A Glimpse into Parenthood - NO SLEEP
Of course, I am beyond thrilled and excited to be welcoming our son into the world in early September. But let's take a step back for a moment and let me introduce you to my first child. Our 5 year old Puggle, Edie.
Most days you will find her here, in our bed. Sleeping, snoring, snorting. That's what Puggles do, you see.
If you have seen the film Marley and Me and own a dog, then hopefully you can relate to the ending *SPOILER HERE* when Jen Aniston's character - sobbing over Marley's grave - declares that their family really started when they brought home their beloved Labrador Retriever.
When the husband and I moved to L.A. over 4 years ago, not long after we were married, we waited one month and then adopted Edie from a shelter in the Valley. She has anchored us and been there in all situations; when we were both jobless, four house moves, highs, lows and the ridiculous amounts of laughs and tears in between. She has turned many non-dog-lovers into Edie Lovers.
She is our BABY, you guys.
Unfortunately she has always been a little nerdy with food allergies and requires a special diet and a cocktail of summer time drugs to combat said ailments. Edie is also deathly allergic to bees (a story for another time).
Well, last night we got a total of 4 hours sleep after Edie developed hives all over her body. No idea how. Seriously, she looked like some sort of creature with hairy bumps and welts covering her. After a bath and Benadryl the symptoms subsided slightly... but not long after her neck started swelling and the hives came back with a vengeance. She didn't sleep, she was scratching and pacing, almost incoherent and unresponsive to our efforts to calm her. So of course, we didn't sleep. AND MY HEART BROKE.
At 5.30am we all piled into the car and went to the Vet E.R. To sum it up, after several hours and another vet visit later, Edie got a shot of steroids and much needed fluids. Now the three of us are feeling like we have horrendous jet lag and are laying in bed, completely wiped out. But all the hives and swelling has gone. Thank you Jesus.
Listen, I know my heart will explode when my son is born. I know he will take the cake. But just for the record, our family started the moment we brought her home.