Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty Five
Josie
Nine Months Postpartum
Scrubbing my eyes, I shuffle down the hallway toward Shiloh’s room.
It’s the first day of school, and I already hate this early morning to get him up and ready.
Thankfully everything is ready, we packed up his lunch after supper and put it in the fridge.
All that’s needed is to transfer it into his backpack before we head off for the bus.
Soft snores come from the dark room, and I hate that I have to wake him up. Thankful for the dimming lights feature, I turn the light on to a light glow and walk over to Shiloh’s bed.
“Good morning my sweet boy,” I brush his messy locks from his forehead, and I’m welcomed with a groan, “it’s time to get up and ready for school.”
“Ten more minutes,” Shiloh whines as he throws his blanket over his head.
I huff a breath, I didn’t think I’d have to deal with this until he was a teenager, but Shiloh is not a morning person.
I anticipated this kind of road bump, so I tried to have everything ready so if he did ask he could have those extra ten minutes.
“Okay, I’m going to set your timer for ten minutes.
When it goes off I want you up and dressed.
Your clothes are on your toy chest.” Getting up I walk over to the little timer and set it.
That timer has been a blessing in disguise.
We got to the point where I spent more time circling back and checking to make sure he was getting done what he was supposed to and that we always ended up late.
I spent some time looking up information on the best ways to help your child with ADHD for easier transitions and I saw that timers could be effective with battling the time blindness.
I was willing to try anything and this worked wonders. He knows that when that timer goes off he needs to go to the next task. I have timers around the house so that I don’t have to carry around just one. They’re in all the important places: his bedroom, the bathroom, and the main living area.
In the kitchen, Monty is already making the pot of coffee with three mugs set next to it. Evie is at the kitchen island with the electric griddle, making chocolate chip pancakes. A steaming stack already started next to it.
“Walking into the kitchen smelling coffee and pancakes is so nice,” I say before I take a deep inhale.
Monty looks behind me and sees that Shiloh isn’t there, “ten more minutes?” He asks with a knowing tone.
“Yep. I put on his timer and his clothes are set out, so he should be out shortly. It’s the first day, so I don’t expect it to go smoothly.
” I reply, walking to Evie’s side and sliding my hand down her back.
“Good morning Sweets.” Leaning over I quickly peck her on the cheek before moving over to the fridge to grab the fixings for coffee and pancakes.
The three of us work together flawlessly, Hayes is sitting at his highchair with pieces of pancake and a banana. Babbling away as he eats and watches us move around.
Shiloh comes in a couple minutes later and takes his seat at the table. Dramatically he drops his chin in his hand and begins to eat the pancakes that Monty places in front of him. There isn’t any fighting to get ready and out the door to wait for the bus.
Monty waits at the end of the driveway with us, he always goes in late on the first day of school so that he can see Shiloh off on his new school year.
Shiloh stands with his yearly school sign, with one of those fake kid smiles.
You know the ones that look like someone hooked their fingers in the corner of their mouths and pulled it up?
I’m just about to give up when Monty does something behind me that makes Shiloh give a genuine smile giving Evie the perfect timing to get a good photo.
I watch as Evie snaps a couple more pictures before standing up with a smile of her own. She looks over at me and winks, then looks down at the screen to inspect the photos.
She’s been using her camera more and more since we got it for her birthday this summer.
She mentioned wanting to take some photography classes at the local college to learn more.
Monty and I both encouraged her to register for at least one class, but there was a waitlist for this semester so she’s waiting until something opens up in the new year.
Just then the bus pulls up to our house and Shiloh says goodbye and climbs onto the bus. My eyes prickle with tears as I watch my boy go off to another school year.
I feel an arm wrap across my chest and I instantly know it’s Monty by his height alone as he engulfs my frame with his.
“I’m fine,” I sniffle, “I just can’t believe that he’s in first grade already, it feels like it was just yesterday we brought him home.”
“I know what you mean, babe. He’s growing up so quickly, and he’s so caring and smart.” He places a kiss on the top of my head. “We did good.”
“We did.” I agree, then I hear Hayes scream with laughter and I look over to see him in Evie’s arms as she spins him, his head tilted back with joy.
My heart swells with more affection as I watch the two of them interact, and something strong starts to show its urgency.
That feeling comes with a flutter of butterflies and nerves, because I hope she feels the same about us. “She makes it better.”
The admittance flows easily out of me, and I know by the way Monty pulls me closer that he’s on the same page. “Yeah– she does.”
The first week of school was great for getting ready and out the door on time. The weeks following that were less than perfect. The second week of school Shiloh fought bedtime and the morning every single day which caused us to miss the bus twice and Evie having to go and drop him off at school.
Thankfully I adjusted my work schedule the first month to accommodate those potential late starts, so I brought Hayes into the spa with me and set him up in his own little area to play while I did my opening check list.
A week before Halloween Shiloh came home, he was a little quieter than usual, but otherwise still his energetic self.
He didn’t eat much for dinner, which isn’t abnormal as he is known to change his food preferences and his favorite foods become gross.
We were all winding down in the living room before bedtime when suddenly Shiloh puked all over himself and the couch.
I hoped it was a one off, maybe something was just off for him.
Boy, was I wrong. Over the next couple days we all took our turns with the gastro bug. I somehow managed to be the last to get it despite being the one who was taking care of everyone as one by one they all got it.
Then two days ago, I was throwing the last load of laundry into the washer from our bedroom since Monty and Evie were on the mend.
All of a sudden my whole body was cold, but I was somehow sweating at the same time.
I managed to make it to the bathroom just in time to knee slide to the toilet before emptying the contents of my stomach into the porcelain bowl.
Just freaking peachy.
I don’t know how much time has passed, but I’m currently resting my head against the wall, still not far from the toilet just in case I need it. There’s a soft knock on the door and the soft tones of Evie’s voice filters through the barrier.
“Hey Jojo, are you okay?” There’s a brief pause before she continues, “I mean of course you aren’t okay– can I get you anything?”
Opening my eyes, I take that moment to do a self check. I still feel nauseous, but I don’t have this urgent need to throw up. I think I should try to at least eat some crackers, and try to drink something. If anything it puts something in my stomach so I don’t end up puking up just bile.
“Um,” I take a second to clear my throat, “maybe some crackers? A ginger ale if we have any left too.”
Evie tells me she’ll be right back and I close my eyes again. I must have dozed off because I’m startled awake by the soft touch of Evie’s hand on my shoulder.
“Woah, it’s just me.” She says softly. “Here let’s get you to bed, I put new sheets on and there’s a bucket for you if you need it. It’ll be a lot more comfortable than the bathroom floor.”
Groaning, I let her help me up, but I feel so weak and guilt waves through me at the thought of Evie having to try to help pick me up.
“Just give me a second, I don’t want you to hurt yourself getting me up.” I mumble as I try to get on my knees and instantly become light headed.
“Hurt myself?” There’s a brief pause before Evie huffs and circles me until she’s at my back.
Using her arms she hooks them under my armpits and hoists me up to my feet.
Holding me steady until I’m ready to walk, she moves until she’s by my side.
My arm over her shoulder and her arm around my waist.
She supports me to the bedroom, and settles me sitting up against the headboard. She then proceeds to feed me crackers and small sips of ginger ale before telling me to lay down.
She leaves the room momentarily and comes back with a cold cloth that she gently places on my forehead. “Now try and get some sleep and I’ll be back in a bit to check on you.” She places a tender kiss on my cheek and then she’s gone.
While I still feel like absolute garbage, there’s a layer of comfort and safety knowing that I’m being cared for.