Zizi...aka The Pappy Hi-jacker

Yesterday I asked mama to bring Carsyn to the gym when she came and Carsyn and I would hang out a while to see some of the girls that I don't normally see because I typically go home on Tuesday. One of the little girls told me a couple of weeks ago that I needed to bring Carsyn because she had not seen her! So, mama brought her and we ended up staying the whole time (until 7:15 which puts us home at 7:45). I had thought that we would probably leave a little earlier because of supper and all but Carsyn was doing so well, that I didn't even think about that.

I should start this by saying that we have been putting the pappy up during the day in efforts to try to get her to talk more. It's kinda an "outta sight, outta mind" issue with her. She HAS to have it in the car seat (where she usually goes to sleep) and she HAS to have it at bedtime and usually naptime. And I'm totally ok with that. I'm not hard-core take the pappy and let her scream...I just take it when she doesn't need it. So, when she was at the gym, the pappy had been "put up"...in Zizi's pocket....I didn't know this at the time!

Class ends and all of the girls start to leave. Mama, Vicki, Richelle and I were all there during class so mama said she was going to run out to Walmart to get something for her and Vicki and Grace to have to eat for supper since there was somebody to lock up once all of the girls were gone from class. Off she went....with pappy in pocket. 15 minutes after class is over, the last student is picked up. We go to load up and I realize the situation at hand...and that it just might be a disaster!!! Ok...what was I thinking?!?! I knew it would be and I should have turned left to go to Walmart and make sure that we had a pappy, but I thought surely I could find one in my console or one of her bags...or sing a lot...or give her my cell phone...or play with her piggies (toes) or SOMETHING to keep her happy enough to make it home.

Ummm...NO.

She made her noises like she usually does when she bounces her finger around and wants me to sing "This Little Light of Mine," so I turned the light on to glance and see if that's what she wanted and she gave me the saddest little look of despair, quinched her eyebrows and pointed with one little finger at her mouth as if to say, "Can't you help me, mama? I just need that pappy that goes right here! That's all!"

That look will be etched in my brain forever.

I kept singing and playing and calling to let her talk to her daddy.

I was still ready to turn around half way home and go all the way back to Walmart and at this point...I would have bought EVERY. PAPPY. THEY. HAD. Not kidding. A pack for everywhere in case of emergency....the car, the truck, my purse, my office, you name it.

30 minutes of screaming and crying and sniffling :(

We FINALLY made it...in the house and straight to the first pappy that I knew of. Relief. Total joy. I sat her down for supper (I know...she must have been starving by now). She ate with her pappy on the high chair tray. She would chew a bite then she would pop it back in. Over and over again.

Then it was bath time. It wasn't coming out. It was fogged up around the edges for the warm air in the bathroom.

Then we go to the changing table and I opened the top drawer to get out her brush (because, yes, we do have enough hair that we must brush now :)) and she reached down to get something out of the drawer. She laid over hanging down into the drawer from her waist up (yes, I was holding her), took both hands and scooped up every pappy in the drawer...her kind and all of the ones that she would never take. It DIDN'T MATTER tonight! She got down and laid them all out, picked out which one she wanted, put it in her mouth and grabbed 2 in her right hand and 2 in her left.

She was armed.

She took them everywhere she went...all night...constantly switching them back and forth.

This morning, mama sent me a text that Carsyn woke up and trotted in the living room to her, found Zizi's shoes and took them to her like she was ready to go. And, as usual, mama said, "Do you want to leave your pappy here?" (because she has more at Zizi's house) and Carsyn snatched it out of her mouth and put it down in her pajama pants :) Smart girl.

I will be going to stock up on emergency pappys and snacks for the gym today. Because...we just can't be havin' that!

I know that I haven't been in a situation that lots of people can say they have with sick babies, but no matter the circumstances, not being able to help your baby is the most terrible feeling ever. As far as having a pappy goes, that won't be happening to this mama any more...you can mark my word.