Does That Make Me A Bad Mom?

My 6 month old baby girl beat up my 3rd grade daughter tonight and all I could do was laugh. Not just laugh, but laugh so hard that tears were squeezing themselves out and rolling down my cheeks.

Does that make me a bad Mom?

Baby was screaming. Big sister was asked to help out. She picked up the innocent-looking, chubby assailant and all Hell broke loose.

Arms were flailing. Ear-piercing screams were coming out of a very red face. I looked over as I made a quick bottle and big sis was crying too. I seriously thought it was a joke. It looked absolutely ridiculous and hilarious. Baby sister was doing some serious fit-throwing, butt-kicking and bis sister was crying.

Does that make me a bad Mom?

In my defense, I thought big sis was joking. We do have a demented sense of humor in our family. The sad part was even when I finally discovered that the tears were real...the 8 yr. old's tears....I still was laughing.

I could not stop myself.

The more I tried to stop, the more I laughed. I feel badly that I laughed, but I seriously could NOT stop.

Does that make me a bad Mom?

Before you say, "YES," please know that I did stop laughing long enough to apologize for my actions. I tried to relay to my oldest daughter how ironic the scene was that unfolded before me.....little chubby baby in her pink footy pajamas, screaming her little baby head off, arms hitting big sister's face in I-want-bottle frustration,and big sister's mouth wide open crying too. Seriously, that's funny, right?

Does that make me a bad Mom?

Eczema Joy and an Eczema Don't

I never knew I could be so thankful for beautiful skin...on another person...until my dear, sweet boy, Max came along into my life. He has had an especially bad year with his eczema...severe infections, bed-ridden pain for days on end, red-bloody-oozy skin (totally gross, I know), depression, which for a 6 yr.old is beyond sad. After much thought and prayer, we decided on a risky treatment of Cyclosporine (an anti-rejection medication used by transplant recipients) to help suppress his immune system just enough to trick his body into NOT reacting to every little thing in his environment. The result, so far, is awesome! His skin is absolutely beautiful! He's back to his old hyper self. As he's running, screaming through the house, nearly smacking his baby sister upside the head with his new Indiana Jones whip (thanks Grandma and PawPaw), I have to stop before getting on to him and thank God that he is able to do this....to play....to run...to have joy again. What a blessing!

On another note....if ever in public, and you see a child with a rash or sores, please resist the urge to yell out, "Hey, is that eczema?" or "Does he have chicken pox?" or "What's wrong with him?" I know you may not mean to be rude, but consider the child you're referring to. Although he may act as if he doesn't, he CAN hear you, and he is SICK of being made to feel DIFFERENT or as if his entire existence is centered around this frustrating skin disease. Don't worry...trust me...if it was contagious or the PLAGUE, I wouldn't have him in public.

If snot was gold, we'd be RICH!

Bulb syringe?
check

Saline nose drops?
check

Kleenexes?
check

Prepared to use the above supplies every thirty minutes or so?
check

This has been our life for the past week. Delaney has RSV....a terrible virus that basically makes the baby drown in mucus....terrifying and gross, but true. We've had some scary moments, and Delaney even spent the entire weekend in the hospital. Thankfully we're home. I just wish snot was gold! If it were, we'd be rich!

Blog Confessions and Other Observations

It's been a LONG time since I actually added anything to my blog. The sad thing is, I've had nothing very interesting to add. I must confess, I'm more of a reader than a writer. Blogs I enjoy reading are Salyards Blaaaugh (a friend from school), The Bloggen Ogden (that friend's sister...whom I don't even know, but she just adopted a newborn little baby and I love reading about their adventures), and That's What She Said (written by someone I met through the writer of Salyards Blaaugh....I know her a little bit, but TOTALLY LOVE to anonymously read her blog).

Now that I've gotten that confession off of my chest, I must comment on the above picture. Isn't she adorable!?!? My little baby Delaney is such a doll, and since she is DEFINITELY my last, I tend to appreciate her baby-ness all that much more....taking really huge sniffs of her clean, freshly washed head after baths, not minding when I get spit-up or slobber on me, relishing the quiet little moments when I'm nursing her and she just stares so intently into my eyes. Even her cries are not the least bit annoying. I find myself saying, "Ah, listen to that sweet sound!" Seriously.....I know that may sound nuts, but I know this is it...my last baby. Boy, isn't she something else?!?! So again, look at that cute New Year's Baby.