I have a throbbing pain in my lower back that is making me walk like my 70-year-old grandfather used to after one of his 14-hour shifts as a waiter (true fact). I mention my late grandfather now because an amazing thing occurred to me the other night during Renata's 9PM feeding. I don't remember ever seeing my Guelito Polo sleep. I'm serious. I have not one single memory of him with his eyes closed. Not once did the adults have to shush us kids for making too much noise because Abuelo was asleep... Not once did I ever wake up before him or go to bed after him... As a matter of fact, I don't even think that I ever saw him lying down. What was his secret? My maternal grandparents had 5 kids, so maybe he stumbled across some sort of magic potion that eliminated the need for sleep in his body. My Abuela Nico was into herbs and powders as a cures for everything from acne to anal warts so maybe she cooked up a little magic for her old man. I clearly remember my grandmother taking daily mid-afternoon naps in the living room in a Lazy Boy chair while watching one of her "animal shows"... But not him. Not once, not ever.
I need me some of that mojo. The girl's sleeping pattern has changed for the better... but not in the way I was hoping for. They have begun skipping their 12AM feedings. They just sleep right through it now. That means that they are now giving us a 6-hour break every night, which is amazing and great... but that 6-hour stretch goes from 9PM to 3AM... and I guess I really wish that it was from 12AM to 6AM. I know what you're thinking... beggars can't be choosers. But I really need to get rid of that 3AM feeding. The 3AM is the one that gets me every time. I said it back in episode 1 and it rings just as true today... The 3AM is no joke. It'll make you or break you. It is the truth and it'll get you every time. The girl's pediatrician (also a mother of twins) keeps telling us that we just have to hold on till they reach 9 months. Apparently that's when everything changes and they start making the switch from babies to toddlers. And a part of that change includes sleeping through the night. I don't know if I'll be able to make 3 more months of this but I do know that my grandfather would be laughing at me and my suffering. Little Nancy Boy can't function because he has to get up at 3AM every morning? Boo hoo. I need to get a hold of my Tia Chelo and find out if she knows what was in that magic potion that my grandmother used to make... I will continue my steady diet of Red Bulls until then.
There will be no sleeping tonight for Catalina (or me). She has a stuffy nose and it keeps her from using a pacifier in her mouth because she can't breathe... but that's the only way she can get to sleep.... making a long story short, we are in the living room watching a "Chopped" marathon on TV. At least I am. She is currently dozing on the sofa next to me, but it won't last. She'll wake up soon and start crying and fussing because she can't breathe through her nose like she wants to. It gives me just enough time to tell you a quick, funny story about Esteban.
We were having dinner the other night and he asked why he didn't have to go to school the next day.
"It's because of a Jewish holiday" I said.
"What's that?" he asked.
"It's when we respect and observe the beliefs of the Jews."
"I love Jews" he said.
I was in shock by what he had just said. It came out of nowhere. I was so proud. How could an 8 year old child be so open and accepting of a faith that he knows so little about. Esteban went to church many times with his Abuela Angie and he's been to a couple of catholic masses with my family but he's never been to a Jewish service. For him to say that he loved Jews meant that he was open and accepting of all people. My heart was bursting with pride. My head was spinning. A tear was about roll out of my left eye... And then he said...
"My favorite is apple... but I like grape too."
Juice... he was talking about juice.
Sigh... Daddy needs a nap.
No comments:
Post a Comment