The Good
I kept to my theme of improvement this year. I walked Sweetie almost two miles and took NikkiZ out on one of those adventures. I was more patient in general with my kids and just did the housework that needed to be done without mumbling or grumbling or being bitter about it. We went to the Recycling Center and took a lot of Christmas stuff that could be recycled and I organized the laundry room cabinets. I cooked a real dinner (with rolls!) and cleaned up my own dishes. (note from 2020: I deleted a rant about losing weight here.) Day one was a success in terms of the resolutions and the goals. And considering my track record? That’s something to celebrate.
The Bad
NikkiZ woke up New Year’s Eve with a runny nose. We took her to a party that night anyway where she surely contaminated every kid there. We were just hoping she wasn’t getting sick. But, we found out about 30 minutes into the near year that we were overly optimistic. She woke up congested and wheezy and crying and moaning. MrZ put her in bed with us where she continued to kick me in the face for the next 6 hours until she woke up for good New Year’s Day.
Although she’s sick, her mood was pretty good throughout the day so we were able to still have a little bit of fun between dates with Kleenexes and periods of coughing. Of course, as the night progressed she started truly phasing out on us as she willingly went to sleep at 6:20pm. Of course, I got her back up around 8pm as she was screaming and congested. We put her in bed with us, dealt with the up/down crying/moaning/sore throat misery for several hours between the two of us, when she finally seemed to fall asleep around midnight. And has spent the rest of the night kicking MrZ in the face this time. I snuck out of bed to shower and she is, literally, sleeping with her feet in his face. Better him than me.
The Ugly
During the worst part of the night, I was quite impatient with MrZ as well. It’s like I had used up all of my patience with the sick toddler and Super Mom Role all day and had zero left for him. So, that’s not such a good start to the whole Be The Wife My Husband Deserves resolution. Especially considering he then had to spend the next several hours – not sleeping – but getting kicked in the face by a toddler. That probably wouldn’t have been as bad if his wife hadn’t spent the hours prior saying, “Do you really have to still be watching TV this late?” in nineteen different manners and tones.
All in all? We’ve seen worse and I’m still pretty damn happy about my predominant success on my resolutions Day One. The sick toddler sucks, but there’s not much we can do about it. It’s just an annoying cold. Just kinda gotta’ wait it out and try to keep her comfortable.
And keep the doors locked in case any of the parents from the New Year’s Eve party come hunt us down for making their kids sick too.
Hi, Zoot,
I’ve been lurking for a couple of months and really love your blog! Your writing is so energetic and zesty, and the things you write about are so daily and human. I love it! This entry is especially so. Makes me just wnat to give you a hug. You are so hard on yourself all the time–it’s not a bad thing to be tired, or want help, or for you to acknowledge the effect these strains have on you as lovingly as you note them for your husband. I bet he feels the same way—your sleep was interrupted, too, and you, too had needs that couldn;t get met in the moment. I think you are great. 🙂
That is a wonderful first day of the New Year, you did much much better than me! I am starting today 😉
Aha! So it wad your kid who got my kid sick – thanks a lot! LOL
Good start on the resolutions.
You are having a great start to the year. With the exception of the little one being ill. I hope she feels better soon!!
I think you’re an awesome wife 🙂 Probably a thousand times better than I’ll ever be at any rate! heh. Don’t be too hard on yourself, hun. Plus we all know that hubby of yours is crrrrazy about you! 🙂
Oh, and you’ve got to change December’s MVPs to January’s 🙂 I’m #1! haha. Won’t last long 😉
No sickness here! (knock on wood)!! I am dying for you to post your pictures from the party…ALL of them! There were none taken with any of our cameras!
Congratulations on the healthy eating. That has been one of my hardest resolutions to keep (especially since I’m a “grab a cheese danish at her desk and call it meal” kind of girl).
I’m sure it takes a lot of energy to do all those things so MrZ should just be thankful you didn’t roundhouse kick the television or something! 😉
It’s tough to be so patient all day long and then have to come home and be unfailingly polite to your spouse as well. Sometimes I can pull it off. Sometimes, my crappier nature wins out.
And hey, congrats on the backtracking on the weight gain! I wish I could say the same, but I tend to get extremely fat while pregnant. With or without the delicious chocolatey goodness.
I find that I am most snarky with my husband when my son is sick in the night.
I don’t think many people are fountans of patience in such situations.
Try Robitussin CF for NikkiZ’s cold. It is the only thing that helps my 2 yr old when he gets a cold. If nothing else it knocks them out so they can sleep and maybe you too!
Poor NikkiZ. I hope she feels better soon.
I think you did well the first day. Only one ugly. It could have been much worse.
I didn’t know you were pregnant; you’re still tiny! Congrats!
(BTW, it’s the chick from Target, in case you were wondering.)
Happy New Year!
Poor girl. You and NikkiZ. Sick kids suck. We’ve all just gotten over some sort of stomach bug. Not fun when you’re an adult, and definitely not fun for an (Almost!) 3 year old.
Oh, and I don’t mean that the kids suck. Them BEING sick sucks. Sometimes them too, but that’s another story.
Yay for you for everything listed under The Good. That’s way more than I’ve got under my belt this year so far.
Keep up the good work! The first days are the hardest.
I had a crap New Year. My partner nearly got into a fight and broke his phone in the process. Ah well.