I really wish this post related to some fated romantic meeting, but alas, no. I can't sleep. Pretty much every night. Some of it's due to pain (shoulder, elbow, wrist, lower back), and I think some of it is adoption anxiety, but mostly, my brain will just not shut the hell off!
I've always had a little trouble sleeping but this is getting ridiculous. Generally, I wait til I'm so tired I'm drooping before I hit the sack, so I'll go right to sleep. Lately, not so much. When I finally go to bed, I lay there. And then I look at the clock. And then I lay there some more. And then I toss. And then I turn. And then I look at the clock. And then I squirm around some more. Finally after about an hour and half (and after waking G. up at least once) I go downstairs to the couch. Where I lay there. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
The last couple of weeks it's been at least 4am before I get to sleep. The good news is that when I do sleep, I sleep like the dead. Alarm clocks and phones don't phase me. I hear them, I turn them off, and I stumble back into bed not realizing that I've silenced the only things in the house that have a chance in hell of waking me up in time to go to work. These guys are only too happy that Mom is sleeping in. Bastards. Today, I didn't wake up until 10:30. Yeah, I'm supposed to be in at 9. Good thing they're not terribly observant. One of these days I'm going to get my ass fired for something stupid like that.
I've tried everything I can think of. Advil, check. Benedryl, check. Wine, check. Hot bath, check. Hot tea, check. So far, the only thing that has really worked were a muscle relaxer and a pain pill (for the back issues). I went right to sleep, but then I have the same issues in the morning. I don't want a sleeping pill if it can be avoided for the same reasons. Last night, after about 2 hours, I actually tried counting sheep. #1 leapt nimbly over the picket fence. So did #2-#9. Poor #10 caught a hoof on the top rail and tumbled end over fluffy end down the hill. I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm screwed when I can't even clear my mind long enough to count 10 sheep without causing one of them serious bodily injury.
What's a girl to do? Any ideas that won't contribute to my zombie-like morning tendencies? Really folks, speak up. I need some help here.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Time Keeps on Slipping (slipping, slipping) Into the Future
I couldn't get that one line of the song out of my head and I just had to share. You're welcome.
Current wait times to referral are around 11-12 months from LID. 6 weeks down, only 46 more to go! Woo.
Actually, I have really mixed emotions about this wait time. Don't get me wrong, I want my baby and I want her now! We would jump on a plane tomorrow with nothing but our passports and a smile (hey, it would make those security pat-downs at the airports SO much fun!) if we could. But alas, the powers that be have other plans. And frankly, so do I. I have so many things to do in the next year to prepare for this baby that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Also, work is threatening to actually make me do...work! this summer in preparation for a mid-December, month-long, out of town trial. So my time will shortly be even more limited in the baby prep arena.
At last check we (I) still needed to do the following:
1) pick a name. I doubt our daughter will appreciate having to fill out official forms as "her" or "she" even if we use her Chinese name as a middle name.
2) refinish 3 wood floors (we've never done this before), rip up old disgusting carpet and install new in one room, rip up disgusting old carpet and install Pergo in dining room (we've never done this before, either), install ceramic tile in no less than 3 rooms (take a guess at our tile laying experience, I dare ya!) All in the interest of never having to vaccum again (that, and keeping this kid from having hair balls.)
3) paint and furnish nursery. This will probably involve the refinishing of several pieces of furniture because holy shit! nursery furniture is expensive. But I've got a great crib picked out...either this one or this one. Let me know what you think.
4) collect and send fabric squares for a 100 good wishes quilt. Have you heard about this? In northern China, there is a tradition to make a "100 good wishes quilt" or Bai Jia Bei, to welcome a new baby. Family and friends are invited to donate a square of cloth which are then sewn together into a quilt which then contains all of the luck, energy and good wishes of those who contributed. It's a really lovely idea and though it promises to be a real pain in the ass, I'm game. I love the idea of my daughter having something soft and fluffy that is physical, tangible evidence of how much everyone here wanted her with us. If you are interested in swapping squares, let me know.
5) learn more Mandarin. G. and I took a very basic class this past fall, which hopefully will keep us from being completely rude travellers. I really want to know a little more before we go.
6) start a baby carrier business. My sister and I are trying to launch a custom, hand-sewn baby carrier business. I would love for this to take off enough to allow me to stay home with "her" or at least let me cut down to part time. We've sold one so far!(to a wonderful and patient family whose also adopting from China through The Agency) Anybody good at graphic design? Anybody know how to design a website? Anybody want a baby carrier?
7) buy baby stuff. I've got the clothing part down, I think. But the rest? Really, no clue. Diapers, bulb syringes (yuck!), car seats, Oh MY! What are your favorite, can't live without them products? What were the biggest wastes of time and money? Please be specific and remember, "she" will not be a newborn.
7) learn how to take care of a baby. I never babysat a lot, and it's been many, many years since I was around little ones very often. Feeding, changing, sleeping, etc...it can't be THAT hard can it???? Please tell me we will figure this out and not scar "her" for life.
Anybody know how to add about 8 more hours to the day???
Current wait times to referral are around 11-12 months from LID. 6 weeks down, only 46 more to go! Woo.
Actually, I have really mixed emotions about this wait time. Don't get me wrong, I want my baby and I want her now! We would jump on a plane tomorrow with nothing but our passports and a smile (hey, it would make those security pat-downs at the airports SO much fun!) if we could. But alas, the powers that be have other plans. And frankly, so do I. I have so many things to do in the next year to prepare for this baby that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Also, work is threatening to actually make me do...work! this summer in preparation for a mid-December, month-long, out of town trial. So my time will shortly be even more limited in the baby prep arena.
At last check we (I) still needed to do the following:
1) pick a name. I doubt our daughter will appreciate having to fill out official forms as "her" or "she" even if we use her Chinese name as a middle name.
2) refinish 3 wood floors (we've never done this before), rip up old disgusting carpet and install new in one room, rip up disgusting old carpet and install Pergo in dining room (we've never done this before, either), install ceramic tile in no less than 3 rooms (take a guess at our tile laying experience, I dare ya!) All in the interest of never having to vaccum again (that, and keeping this kid from having hair balls.)
3) paint and furnish nursery. This will probably involve the refinishing of several pieces of furniture because holy shit! nursery furniture is expensive. But I've got a great crib picked out...either this one or this one. Let me know what you think.
4) collect and send fabric squares for a 100 good wishes quilt. Have you heard about this? In northern China, there is a tradition to make a "100 good wishes quilt" or Bai Jia Bei, to welcome a new baby. Family and friends are invited to donate a square of cloth which are then sewn together into a quilt which then contains all of the luck, energy and good wishes of those who contributed. It's a really lovely idea and though it promises to be a real pain in the ass, I'm game. I love the idea of my daughter having something soft and fluffy that is physical, tangible evidence of how much everyone here wanted her with us. If you are interested in swapping squares, let me know.
5) learn more Mandarin. G. and I took a very basic class this past fall, which hopefully will keep us from being completely rude travellers. I really want to know a little more before we go.
6) start a baby carrier business. My sister and I are trying to launch a custom, hand-sewn baby carrier business. I would love for this to take off enough to allow me to stay home with "her" or at least let me cut down to part time. We've sold one so far!(to a wonderful and patient family whose also adopting from China through The Agency) Anybody good at graphic design? Anybody know how to design a website? Anybody want a baby carrier?
7) buy baby stuff. I've got the clothing part down, I think. But the rest? Really, no clue. Diapers, bulb syringes (yuck!), car seats, Oh MY! What are your favorite, can't live without them products? What were the biggest wastes of time and money? Please be specific and remember, "she" will not be a newborn.
7) learn how to take care of a baby. I never babysat a lot, and it's been many, many years since I was around little ones very often. Feeding, changing, sleeping, etc...it can't be THAT hard can it???? Please tell me we will figure this out and not scar "her" for life.
Anybody know how to add about 8 more hours to the day???
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