Less is More

Re-reading my last blog, from the very start of our vacation - back when I was young and naive, I see that I was still deluded that 5 weeks with my two children here at my parents was a great idea. Big sandy beach which a nice, swimmable lack, what could go wrong? Now, 4 weeks in, I feel the need to rethink the wisdom of this trip.

First of all , to take a two year old for this long from his routine has been less than wonderful. He's so far out of his usual element that he's overstimulated, constantly underslept and often plays so much that he is plain worn out by late afternoon. He refuses to nap, falls asleep in a chair at about 5 and then will not go to bed properly and the next day, we start all over again. The result has been a cranky, clingy child - one who is prone to screaming child when he's frustrated about something or sometimes even if just leave the room. Add into this mix a 3-month-old, who, wonderful though she may be, is still only a 3 month old and "WILL NOT BE IGNORED, DAN" (yes, that is a random Fatal Attraction reference) and you have a not-so-relaxing vacation.

So, I'm exhausted as well. Since Eric (more on him later) has just arrived, today is the first day that I feel more relaxed. No coincidence this is my first blog update since he left. Other vacation firsts...today was my first time out in the kayak, first time lying down in the hammock and last night, the first time I have had a block of sleep longer than 4 hours.

Of course, Eric's arrival has already helped enormously. Not that my parents don't help because they TOTALLY do (not to mention that I don't have to cook, clean or do laundry), but unlike with my parents, I don't feel guilty asking him to do anything or better yet, he just DOES it. Guilt, unnecessary though it might be, is exhausting.

Now for Eric. He is currently sitting in the Emergency Room at hospital. Again. Playing baseball back at home two weeks ago he slid into second base (SAFE!) and in the process ripped off a grapefruit sized patch of skin on his leg. To make a long story short, this has resulted in a serious infection, 2 trips to the walk in clinic, 3 trips to Emergency, twice a day nurse visits and round the clock intravenous anti-biotics, both at home and here. (My 4 hours block of sleep was accompanied by the rhythmic wheezing and occasional beeping of Eric's IV pump. )

After scrambling to arrange for his nursing care here (he thought he's be done on Saturday), not to mention trying to arrange security clearance to fly with his cooler full of liquid medicine, he arrived yesterday all IV'd up. When he showed us the wound I cannot imagine how it looked before the 14-day course of antibiotics because it still looks hideous. Kieran, who was so happy to see his Daddy, took one look at his leg and wouldn't go near him after that- and still won't unless the wound is properly bandaged, and thus hidden away. Frankly, I don't really blame him. And obviously, IV at camp, with a baby and a toddler, is less than ideal. He cannot swim, sauna, play on the beach or give children baths. Having Kieran climb on him is nothing short of an act of pure courage and Kaya has already yanked on the tube with her surprisingly strong baby grip.

Anyway, I suspect today's trip to the hospital will result in an yet another extension this continued nightmare since I'm quite sure that no doctor worth his degree will look at the leg and take him off the antibiotics just yet. The minor upside for Eric (besides having his family around him) is that he now gets his nursing care on the deck overlooking Lake Superior.

So, I'm looking forward to heading home and getting back into regular life. I'm going to have to break Kaya of numerous bad habits that she has acquired here (Napping in swing? Check? Sleeping in my bed? Check. Nursing to sleep? Check.) Most of all, I want my sweet two year old back. Hopefully, the clingy, cranky version stays here....