May 12, 2013

  • Big Disappointment?

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Unless there are deliveries tomorrow, I don't think I'm getting my Edible Bouquet.  It didn't come today and I was home.  Chewlee arrived here around 7am and she was sick as a dog.  She had vomited several times before she got here (Chewlee said she had vomited four times and, since she spent the day counting each time she threw up, I believe her).  The last count was 9 times and she also had an accident, twice, and we had to change her underwear and her pedal pushers.  She had a couple bouts of diarrhea,too.  During all this, she had no fever.

    She came and slept in my arms while I was laying back in my recliner.  All she asked for was some cold water.  I gave her an insulated cup with crushed ice and water.  She pretty much just sipped it all morning.  At one point, she told me she didn't want to watch cartoons; she wanted peace and quiet because she had a little bit of a headache.  When I suggested that she go lay on the bed, she gave me no argument.  She just grabbed her blankey and the ice water and headed for the bed.  I tucked her in and almost closed the door shut.  She fell asleep for about two hours. 

    When she woke up, she was feeling better.  But....the idiot Beast gave her some milk because it always makes *him* feel better.  Either milk or hot chocolate, neither of which I would have given her.  She laid around in my recliner for about a half hour and then, while I was busy in the kitchen, I heard her crying.  When I asked what she was crying about, the Beast, rag in hand, said, *Because she threw up!*  I looked where he pointed and, on the bathroom rug, there was this definite white blob.  I knew it was the milk.  So did he which was why he was wiping it up.  She was crying because she was upset that she didn't make it to the sink or toilet.

    However, after that episode, she felt (and acted) like she was better.  She finally was a little hungry and wanted some chicken noodle soup.  She ate it and not throwing up afterward (Hurrah!).  When I called the Princess who was on her way home from work by then, Chewlee was acting like herself (riding her bike outside) and had been vomit-free for over an hour-and-a-half.

    She got excited about going to the gym with her mother for a going away party and put on a pair of her jeans I had here so she *looked nice for mommy*.  Johnnycakes showed up to pick her up and was very happy that she wasn't throwing up any more.  She had just put her bike away so she grabbed her blankey and the pickle I had packed for her (in a baggy).  I told her that it was up to her mommy when and IF she could eat it.

    The Beast and I made up the base for the Italian beef recipe my sister, Cee, sent to everyone.  We had roasted the beef roast to rare yesterday and wrapped it up in aluminum foil.  We kept it in the refrigerator overnight and then the Beast sliced it thin.  We put it all in the slow cooker to simmer for four hours and, halfway through, I put the green peppers in it.  It turned out fantastic.  I baked the rolls the Beast had bought to crisp the crust since we love crispy rolls for our Italian beef.  Perfection!

    It was perfect weather today, too.  I sat outside a couple times just enjoying it and watching the birds flying around and eating the worms that came out of the ground after a brief but heavy storm passed over us early in the day.  At least we didn't have to worry about watering the garden...LOL!  Tomorrow is supposed to be even better (and warmer).

    Love you all.  Have a wonderful Sunday.  I intend to enjoy it by working out in the garden while the Beast goes to church.  I noticed a few weeds that can use pulling and it's so much easier when the ground is wet.  Have some fun and reach out and touch someone (via phone for example).  Tell someone you love that you do.  Life is too short. 

     NOTE:  Bratfink got on my case about not giving Chewlee a waste basket or some such thing but I tried that...more than once when she gets sick.  She agrees but then refuses to use it.  She would rather clean up the floor (or change her clothes) than use a waste basket for some reason.  I finally ended up putting towels near her head while she was laying down.  Once she threw up in one, I would immediately take it and replace it.  But she would always try to make it to the toilet or the sink.  If she didn't, she would cry but she would start to clean it up herself. 

    I would wipe off her face and finish cleaning it up.  I can't see letting a child who is ill wipe up her own vomit.  Even the Beast isn't that mean.  But Chewlee is Chewlee and she is stubborn about what she likes to do and/or wants to do.  That's HER personality.  I'm not going to beat her to make her use a waste basket or bowl.  If you try to force her to do something, she gets more upset and vomits more.  She HATES being sick and throwing up and will actually try to hide the fact that she is doing any vomiting.  I think that is sad when she's only doing it because she is sick.  Bratfink asked, *Who is the adult here?* but you can't browbeat a headstrong child into doing what YOU want when she obviously has an aversion to the use of other things to vomit into.  I don't know what started that problem but she obviously thinks it's more *grown up* to use the sink or the toilet.  And, if there is anything that Chewlee wants, it's to be *grown up*.  When you discover she is throwing up, she starts to cry inconsolably.  Just so you know what I am dealing with.  I just want her to relax and NOT get more upset.