Give Me A Break...Really, I Need A Break

Many days home with my kids, doing the Sahm (Stay-at-home-mom) gig is just fine. Some days are great and then there are some that make me feel like I'm standing on a 2 inch ledge on the 52nd floor flailing my arms to try and regain balance before I plummet over the edge...into insanity. Today has been one of those days. I'm posting out of rage...and hope that I can look back at this later in the week and laugh. Today, I'm not laughing.

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Above is a picture of the new lobby of the Veterinary Hospital I've been taking my cats since we got them nearly 15 years ago. Over the years, I've noticed the prices squeaking up and up, but they are loving and competent so I've continued to be a loyal "customer". My cats have never been anywhere else. Recently, one of our two remaining cats, Pita, began peeing blood...lovely. So this morning, kids in tow, I took her to "our" vet. They've been working on the new section for well over a year, but today was the first time I saw its decadence with my own eyes. While waiting in the lobby, I snapped the following shots. Yes, that's a complimentary coffee and tea maker. Yes, those are massive pendant lights hanging from the 2 story lobby. Yes, that's a gigantic FLAT SCREEN TV (one of two) in the lobby. At this point, I'm blissfully unaware of what the next hour held for me.

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So they had an emergency. CoCoa the dog ate human medication. They are so sorry we are being delayed. I smile and say it's not a problem. I'm hopeful for CoCoa's speedy recovery. Tristan gets antsy. Won't sit still. Falls in love with the automatic sliding doors...then tries to leave the building...several times. I apologize profusely to the staff and all others around us for the chaos that is Tristan. I start hating CoCoa.

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Finally, we make it into an examination room. Go through the whole spiel with the doctor. He wants urine and blood work done. I say "okay." He says he wants to do X-rays, I say "how much will that cost?" An additional $200. I must have scowled. We finally come up with a step-by-step plan. Pita is to be isolated at home and put on antibiotics. No X-rays or other fancy ultrasound tests this time around. Meanwhile, Tristan is a nut. I apologize profusely to the doctor. The vet assistant asks me if I need anything. I respond, " a vacation." She laughs. I'm serious.


They take Pita out for testing. Tristan continues his "now I'm two, I'm going to act like it" tirade. He puts is hands in the garbage.

Hangs from the examination table. Tries to leave the room several times. I even put him in time-out for 2 minutes (what a joke).
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The doctor comes back in. We talk some more with Tristan behind me. I hear him in my purse, but give the doctor my full attention. The doctor leaves, I turn around to find that Tristan has tried to put on mascara!



Okay, that's funny, but believe me, it wasn't when I was in the thick of it.
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For the record, Ryan was beautifully behaved...I think he felt bad for me.
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We're done. I head out to the lobby to pay and get the hell home before my 2 year old causes some permanent damage to the new digs. The sweet receptionist hands me the following bill:


$473.50

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I consider letting Tristan loose with a baseball bat!