Monday, May 08, 2006

Stressed? Rant...rant...rant

Friday was quite a day. Savannah had her Wiggle-A-Thon. I think it was a successful fundraiser. She was so looking forward to it. I don't think she actually knew what it was, but there was some thing she was doing at school with a funny name. So, I dropped her off at school at normal time and then returned at a little after 10am for the Wiggle-A-Thon. It was in full swing when I got there. There was music blaring and kids swarming everywhere, waving streamers and singing and dancing. I got a couple pics that I hope to post later. Savannah was having a grand old time. And then......she saw me. From that moment on, she was screaming and crying and begging to go home. Vincent just ran off and disappeared in the crowd and joined in on the fun. Savannah wouldn't move. So here I am dragging her around the crowd, looking for my son and all the while trying to keep an eye on the baby who I had dropped off on one of the tables in his carrier. I tried wiggling and dancing along with the kids and looked like an idiot trying to get Savannah involved while she threw herself on the ground and cried. Why do kids do that? She was having so much fun before I got there. Then mom shows up - killer of all fun apparently.
So after the Wiggle-A-Thon, I had to go to my 6 week postpartum checkup. I was smart enough to arrange babysitting...whew. I was so exhausted from the morning, plus no sleep and just felt stressed. When I showed up and checked in at the clinic the first thing they ask me - at the front desk in front of a bunch of people is "What is your current method of birth control?" Are you kidding me? Normally this kind of stuff does not bother me, but I all but burst into tears. How about 3 children in 3 years? Is that good enough birth control for you?
So they have me fill out this questionnaire to determine whether or not I am depressed - I guess that is standard. My score was 7. Seven out of what I have no idea, but my midwife says "Your score tells me that you are overwhelmed. Is there anything we can do about that?" Well, lets see, I don't sleep, often don't have time to eat and we are getting ready to move AND my husband is getting to leave again just as we close escrow on our house, so I have to do everything by myself. Yes. I would say I am overwhelmed.
So she sends me off with a list of vitamins to take and strict orders to get more rest. I laugh bitterly all the way to the car. Fat chance.
I will say though that my husband has been great and ACTUALLY heard me when I said I wasn't healing properly because I was pushing too hard. I even got to sleep in both days during the weekend. It was fabulous. So yes, I am stressed, but working on it. I just love how people say, get more rest - as if I actually really have that option most of the time.

6 comments:

Miss Kelly said...

Oh, you poor thing! I can sort of feel your pain...sort of.
You're not a Scientologist...you can take whatever you want!

Caro said...

Oh, I love the "Is there anything WE can do for you?" question.

Let's see, you could come clean my house, watch my kids, cook my dinner. Oh wait, is that the wrong answer?

Anonymous said...

(((Kristin))) It'll get better, hon. You're a champ for hanging in there!

Unknown said...

Loved that reply Miss Kelly!!

It will get better. As soon as you guys get settled in your new home that will be a huge stresser out of the way. Hey, atleast you didn't just get trashed (OK not that trashed) on the YOSC newsletter (Yokosuka Officer's Spouses Club)SHEESH!

Mz.Elle said...

Thinking about you!

Trailady said...

Ugh! I got the same advice after each of my 4 babies & 2 miscarriages. YEAH RIGHT!! I remember thinking, "So does this mean you're going to come cook and clean for me so I can get some rest?" Whatever! Living far from family, having a husband that works constantly and moving nearly every year of my life is exhausting. When my hands are freed up a little, I will volunteer to assist new mothers- as overwhelmed was my middle name for 10 years.