We both survived... not that our future was really in doubt (although that is how I felt)... Owen made it through his first days at Raj's (our family day care provider) and I made it through my first days at work!
Oh how sad, nervous and guilty I felt leaving Owen with Raj on Thursday. I was running so late getting there since I was so frazzled. I was almost 30 minutes late getting him to her house and then when I arrived I realized I forgot his milk and had to come all the way back home (and then back). Finally, over one hour past schedule, I dropped Owen off and headed to my company's global retreat for the day. Of course, I got stuck in the typical DC rush hour traffic. It made me so sad to think I had left Owen to be with someone else - a virtual stranger - so I could sit in traffic for more than an hour. Once I made it to the Mayflower Hotel and started to see my colleagues I felt better. They were all so supportive to me and comforted me through the day. What was difficult was trying to find a place to pump! Finally someone offered for me to use their hotel room... only problem was every time I needed to pump I had to find her and wait for her to bring me to the room. Pumping only takes me 10 minutes, but the process took at least 30 minutes. I missed more than I wanted because of the ordeal.
I called Raj around 11am to check on Owen. She tried to convince me he was doing fine... that he had drank from the bottle and had a nap. For some reason I just felt like she was saying what I wanted to hear... I couldn't believe her (not that I had any reason to doubt her). I felt ok but was still worried about my little baby bug -- and missed him so much.
I didn't stay for the evening reception and made it home before 6pm on Thursday. Scott had picked up Owen around 4:30 and said he seemed fine - like normal - when he picked him up. When I got home Owen was fine. He did want to nurse - very close to him having had a bottle. I think he probably wanted to just for comfort -- and I did too!
Thursday night we didn't sleep too well but I got up early on Friday so I would make it in time. All went much better getting him ready... too good since I made it to my office with more than 30 minutes to spare. I was sad thinking I could have been with him instead. The meetings on Friday ended around 2pm and then there was a gala dinner on Capitol Hill at 6:30. I was going to go home and come back but decided against it since it was rainy that day and may have just gotten stuck in my car the whole time and not really gotten any good time with Owen. I stayed at the office and chatted with Bryan about work and life. It was good... I miss that.
The evening event at my company's retreat was a private tour of the Capitol building and dinner. The tour was hosted by Tom Lantos, a Democrat from California who serves in the House. He is an amazing man... in fact, he is the only member of Congress to be a survivor of the Holocaust. His son-in-law, Ambassador Dick Swett, is a senior counselor at our firm. Dick was a member of the House too and was ambassador to Denmark. He is also an architect so he gave the tour of the Capitol. The end of our tour allowed us to go onto the floor of the House. We sat in the actual seats of the Representatives and heard Rep. Lantos speak. It was a wonderful event... Especially to look around the room at all my global colleagues fill the room. I was proud to be a part of it. After that we had dinner in the Cannon building.
Everything ran late with the evening event. I thought I would be home by 9pm but dinner didn't start until about 8:30! I didn't get home until 11pm! That meant Scott had to care for Owen from 3:30 to 11pm all by himself... the longest yet! He said he did well and both of the boys looked ok when I got home! I was so happy to see Owen but was so tired. It was one of the moments when it harshly reminds you how being a mother is a 24-hour a day job!
I am glad I am not going back to work yet (I start on May 18)... and that I am not planning to go back full time. I will miss Owen so much when I am gone and miss that part of my life. It is so enriching to raise a child. I enjoy being a mom for Owen and wouldn't want to sacrifice that for more time in the office. Still, it was good to be at work -- my colleagues are smart and kind and the work is challenging. That makes it worthwhile... but for no more than 3 days a week!
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I'm sure to post something else later this evening and hopefully it won't be nearly as lowbrow as this one, but I just can't get past Dick Swetts name just yet.
Stuck in the DC traffic? Well next time maybe you'll stay away from those bastards at Emerald Cab and take a real cab, a DC Cab. That's right, perhaps the knowledge I'm droppin' is too obscure for ya but if being alive in 1983 has taught me anything, it's that through teamwork, sacrifice and a young Gary Busy, you can accomplish your dreams, save your failing cab company and get people to their destination in a timely manner. Even the Canon Building.
Is that where they make those cameras? Did they give out free ones? It would be totally cool if they did.
Well, I hope going back to work works out well for ya. And don't worry, I secretly hate and plot the downfall of all my colleagues too. Oh wait, your co-workers don't read this do they? Eek! I'm outta here!
Holy shit, I didn't even notice, you're going back to work on May 18th? I'll be in a place called Vertigo that night. That's right, Rude the Dude is going to the U2 concert that night folks. I'll be rocking out with my cock out, and most likely bombed out of my gourd. Well alright! Rudecrest out.
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