week until noon. My son will start walking and talking and I... I'll be trying to keep up with the only thing that is certain in life,... change.

need a pick-me-up?

(see number three below)


This is mainly for you Mommies out there who, like me, have very little time for yourself. Although, readers sans progeny can try these as well. During the course of the day I look for ways to jumpstart my system. I get tiny bursts of energy that help me stay on top of the mess, care for my kids, cook all the meals, drive around in the hot, etc. But, these are TINY bursts. Here are some things I do to recharge my battery that take under 5 minutes. I have found that these things not only keep me alert, they make me happy, too.

1. Eat anything containing chocolate.

2. Use MILK AND HONEY SUGAR SCRUB in the shower. It smells like cookies and makes my skin feel like silk. Thanks again Messers for the gift that keeps on giving.

3. Laugh with your children.

4. Remember your favorite vacation. Ah, Saint Martin... sandy beaches... cool blue water... pina coladas...

5. Read someone's latest blog entry. I enjoy Cranky Mommy. She writes them short and sweet, with a hint of sarcasm and keen observations. (see my sidebar for the link)

If anybody out there has more to add I would love to try something new. Please comment here and tell me what you do to get through the day with a smile on your face.

dress up or rehearsal?

They are tattered and stained, but she doesn't seem to notice. Sometimes I put them over her clothes and other times she wears them with only her princess pull-up underneath. Some days she'll be Snow White from morning til bedtime, and other days she'll be Cinderella for breakfast, Sleeping Beauty at lunch, Barbie Ballerina to the store and Fairy Princess on the patio. Dress up is not just a game at our house, it's a way of life. Being the daughter of two performing artists (that's how the IRS catagorizes our profession) it isn't surprising. I just didn't think it would start this early. We have a scene we like to do together. It's a Charlie and Lola sketch from the episode titled, "Boo, I Made You Jump." I am Charlie and she is Lola. It goes a little something like this:

We are seated on the couch. Lola mimes eating banana chips.
Charlie: (with an English accent) I have this little sister Lola, she is very small and very funny.
pause
Charlie turns to Lola: Boo!
Lola thows her banana chips in the air and screams

This makes us both laugh and we enjoy performing it for various friends and family members. She also enjoys singing the entire soundtrack to Pooh's Heffalump Movie while running around the couch. She stood on top of her Dora Legos box today and told me she was on stage and ready to do a show for me. I applauded, she stood still and stared back at me smiling. Then she got off of her stage. That was the show. And yet, when the video camera turns on she loses her muse. Perhaps she is meant for the theater and not television and film. We'll see. For now, I am just happy to have a regular scene partner.