don't kiss my lips unless...

This has been a really busy week. Not only have we had multiple places to be every day, my procrastinating self has had to make a lot of bows in a short amount of time in order to be "ready" for the craft fair this weekend (whatever "ready" means).

Yesterday morning after swinging by the Crisis Pregnancy Center program that some of the ladies from church were putting on at a church in Tyler, Madelyn and I went to lunch with the Children's Miracle Network volunteers. We ate at a yummy restaurant and it was so good to get to know some new ladies.

One of the ladies that I met has a miracle boy that was born at 26 weeks. Wow. I cannot even imagine. When Madelyn was in the NICU, there was a baby that was born at 24 weeks. I got a glimpse of that baby when I was walking to get something from the front desk area and that image will forever be with me. Her little boy also developed severe acid reflux and at four years old is still on medicine for it. That was somewhat disheartening to hear, but at the same time, you learn to get through it! For the first time I have felt like I have been face to face with someone that could relate to Madelyn's reflux issues. I know and have met lots of people who have children or know of a child with reflux, but have never met anyone whose child's reflux causes the breathing issues like Madelyn's. It's hard to explain, but it felt like such a relief just hearing that someone else knows how scary it can be.

I have so many awkward/interesting situations where people that we do not know or even those that we do but are not family (because family has the right to do what they want in my opinion) have sort of "crossed the line" in my mind. I try not to be the germaphobe mom, but when things such as someone:

- repeatedly kissing your child on the mouth
- putting their fingers in Madelyn's mouth for her to suck on
- grabbing the pacifier by the nipple

I pretty much start to crawl out of my skin. I mean really, is that necessary? And what makes anyone think that is OK. The last one isn't as big of a deal, but how hard is it to grab the paci by the little handle? The first one I had yet to see until just the other day and it was all I could do not to scream and puke at the same time! I wanted to rescue Madelyn but instead went the "polite" route and let it continue until I just could not at all take it anymore. I mean really...people you don't know well kissing your baby on the mouth?? I did not know that would ever even be a possibility.

I say all of that because the lady that I met at lunch told me about a bracelet they put on her little boy that read, "please wash your hands before you touch me".

I am thinking of making some for Madelyn that say, "Before you think it's OK to kiss my lips, make sure your name is Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa." Ha.

Anyway, that's enough ranting about my germaphobia.

I look forward to being involved with the Children's Miracle Network this year. As we sat at lunch I could not help but think about how many of the nice things in the NICU were purchased from funds raised through the CMN telethon.

After lunch Madelyn was so tired. She passed out while we were still in the restaurant. I know that she would wake up if I went straight home and got her out so I did what any mother who desperately wants her child to nap would do...I drove around for the next hour and a half. I filled up my gas tank, got a Sonic drink, went through the bank drive through, parked under a shade tree for a few minutes in a parking lot and rolled down the windows (which did not last long because she started to stir) and took a drive through the country. Sure, I put miles on my car. Sure, I wasted gas. Sure, I polluted the air. BUT, my child had a great nap :) AND I enjoyed an hour and a half of praise and worship music with a little silence thrown in. It was glorious and worth it.

Once the baby started to wake up, I headed towards the house. She woke up happy and ready to play! She ate puffs for the very first time on Sunday night and she has really started to get the hang of them. Yesterday afternoon I gave her about 15 of them and let her eat them at her own pace. After about 30 minutes of playing in her high chair I started to take her out and was SO impressed that the little monkey had eaten all but 2 of the puffs. Well, I was not impressed for long. 10 of the 15 were stuck to her thighs and under her arms.

Oh well. I know I saw her eat at least four of them. She also gummed a wagon wheel (strange name for a kids food). What a mess, but she loved it.

My mom brought my sister, Luke and I dinner and played with Madelyn last night so I could get some things done. She came over and did that again tonight. She is SO thoughtful and I am SO thankful. She offered and I accepted :)

This morning I had MOPS. Luke planned to stay with Madelyn until I got back because she is pretty much too busy to sit quietly for that long now. Once I got there, all I could think about was how much I would rather be outside or with my family. I have loved going to MOPS. Love the fellowship. Love the teaching. Love the sweet notes from my mentor mom. Love it all, but today I just did not feel like being there. After about 45 minutes (and the speaker joking about moms slipping out the door and disappearing) I made my way out the back door.

I headed home and Luke, Madelyn and I went to lunch together on Luke's way out to the church. Madelyn slept in the back seat actually while Luke and I picked up lunch, rolled the windows down and had a day date in the parking lot. It was fun. I love him.

After that Madelyn and I ran in to Target for a few things and then headed home.

It's been bow making/get distracted and clean something/feed the baby/read a few blogs/get distracted and clean a few more things/bow making since then. Now, it's time to close my eyes for a few before the baby wakes to eat.