Ugh!
My husband has this cough, ANNOYING cough which appears to have absolutely no purpose in life. I must endure in silence because I am pretty sure he wouldn't do it if he could help. Yet all I can think of is the last time I tried to be politely quiet which back fired. Stop me if you have heard this story, or well skim ahead. :)
I was awaiting the birth of #2. It was night and I was 9 cm dilated. Although this was my 2nd full term child, it was my first real labor with #1 being a breech c-section. The time approached 9pm and the thoughtful well practiced nurses encouraged me to "get some rest" before I was to push. You never know how short or long pushing turns into so I readily agreed (the epidural making it possible to think about relaxing in the first place). All (as in the 4 other people) were kicked out of the room but hubby decided to come back. I suppose his concept of not leaving me completely alone was well intentioned but what took place was far from helpful. I had been in labor and at the hospital since the very early am (5am exactly) so hunger struck his body. He ate who can remember what hurriedly I am sure and returned to my now dark, quiet room with nothing but a bag of grapes. I don't know if you have ever eaten a grape when all is still and quiet but just in case you don't recall they are a noisy little fruit. They make a snapping type sound in your mouth whether it is closed or open. Yes, it is a minor barely audible sound but to a woman in labor, active labor epidural or not it is beyond difficult to ignore.
The irony of all ironies is that my same husband is the man who gives me the evil eye when I make ANY noise while eating. The man who was known to eat dinner in his room because his family ate too loudly. Yes, this was the man who at that moment ever so delicately popped grape after grape. The rustle of the plastic bag in which they were transported was heard in between chewing and juice flowing as well. I recall clearly lying there in my head trying to self soothe. Saying to myself, "It is ok, he doesn't know you can hear him. Be calm ignore it keep your eyes closed. Don't yell at him, he will be done soon you can be patient. Yes patience works, patience....paaa..." But before I could even continue the chanting in my head I blurted out, "Stop eating those grapes!" In the dark I can only imagine how he must have froze, a deer in the headlights kinda thing and waited a very long time before he set the bag down. The sound also extremely clear. The remaining time before the nurse popped back in and found me to be fully dilated was met with me forgetting all about the encounter. Him not so much, I am certain he barely took a breath either.
All in all not too bad a tantrum really but man this short bursts of coughs make me want to do the same as then. "Will you stop that cough!?"
I guess I don't have an excuse for my rude behavior so instead I will share my thoughts with you. HA! If men only could read minds. Wait a minute maybe its better they can't.
I was awaiting the birth of #2. It was night and I was 9 cm dilated. Although this was my 2nd full term child, it was my first real labor with #1 being a breech c-section. The time approached 9pm and the thoughtful well practiced nurses encouraged me to "get some rest" before I was to push. You never know how short or long pushing turns into so I readily agreed (the epidural making it possible to think about relaxing in the first place). All (as in the 4 other people) were kicked out of the room but hubby decided to come back. I suppose his concept of not leaving me completely alone was well intentioned but what took place was far from helpful. I had been in labor and at the hospital since the very early am (5am exactly) so hunger struck his body. He ate who can remember what hurriedly I am sure and returned to my now dark, quiet room with nothing but a bag of grapes. I don't know if you have ever eaten a grape when all is still and quiet but just in case you don't recall they are a noisy little fruit. They make a snapping type sound in your mouth whether it is closed or open. Yes, it is a minor barely audible sound but to a woman in labor, active labor epidural or not it is beyond difficult to ignore.
The irony of all ironies is that my same husband is the man who gives me the evil eye when I make ANY noise while eating. The man who was known to eat dinner in his room because his family ate too loudly. Yes, this was the man who at that moment ever so delicately popped grape after grape. The rustle of the plastic bag in which they were transported was heard in between chewing and juice flowing as well. I recall clearly lying there in my head trying to self soothe. Saying to myself, "It is ok, he doesn't know you can hear him. Be calm ignore it keep your eyes closed. Don't yell at him, he will be done soon you can be patient. Yes patience works, patience....paaa..." But before I could even continue the chanting in my head I blurted out, "Stop eating those grapes!" In the dark I can only imagine how he must have froze, a deer in the headlights kinda thing and waited a very long time before he set the bag down. The sound also extremely clear. The remaining time before the nurse popped back in and found me to be fully dilated was met with me forgetting all about the encounter. Him not so much, I am certain he barely took a breath either.
All in all not too bad a tantrum really but man this short bursts of coughs make me want to do the same as then. "Will you stop that cough!?"
I guess I don't have an excuse for my rude behavior so instead I will share my thoughts with you. HA! If men only could read minds. Wait a minute maybe its better they can't.
OH MY GOSH! This struck home to me! My hubby is the same way about eating. If I crunch a tortilla chip the wrong way ( even if he is eating them too) I get the evil eye! So funy! And I hear you on the whole loud noises during labor. Mine was my husband's deep breathing as I lie awake listening. Even though I was the one who was about to push our baby out. I was the one who REALLY needed the rest!! Thanks for the laugh, friend!
ReplyDeleteYup... this struck a chord with me as well. My husband is also sick and has a terrible dry cough. Just as you said; the cough seemed to have no purpose but to annoy the heck out of me. To make matters worse, he wakes the baby all night.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming your hubby does not read your blog? =0)
Nope he sure doesn't :)
ReplyDelete