goodfountain

Mommy?! Mommmmyyyyyy!! MOMMMMMYYYYYY!!!!!

Unexpectedly, Chee called out for Mommy in the wee hours this morning. Ever since she’s been sick, she’s been waking several times a night wanting a drink of water and a hug. Invariably she calls for Daddy. This works out well because Ess is usually transferred over to our bed and is glued to my side as we sleep.

When she first called out for me, I almost didn’t get up as I’m so accustomed to a rapid dismissal in her preference for Daddy. I’d like for her to call for me, though (I’ll probably regret saying that), so I stumbled to her room.

What followed can best be described as Desperately Seeking Proprioceptive Input.

I want a Mommy hug.
A squishy hug.
A squishy sandwich hug.

I had myself completely entwined around her, applying gentle pressure, and she was happy. Content. She fell back asleep.

For me, an important lesson.

Never buy a cheap mattress.

Oh. My. Goodness. My back is killing me. I sleep on my side all the time, curled up with Ess, so I know it wasn’t the position. It was the bed.

That mattress was a mistake, no doubt. It was cheap, but we were desperate. Last year, shortly after moving, bug bites started mysteriously appearing on Chee. Eventually we discovered that new ones were only appearing in the morning, so something was getting her while she slept.

The bites didn’t fit what one would expect for bug bites, but after trying everything else, we opted to just get rid of her bed. Cash was low as we had just moved, so I didn’t buy a great mattress. I rationalized the cheap purchase by telling myself that she’s little and before she gets a lot bigger we’ll get her a super nice one.

My husband is a saint. He has spent many hours laying on that bed and has not complained one time. I spend 30 minutes in there and come out declaring we’re buying a new mattress. It’s only then that he concurs it’s not very comfortable. Not very comfortable. Right. In the same way that a bikini wax is not very painful.

As luck would have it, we’re getting a nice tax refund this year. Very nice. Considering we only got about a $100 return last year, this year’s sizable refund is unexpected. And now I have something to spend it on. I don’t know about you, but I like spending money. I like making big purchases. I love the way I feel when I buy something new. Even if it is only a mattress. It’s not something I do very often, so it’s exciting when it happens.

Until that plush new comfy mattress is delivered to her room, I’m hoping Chee will keep calling for Daddy. My aching back may not survive another round of squishy sandwich hugs.