Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Seriously???

The difficulty rating in our life is getting ridiculously out of hand. The little black cloud that has followed me around for as long as I can remember has grown into a huge, all encompassing supercell thunderstorm. If I listed all of the hardships we've faced in the past few years in bullet points, I'd probably slit my wrists. Dare I ask "What else?"

Monday morning I was woken up by the sound of Trina retching. Still half asleep, I asked "What's wrong? Are you ok?" Between heaves she seemed pretty irritated that I'd ask such dumb questions. In my defense I was really groggy. Of course she wasn't ok. She had sharp stomach pains and was vomiting over and over. Reminded me of why we went to the hospital before we had the babies. We got ahold of the on call doctor at our peri's office who said she needed to be seem immediately. Great, a trip to the ER. I offered to drive her and drop her off since there was no way Dexter was going to go anywhere near the bevy of sick people that would be in the waiting room. She declined and drove herself to the hospital while sleep deprived, violently ill and in pain. I felt so helpless. I had one baby at home with me, one at the hospital he was born at, one at the hospital he was transferred to for heart surgery and now my wife was in yet a third hospital. Really universe? Really?? At the hospital they started an IV, ran blood work and gave Trina meds for pain and nausea. A ct scan of her abdomen and pelvis showed very angry intestines. The sent her off with a diagnosis of colitis, another handful of prescriptions and put her on a liquid diet. To add insult to injury they told her to pump and dump for 24hrs due to the ct contrast still in her system. Trina's barely keeping up with the boys' milk needs so watching that precious liquid go down the drain is physically painful.

Fast forward to the next day (yesterday) as I was at Linus's bedside. The nurse and I were repositioning him in his bed which takes lots of time and two people due to all of his wires, lines, tubes and leads. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, but ignored it. A few minutes later the CVICU clerk came in and said I had a call. Me?? Cold dread hit me. Only an emergency would have someone track me down there. Trina's voice was frantic. "Baby there's a snake in the house and two of the dogs are hurt. I don't know what to do!" It took a second to register. I was expecting news about one of my boys or my wife, but a snake? Never saw that one coming. "Don't do anything! I'll be right there. Stay away from it." "I can't let go and Dexter's crying" My mind reeled "What?? What do you mean you can't let go??" "I have it pinned by the neck with the pooper scooper. I'm so scared" I was in shock. My wife had ahold of a poisonous snake while my infant son cried and two of my dogs were bitten and in unknown shape. "Don't move, you'll be fine, I'll be right there" I was an hour away and less than a nano second away from freaking the fuck out. In the calmest voice I've ever used I told her "I'm going to hang up, but I'll call you right back. Don't move" I called my sister who lives about 20 minutes form us and told her that a snake was in the house and 2 of my dogs were hurt and to go to my house NOW. I called Trina right back and talked to her until my brother in law got to her. I broke every speed limit on the way home.

When I got there, Antone was in the driveway with a headless juvenile cotton mouth. Trina was on the couch holding Dexter, rocking him gently. She was white as a sheet and shaking. She's not just scared of snakes, she's down right phobic. I can not believe she pinned that thing. I would have taken her for the run- screaming-from-the-house-with-or-without-the-baby kinda gal. I could not be more proud of her and her protective mama instincts. Makes me tear up thinking about the terror she was feeling until help arrived. Thank god Antone got there so fast.

After a quick check on the dogs to make sure they weren't in critical condition, I packed her and Dexter up in the car with some essentials and took them to the nearest hotel. Yes, the snake was dead and logic would tell you that the odds of there being another snake were slim to none, but logic doesn't count on nights like that. I couldn't leave her there alone with the baby again. The best money is spent on peace of mind. I knew she'd never sleep in our house last night and she'd been through enough. Better to face it in the light of day.

After dropping them off, I went back for my dogs. The normally thin faced, tight lipped pooches looked like baby shar peis, but with less cuteness and more bloody drool. I headed out to the emergency vet clinic with them for treatment. Several hours and several hundred dollars later the dogs were back home and I met my wife and child at the hotel for a few hours shut eye. And here I thought the hard part was going to be having three precious babies home at once. Never in my wildest nightmares did I dream up any of this.

Once again, I AM still writing Linus and Dexter's stories. Life just keeps interrupting my creative thought processes, among other things, like my sanity...

40 comments:

Loralou said...

Blimey! You couldn't make it up. Glad everyone is ok though, scary stuff.

anofferingoflove said...

oh. my. god.

oh.

my.

god.

trina is a f*cking hero (as if she weren't already). those momma hormones are something fierce.

i am sending peaceful, calm vibes your way and shaking my fist at the universe, demanding it move on to hassle someone else for a while!

Bionic Baby Mama said...

holy crap.

i'm snake-phobic, too. like, bad enough that even pictures freak me out a bit. so when i clicked on this post, my first thought was, "why's a nice blog like this gotta scare me with a picture, just for the sake of some metaphor?"

and when i found out it wasn't a metaphor...holy crap.

you tell trina she gets a serious bravery medal from me. that is amazing.

and you give those dogs some love from me, too -- sounds like they were pretty serious about protecting your family, or at least giving in their best shot.

mama bea, bao in the oven said...

holy effing shit. i read this with my mouth hanging open. i can't BELIEVE that with all you have been through recently that this happened on top of it. trina is indeed a rockstar, but i hope she never has to prove it like this again! hope you are all getting lots of rest, pupsters included. xo

Pomegranate said...

wow. all i can say is the universe owes you guys.

Jen said...

OMFG! What a brave mama. You guys have definately been through enough...

Nicole said...

Wow! That story gives new definition to the shit you just can't make up. Glad you all made it through.

Pufferfish said...

WTF? Why is the universe still testing you? Wow, I'm glad everyone is OK. Tomorrow will be better. It has to be.

Movie Gyrl said...

That was f'ing crazy!!!! Both of you make an amazing team!!! Sorry there is so much going on right now. There has to be a shining light at the end of the tunnel very soon. Hugs to everyone including your poor dogs.

frankncents said...

Holy cow. You are both heroes, for taking care of those boys, and yourselves, and your dogs - wow. At least you made it through this, and things will simmer down, they just have to.

Meredith said...

Dear Universe,

Leave Trina, Robbie and the bambinos the fuck alone.

Anonymous said...

When it rains, right? Damn, you guys deserve a series of much needed break from the universe. We're sending lots of good juju your way from the midwest. There will be a time (in the not-too-distant future) where you five will be on the other side of this. And you will be stronger and more compassionate people for it.
All good things -- J&R

pugmamma said...

Oh dear! What an awful series of events. I must say that both you and Trina rallied and made it through! Good on ya!

I hope everything is going more smoothly now.

Anonymous said...

Whoa.

Whoa whoa whoa.

That is a crazy and scary and horrible thing that the two of you handled like champions. Hopefully these calamities are at their end and smoother waters are ahead for you.

moi + toi PHOTOGRAPHIE said...

holy crap.. that all just sucks.

K J and the kids said...

I am just in AWE ! I can't even imagine.
Glad everyone is safe and hopefully sound.

A+K said...

Man oh man!!

We are so, so glad to hear that ALL members of your family (we know how important those fur babies are!) were unharmed by the snake!! And I have to agree, the money spent on the hotel doesn't even compare to the peace of mind that money bought.

Sending good thoughts and anti-snake wishes your way!!! xoxox

Shely said...

OMG! Trina is freaking awesome! Way to go Trina!!! Girl... lol... You must be on my bad luck wave or something... Hang in there, it can only get better!

Edward said...

I'm never complaining about a bad day again...ever!
AND, I'm updating my list of why I don't live in Texas!
Good wishes to you all for getting to some sense of a normal routine soon.

N said...

Oh.my.god. I cannot even imagine. I really can't. Just. OMG.

You guys have had so much to deal with, you SO didn't need this.

OMG.


I'm SO glad everybody's safe. And as a fellow snake-phobe, I am amazed by Trina.

H2 said...

Oh dear god. I cried for you (darned hormones). So glad that everyone is okay. Poor Trina (and you) to have to face that phobia dead on. Once babies/kids arrive there is no more Run-screaming-from-the-room, right?! *Hugs* Robbie.

Anonymous said...

Oh my God. This is a story you are going to tell for the rest of your life. Pinned it with a POOPER SCOOPER!! I hope it's not inappropriate that I laughed for a long time on that one. Oh, my, I am looking forward to things settling down for you and your family!

Melissa said...

Holy SHIT! You guys are rocks stars. 3 kids at home will be CAKE compared to this.

cindyhoo2 said...

Omg!!! You guys are f'ing rickstars!! I am in tears.

Five Finchers said...

holy shit... you poor girls. I got goosebumps reading that post. I hope things start to turn around for you!

Anonymous said...

holy crap...that is insane! so happy to know all are ok.

Unknown said...

holy hell, wow what a story. glad everyone is ok!

Anonymous said...

So relieved to hear everything ended well but holy crap – this sounds awful. Trina is absolutely amazing and you did a wonderful job staying calm – I imagine that helped Trina keep it together. I think I would have either run screaming or collapsed with exhausted fear. You ladies have surely been tested and I’d say you’ve passed with flying colors… Now it’s time for the calm to ascend after all the storms. Sending peace and love.

tbean said...

Wow. I got scared and exhausted and overwhelmed just READING that. Hugs to your family.

Anonymous said...

Read that with mouth hanging open. I'm so sorry you've had to deal with all of this - glad to know everyone is okay.

This Mom said...

Reading this brought tears to my eyes and gave me goosebumps. I can't imagine being in either of your shoes during this, especially with everything else that's going on. You are all in my thoughts and I couldn't wish more for smoother and less stressful days VERY SOON. You guys are doing amazing and your boys are blessed to have you as their mommies.

Lucy said...

Wow. You couldn't make that sh*t up. Crazy. Glad everyone's okay though!

Gust said...

So glad everyone's ok...you poor things :(, Robbie you sound like you're somehow finding a way of holding this all together but Trina sounds absolutely fearless and brilliant also.

Really couldn't believe what I was reading - things will get better, and when they do we shall all be praising the powers that be.

Bless you both x

abmayfield said...

Goodness knows if you can handle that, triplets should be NO PROBLEM!

Keeping you in my thoughts!

Carrie said...

holy crapola! you just cant make this stuff up! Sorry the universe is throwing a curve ball at you. that is almost just so bizarre...for words! so glad trina and the boys have you to be the calming force in their lives...admist all the chaos!

Casey said...

This is unreal.

Anonymous said...

Wow. I don't even know what to say except that I'm sorry life has been so unkind to you lately and I'm glad you are all ok. It really has been an incredibly difficult few years for you and Trina and your strength is awe inspiring.

Poor Trina with that snake. Scary shit! Your a rockstar partner too FYI.

Wishing you guys a break in the bad weather. I can't think of anyone more deserving.

Next in Line said...

I truly hope that you both get to hang up your superhero capes for a while. You have earned a good deal of rest.

Anonymous said...

I love your blog. You always know how to keep me on the edge of my seat. Crazy thing is, is that this is real life for you and Trina. Hang in there... it HAS to get better from here! Right?

welcome2ourworld said...

Thank God everyone is ok...