New York was somewhat peaceful although I kinda felt like I ran around the entire time. There were moments of definite relaxation, however. I saw an old friend for coffee which was nice, saw my in-laws, including my sister-in-law for dinner, saw my dad and his wife and my sister. 
Here is a photo of our street on Sunday morning, just outside of my house.
En route to NY, I got a call from Catherine that she couldn't take it anymore because Liam had been crying all day. Now, granted, the little guy hadn't pooped for a day and a half, which was unusual for him, so we knew he was uncomfortable although the doctor said that it was nothing to worry about (oh yeah? then YOU try to soothe a constipated baby, Dr. Know-it-All!). And here I was, three hours into my drive and my daughter is telling me she just can't do this anymore (I have news for you, kid - you can't take him back).
I said, in a very calm, concerned voice, "Did you check his diaper? Is he wet? Did you burp him?" She flung back a high-pitched, "Of COURSE I tried all of those things, MOM! What do you think I am, retarded????" Click. Sighing, I turned my phone off and continued to drive. A few minutes later, I turned the phone back on and tried to call her. I had no service for about 15 minutes (that AT&T commercial where they sing, 'All 'round the world....' isn't fooling me unless they're talking about some other planet they service).
When I finally got through to Catherine, Liam had vomited all over and she was going to give him a bath. I told her he probably just couldn't take in anymore until some came out the other end. I told her I'd call her back in awhile, which I did and by then, he had vomited again while she was giving him a bath and he was lethargic. Feeling just a bit panicked, I told her to call one of our neighbors and that I was turning around. I turned around and called Nancy and Pat and they both went over to assess things. They called me back and everything was fine and Liam had pooped. I turned around AGAIN and headed back to NY. I didn't arrive until midnight and sat up for another hour, shivering on the edge of the couch, until the house warmed up and then finally went to bed.
Since I travel through Canada, I have to stop at the borders and give them all kinds of personal information, the depth of which depends on the border guard. It was late when I got to the border to enter NY and the guard had his flashlight out, looking in my windows. I imagined all kinds of things he hoped to find - someone bound and gagged on the backseat, or a dead body, perhaps? Who knows, but he said, "Now what brings a woman out this late at night, traveling from one state to the next?" I said, "Well, I'll tell you..." "Please do," he responded. "My husband has been out of town all week and my two adult grown children have moved back home, one bringing with her a newborn baby. I need a break." Without a word, but with some flair in his gesture, he swooped his arm around in a circle and pointed to the open road. "Thank you," I said, and was off.
Sunday night, I spent time in the company of a little brown mouse who scampered across the living room floor. He was too fast for me to catch to put outdoors so I called my husband to ask what I should do (like he could help from where he was). Just as I did that, I saw him wriggle under the wood box door; he was gone and I didn't see him again. Rotten little critter. At least I know where they are coming in and we will have to take care of that next time we are in New York. Another photo of the view around the corner which is so much lovelier in summer and fall. 
When I arrived home last night at around 8:15, the house was a mess, dishes were in the sink, the dishwasher had clean dishes in it waiting to be escorted to their respective cupboards, and baby STUFF was everywhere. I decided that I was NOT making dinner, that it was every man, woman and child for him/herself and I was going to spend some time with Liam and go to bed. Which I did.
This morning, I told Catherine that the house was out of control and that tomorrow, my day off, will have to be considered by her to be a work day for me and that I cannot help with Liam all that much because I can't take the chaos anymore and am going to put it to rest and clean, organize and clean some more. She said she would help. With a very fussy baby, I am not so certain that will happen, but we will see. Perhaps Liam will surprise us. Until then....
Copyright 2008 liamsgrandma
