I have barely slept since Wednesday night thanks to a host of things, so my ability to focus is nil. Although I just typed that sentence, then spent ten minutes trying a braid on my hair. So, my ability to focus on the task at hand is nil. I am going to have to medicate myself to get out of my insomnia rut, or I’m going to develop daytime narcolepsy. True story, in high school my choir director once asked me if I was narcoleptic because I used to fall asleep standing up. Ah, the glory days.
On Friday I was in Washington, D.C. to speak at the National Premature Infant Health Coalition Summit put on by National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalation. I participated in a panel about social media, and I also gave a keynote where I spoke about the value of online communities for families of premature infants, while also outlining ways medical professionals should get involved in said communities. It was a fascinating summit, and I met lots of other preemie parents. I’m looking forward to getting more involved with all of them. Thank you HMHB for having me!
After the summit ended my friend Sarah picked me up at my hotel and we went to the Nationals/Yankees game. I was pretty excited to see a new baseball stadium and also enjoy some fried food and beers. I was even more excited when we arrived at the stadium and I got to meet a former President.
Teddy Roosevelt never wins the Presidential race.
I had a ton of fun at the game with Sarah, even though the Yankees won (I am never gonna root for the Yankees so don’t even TRY).
I got my first post-miscarriage period exactly 28 days after my D&C, which means my uterus is keeping up its super habit of running like clockwork. It’s kind of ironic that I am never on time for anything but my uterus excels at being punctual. It’s also been crazy, crazy heavy. Like, “go through all the tampons I’d brought for myself and have to go buy another box at 4am in DC heavy” (that’s one level before “call 9-1-1 heavy,” in case you were wondering). I was prepared for it to come but not for its sheer force. File that one under, “Things No One Tells You About Miscarriages.”
It was a quick trip so I had no time to tour (sadness). I took two pictures of DC landmarks, both with my iPhone, and then I “ruined” them with crops and filters:
This was the view right outside my hotel.
This White House photo was taken from a moving car on my way back to the airport. You go little iPhone!
Even though I wasn’t able to do any sight-seeing, I didn’t leave my computer on a plane and I didn’t poop my pants at any national monuments. I think that makes it the best trip to DC ever!
TonyaM says:
Woot! for not pooping your pants! That’s always a good thing. You crack me up.
Jenn says:
YEP!! BANNER TRIP FOR YOU!!! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Angie says:
Oh my.. you just made my Monday morning so much more enjoyable. I CANNOT stop laughing. I’m sorry it’s at your expense but you thoroughly crack me up. I had to go back and read the commando story again. So relatable. You never fail to make me smile. Thanks!
Lisa says:
Yup. The “I pooped myself! Go America!” post is still one of my favs. Seriously. If something similar has not happened to you, it will. It’s just part of the Human Experience. My other favorite is the Tampon Fail with the diaper in the store. Mike’s reaction = Everyman when faced with the reality of the workings of the female body.
So so happy you are so willing to share the good, the bad AND the poopy!
Lanie says:
No poop and you still have your computer – what else could you really want!?
My periods after my miscarriage have been heavy as well – the kind of periods that make me think I could keep tampax in business just on my own.
Hope you get some sleep soon. Take care.
Sarah says:
Hooray for not pooping yourself! Boo Yankees! Hooray for Teddy! Boo for 4am tampon runs.
Thanks for the game. It was awesome.
Michelle H says:
We had gorgeous weather this weekend for you! Glad your trip to my neck of the woods went smoothly.
Shannon says:
A poop free trip..with your pc still in your possession…woohoo!
Jen says:
No lost computers, no pooping your pants, AND you remembered pants. BORING.
Jaime says:
Sorry to hear about the heavy period. Oh the joys of being a woman. Just want to let you know you look great.
Dawn says:
Apropo of nothing, I’m so tired today that I read the title originally as ‘Speak Softly and Yo Gabba Gabba’.
And second on the Yankees thing.
Tamela says:
we were in DC this weekend and went to Sunday’s game! BUT, we’re Yankee fans. Glad you didn’t poop.
Tracie says:
Great view outside your hotel.
Yay for not leaving your computer on a plane.
Beckie says:
We were at the Capitol Hill Hotel last week, perhaps that’s where you were? Certainly in the hustle and bustle of the town. Some of the hotels are so discrete that if you blink, you’ve miss your place.
Auntie_M says:
So…no losing of laptops, no pooping of pants, heavy period but kept in check so no going commando at national monuments (or, in this case, baseball games)… Are you sure it was you who went on this trip & not someone else? Cuz this sounds almost normal! Well, except for the nearly-hemorrhaging-period. That’s not normal. At least not to most people. Mine were like that 98% of the time. After learning that, because of some health issues, I could die if I got pregnant, I few years later I finally thought, why am I going through this every month? (Yeah, Miss Clockwork since the age of 11) At the age of 39 I said good-bye to periods forever. It was lovely and I save sooo much money every month! (Though I was concerned that the feminine product industry was going to go bankrupt without my monthly support!)
Have to say, the pooping of the pants at the Lincoln Memorial is one of the best posts ever!