Dear Tasha…

Comment from my last post…

“Hey, are you all sick still again? I hope it is a busy-good reason, not a busy-sick reason you haven’t been on!”…Tasha

First of all, thanks for asking about me.  That’s awful nice.  Second of all.  Yes, Abby was sick last week with some sort of Roseola-ish ailment, followed by a nice finish this week that looked much like an unfinished ear infection – what the pulling on the ears, poor sleeping, fussiness and all.  So I took Abby to our trusty pediatrician only to be told (within 2 minutes of the visit) that her ears looked crystal clear and the tugging was due to referred ear pain from her teething. 

For this I paid $110, as we have not met our deductible for the year yet (though we our mighty close thanks to the January/February RSV awesomeness).  For $110 dollars, I’m pretty sure I should’ve gotten a free mammogram or something.  Or maybe something a slightly less weird like a free teeth whitening or a haircut.

Sheesh I need a haircut.

In an effort to save money or in one of my odd stand-off things that I randomly do (one year, pre-kids of course, Mark and I saw how long we could go without turning on our heat.  It turned out badly for my toes, but that’s a whole different story)…anyway, I haven’t gotten a haircut since October.  It’s getting pretty wicked, the hair situation.

But that’s not really what I meant to say here.  What I meant to say is that even though Abby’s been sick, the real reason I deserved a freakin’ haircut AND a tooth whitening and massage and a glass of champagne at the doctor’s office for my $110 2-minute ear-check-up is because Mark has been out of town on a business trip for a million years now.

Well maybe not a million.

But close.

And I am on the very edge of sanity.

I was really worried that I would delve into this deep valley of depression with Mark being gone and Abby and Will’s birthday approaching this spring.  But I was sorely mistaken.  I am far, far too exhausted to be delving.  Despite the fact that I am the kiddo’s primary caretaker…the very absence of escape is exhausting.   I find it hard to fall into a real sleep, as if my brain continues to trot on the treadmill even as my body goes through the motions of nighttime.

I’ve watched the coverage of the protests and massacres in Tripoli until it turns my stomach at 3AM.  I’ve watched the insides of my eyelids.  Listened to the kids sleep.  Last night, I practically ordered Alyssa Milano endorsed WEN haircare products until I came to my senses.

So, here’s my take-away from Mark’s recent trip (cue Doogie Howser, M.D. Casio keyboard music)…

1. Single parents have it tough.  I am in awe.
2. Mark does more than I usually give him credit.
3. Mark is definitely the fun one.
4. I lose my sense of humor on business-trip day 3.
5. I stop making the beds on day 2.
6. I HATE walking the dog.  We need a fence.
7. I’m glad we get to be a family together usually.
8. I’m glad Mark usually walks the dog at night.
9. Mark owes me a day at the spa.
10. Or at least a haircut.