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Balancing Act with Max

Amy Morgan

Balancing Act with Max

Bleary, sleepy-eyed with a sharp pain in between my eyes, Max was up most of the night feverish and cranky. I thank God that it was a Friday night; I don’t have to work on Saturdays. So here’s what “no work” looked like on that morning.

  • Max is asleep
  • Search for cell phone as it was missing from nightstand
  • Find cell phone in between mattress and platform bed frame
  • Call Max’s doctor’s office for recording because receptionist gives the number of after hours and weekend urgent care
  • Don’t write number down, think I’ve got it, but when I go to dial it, I forget it
  • Call Max’s doctor’s office for recording to get the after hours and weekend urgent care number again
  • Call, tell the nurse his symptoms and she suggests that I bring him in at 10:30am
  • That is in 30 minutes
  • Hair is medusa mess
  • Hop in shower
  • Max is awake
  • Quickly rinse off in shower trying to remember what it is like to shave legs
  • Throw on various items from bedroom floor
  • Max is crying
  • Gather wipes, extra diapers, cup of juice, jar of apple delight
  • Search for flip-flops
  • Flip-flops on feet already
  • Search for keys
  • Keys in Max’s toy-tub
  • Max-get-Max!
  • Change his diaper and leave pajamas on
  • I am five minutes early

Humph! No coffee. I don’t like the urgent care doctor! He doesn’t have a plastic lizard on his stethoscope, and has a stern-little man look furrowing on his brow. Max cries when he enters the room.

Diagnosis: Double ear infection and ruptured left ear-drum.

  • Feed Max apple delight in car
  • Drive to drug store to get prescription filled
  • Call mom to give diagnosis
  • Call sister to give diagnosis
  • Text other two sisters to give diagnosis
  • Waiting for prescription
  • Waiting for prescription
  • Waiting for pharmacy tech to find Max’s prescription
  • Give Max first dose of medicine in car
  • Drive home
  • Max wants to play!

I get it now. To all of my friends that zombie-walked into work on Monday after a weekend with their kids. . . I get it. I whined about drinking too many martinis and dancing into the cold hours of the night, while you experienced a “tired” that I didn’t understand until now.

I also get why we did it though. On the Sunday morning after the urgent care horror- show, Max woke up; I could tell his medicine was working. On his tummy, looking at me with a smile of four teeth, the wave of love I felt for him was all consuming. So my Monday zombie-walk into work that morning was motivated by Max.

BIO: Amy Morgan has worked in live news, production, public relations and marketing. A "jill of all trades" she has a great passion for photography, creative writing, reading and traveling. Always on the go, her most important job is being Max's mom!

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Comments

Submitted by Laura Gettis (not verified) on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 14:00

Way to still end up early! I love that! But no coffee... Man! Good thing Max is so dang cute! Ha ha great article it was a very realistic of a frantic morning!!
Submitted by Neffijer (not verified) on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 16:40

Ah yes, I remember those days with the young one. Hard as Hell, yet so rewarding! Loved the article, made me laugh, while nodding my head and reminiscing.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 23:05

I love that! Even though we may not have to go to work one day, we still have to "go to work."
Submitted by Mary E. Davis, ... (not verified) on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 07:54

I'm sure that EVERY mom who read this, was shaking her head, knowing EXACTLY where you're coming from! Funny, how we never envision THIS scene when we consider motherhood, isn't it? My son has asthma, and although he's now 13, the first 9 years were EXHAUSTING for HIM and my husband and myself. (Thank goodness, I have my husband!) We spent countless hours wrestling our son, trying to hold the Nebulizer mask on his face, so he could breathe-in the medication............then, when he'd finished, he was bouncing off the walls from the steroids he'd just inhaled! And, like Amy, we made many trips to the ER when his breathing got really bad. Hang in there, Amy! 'This too shall pass!' It's hard to remember now, but 'what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!'
Submitted by Amy Morgan (not verified) on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 23:02

OH!!!! Thanks Mary!! I have a friend who experienced the Nebulizer mask with her son!!! AHHH!!! I commend you!! It is so amazing how we just do it! It is amazing what we do for the ones we love! Thank you for sharing, and reminding me that "this too shall pass", so I can take on the next challenge!!!!
Submitted by Nikole Odell (not verified) on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 16:58

Amy I love to hear about you and Max!! Sick days with kids are horrific. You are worried, tired and worried! Sometimes wondering, "what in the world did I get myself into?"! But, in the end, the unconditional love and cuddles you get make it all worthwhile.
Submitted by Stacey L (not verified) on Wed, 08/12/2009 - 13:39

Thanks for sharing your weekend struggle Amy, I know you're not alone in how you feel on Monday morning. Men may come and go, but at least you'll have Max to always put a smile on your face!

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