R&R

I had a doctor’s appointment this morning, which is normally the total highlight of my week because that’s how exciting my life has become – being in a cold office with white coats and blue scrubs running around as they tell me about my inner-body activities. All of that excitment lasts about 15 minutes with a 30 minute “build-up” of anticipation in the waiting room and then bam! It’s all over. See you in two weeks doctor-homeboy.

(I can’t wait to go to the doctor’s office every time. Admittedly though, the ultrasound tech is my favorite person with her magic wand that peeks into my uterus in all. She’s some sort of fairy-magician is what she is.)

BUT! This week, oh thiiiiiiss week, I’m far more excited about something else. People (all four-ish of you that come visit me here), the other half that made up the genetic culmination in mah bellay is coming back! In other words, SAAD’S COMING HOME THIS WEEKEND!

Cue the clouds parting and a bright ray of sunshine beaming straight onto me.

And what’s more? He’s bringing along a vacation with him. That’s right, a va-ca-tion. That word is just plain delicious to say. I can’t wait to see what it’s like to actually eat it up this weekend.

You see, Saad and I never had a honeymoon and even during the three years before we had Aiman, we never took a vacation or any trip alone at all. It’s been school, work (occasionally), parenting, and more school . Almost six years of that combination brings about, hmm, what’s the best word? Oh yes, it brings a lot of SHIT with it. And not the kind you can just dump (pun intended) and move on about. It also brings about the crazies.

image credit huntersmoonlodgebandb

Buddy, I’m not talking about really nice, expensive trips either. I mean even a day or night away at a hotel and dinner. Ah! I’ve got a story to really drive the point home for you. Last year on our fifth anniversary, one of the things Saad surprised me with was booking the exact same room we stayed in at a fancy hotel after we got married (it was in town, remember we were super young and super poor as newlyweds-not much has changed, actually- so a fancy hotel in town was better than nothing). At the very last minute babysitting fell through and it was just too late to get someone at that point. So? We took our 18 month old to this quiet, non-child friendly hotel and people gave us weird looks because Aiman very likely was the only child they may have seen in that entire building. And….it was not a smooth, peaceful night. It hardly ever is with an 18 month old.

Somehow it’s been two straight years of something like that and six years overall with that, plus other less than stellar times.

Even typing that feels absurd. I have no idea how we got this far without taking some time away for ourselves. We’d intend for trips or getaways, sometimes even looking at deals ahead of time, but then the whole year would go by leaving us saying that we’ll do it the following year. Then repeat cycle that year and postpone it to the next year. That’s not being proactive, folks.

Bottom line is that we’re ridiculously overdue on some R&R, which to me also means being child-free. Aiman’s never, ever, ever spent a night away from me and I’ve been with him for every single day of his life. Although technically we’ll still have a kid with us, I can’t really detach my belly for a weekend and then put it back on Monday morning.

Honestly though, I feel guilty about leaving Aiman behind for a whole weekend. Yet I know it wouldn’t be the type of getaway I picture if all three of us went. Sort of damned if I do and damned if I don’t because motherhood covers it’s bases like that–can’t be happy either way.

I kid, I kid!

So we’re going somewhere decently far away enough and not too financially murderous, which is all we’re asking for. Considering that the next time he’ll be back after his two weeks off is literally two days before my due date and the transition from one child to two children on my own to be something close to death, I think some time to regain an iota of serenity is warranted. It’s down right necessary if I’m expected to function and keep not one, but two other mushy, demanding little humans alive.

Tis ’bout time we got to put our feet up. Preferably have them massaged too.