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After the week we had last week, all I can say is — BRING IT ON, UNIVERSE! Seriously. Last week was rough. I feel like the odds have to be in our favor this week. You can’t have two super crappy weeks in a row, am I right??
I think Chad & I really did our best to roll with the punches and find the humor in it all. We finally thought our ‘hell week’ was over so Chad thought it would be a great idea to go out for a family dinner — which is something we haven’t done in a while. So we went to a local Thai restaurant. All was going well. We ordered a couple of appetizers that Ari could eat (my meal had egg in it, so it was off-limits to our allergic babe!), we brought plenty of distractions (ie. toys), and things were going fine.
… until he started to choke on a bite of tofu. I’m not certain if it was a piece that was too tough or what, but he caused me the worst scare. Ever. Chad pounded on his back hard enough that he finally coughed and spit up. Ari shook it off like ‘no big’ and then started eating more. I, on the other hand, was shaking like a leaf. None of the other patrons even noticed!
I was a bit clingy to Ari from then on. And it turns out, for good reason. The kid was eating a lot of Daddy’s Beef Orange (it was supposed to be hot, but it was just mild on the spice — and Ari loves spicy food). Like, a LOT of beef orange. He was double-fisting it! Which was fine until he forgot to chew. I had gotten up with him mid-chew and brought him to the front of the restaurant. He was starting to get tired of sitting. So we were ‘sight-seeing’ near the window. And that’s when he started to choke. I looked at Chad and he mouthed something along the lines of “Should I get up?” and I think my face showed panic as I nodded “YES!”
I tried to get him to cough it out, but that didn’t seem to be working. In a panic, my instinct kicked in. I stuck my finger in his mouth, pulled out the food, and swept the back for anything that might be left over. It took me a moment to realize that in doing so, he had vomited all over me, all over the chair, and all over the floor. He ended up just shaking it off (again). And we ended up cleaning up very quickly & very discreetly. Seriously. No one even noticed (who ARE these people!? HA!).
And ya know what? We didn’t let it ruin our night! Seriously! We just rolled with it. It was kinda funny. Well, it was funny much later in the night. But we ended up grocery shopping after the whole debacle.
And I guess that makes me feel like we’ve totally earned our stripes as parents. We’ve officially ‘made it.’ Sometimes it takes a rough parenting moment to realize it. But it happens.
(Sidenote: If you’re not a parent you may think this story is truly messed up. But honestly as a parent you kinda feel like this is just one of those things that you eventually go through. My parents have told me stories about myself as a child — like the time I ate (and choked) on a cigarette as an infant while my dad was walking with me (very proudly) through the mall; or the time I choked on a granola bar my aunt gave me. Don’t get me wrong. I’m terrified that it happened. But he’s OK. So we’re OK.).
So in addition to feeling like it can only get better from here thanks to that uber-challenging week; it’s also the week I’ll be live-tweeting from the In The CLE twitter page! We have a pretty packed & pretty fun week planned.
And honestly if this week goes south like last week did? Well, it’s all in what you make of it. And it isn’t so bad afterall.
xo, friends!
Yuliya
Oh my! That is definitely scary! I can’t believe no one noticed. We haven’t had any terrible choking incidents with our son, but a few falls that shook me up. Yesterday, he was sitting on the couch and wanted to reach for something on the ground. Before either my husband or I could catch him, he tumbled off of the couch onto the floor- face first. Oi. Being parents can certainly be scary at times.
It’s great that you were able to still enjoy your night!
Lisa Nelson
Wow, Rachel.
That is seriously scary. That is the one thing I worry most about – and always have. But twice in one night – that’s crazy.
It’s time for that little boy to learn how to put only a little in his mouth and chew his food. If only for your sanity. If that happened to me, I would be like EEK, every time he ate (and that would be a lot).
Good for you guys for staying calm and composed.
Thanks so much for participating with us in the blog challenge!
Kirsten
Okay what’s going on you are like the 5th Clevelander I have come across in this challenge this has never happened before… its so great to see all of my fellow Clevelanders Blogging ๐ I know we Rock! I think I was in the restaurant and saw all of this going on.. Just kidding. I hope you have an awesome week with a little less choking and more fun and adventure. Visiting from BYB
Machelle
I declare this will be a week of blessing for you!
All parents have those stories. I have a son who on purpose swallowed, well he attempted to swallow, a live beetle. However the beetle had other ideas – like surviving. Thus he was clawing his way back up. So image – a live beetle in the back of my son’s throat that he is desperately trying to swallow. The beetle fighting vehemently against his attempts as my son gags, turns colors etc. The beetles instinct to survive won out! During those moments, it was crazy. Now it is one of our favorite stories to tell about his toddler years!
Large Chocolate “Kiss” Recipe
Domestic Imp
Oh, I sooooo know those kind of events! I have six kids, 5 still at home, and I swear, parenting is the best aerobic exercise known to man!
Found you via BYB
Honey Rowland
Oh yeah…normal parent stuff. ๐ If you’re ever in the same situation, turn him upside down and whack him one on the back if you can’t see and grab the food. There’s the chance you can lodge it even deeper into his throat.
Kids are so resilient. It always amazes me how we remember and fear things but they…well…I think of that childhood “saying” of bounces off me and sticks to you. The kids are bouncy balls and we’re the glue the scary stuff sticks too. ๐
~Honey
#BB100
Julie
Yea, it’s scary when it happens, but you can laugh about it later. What parent hasn’t had those moments? Sorry to say, there’s probably more to come, lol. It’s good that you took it in stride. Thanks for participating in the Boost Challenge.
Julie
I Create Purty Thangs
Clara @A Slice of Homeschool Pie
I remember when my oldest son was a toddler. We were at the store and I gave him a banana to eat while I shopped. All of a sudden he took a huge bite out of it and my heart skipped several beats as I thought for sure he was going to choke on it. Thanks to the Lord, he chewed it up and swallowed it with no problem.
My youngest son went through a couple of choking episodes too. There’s nothing like that feeling of terror that comes over you as a parent when these things happen. You are just so relieved once it’s over that they are okay and then you learn to cut everything into small pieces. ๐
Stopping by from 100 Blog Challenge
Jean
So glad your little one was okay. Choking is scary stuff especially for parents! All those people who didn’t notice are the BTDT parents who probably did notice but didn’t see it as a big deal. I’m sorry no one offered you any empathy or help though. Sounds as if you are due for a wonderful week!
shelly@ohshellsbells
How terrifying it must have been for you when your babe started choking! You guys really were heros! It seems like a lot of people I know (myself included) have had a really rocky start to the new year. Here’s to a better week and better new year for all of us! (always enjoy finding other local bloggers- greetings from cleveland!)
Holly
Have we met before? I know I’ve seen your blog name before. I’m thinking OBA but maybe one of the larger events where it was hard to remember everyone there. I’m sorry but I feel like an idiot. I’ll just assume we met and go from there. ๐
Visiting your blog today for #BYB100. Added you to my reader. I love yoga & running too. No babies yet over here, but it sounds like you have a pretty realistic take on motherhood & having an identity outside of it as well! Also I’m glad your son is OK!
Savvy Working Gal
Wow that had to have been terrifying. My brother started choking on a hamburger at a family cookout a few years ago. My husband ended up performing the Heimlich maneuver on him after realizing he was seriously chocking and it worked. My brother (he’s in his 30’s) swears my husband saved his life.
April
Hi! Found you on the 100 Days Challenge! I love yoga–wait that’s not true–I do yoga every week to stay strong, but I love it most when it’s over….I still feel like I can relate to you, though. I have a baby as well. Isn’t it a darling, wonderful, but so much work kind of phase, the baby thing? The choking incident sounds awful. You guys handled it well!
Alanna
Oh wow! Glad everything was okay and that you’re able to laugh about it! My husband once flipped our son upside down in a restaurant to knock something out that he was chocking on – we created quite a scene but IT WORKED! Parenting is a crazy adventure,isn’t it?!
Kimberly B
As a mom of 4 and grandma to 6 I know exactly what you were going through. Eventually it just comes second nature as it never seems to fizz the kids and they keep trying to shovel it all in. ugh! My one grandson is doing that now and it still scares the bejeebies out of my hubby! Stopping by from the BYB challenge hope your week is a good one.
Mommy Battles
Chocking is so scary and I’m glad your son’s OK. We’ve had a couple of chocking incidents and I am always surprised how well we handled them. I guess we become aware of how strong we are when weeks like this happen.
Visiting from the BYB challenge
Cole
That is so scary! Sometimes these moments really do make us feel good as parents, well after the fact, of course. Glad to hear you guys were able to get through it okay and enjoy your evening!
I’m surprised you guys were able to go unnoticed, especially after the throw up. I feel like every time anything like that happens to us the entire room is looking our way.