Sick

 WARNING: NOT FOR THOSE WITH WEAK STOMACHS

 I took a couple of days off because Jr. and I had the stomach flu. I mentioned that Jr's friend, P came over and puked all over the place. I guess we caught whatever he had. Wednesday night while hubby was at a church meeting, I was settling in for the night when I realized my stomach was bothering me and I was also very cold; it was then that I heard Jr. coughing. I expected her to start crying or fussing but she just kept coughing. I went into her room and discovered my poor baby half asleep, covered in vomit. It was everywhere: her clothes, her blankets, her stuffed frog, her hair, her face... By the time I got her cleaned up and her stuff in the wash, she was lying quietly in our bed, just looking at me with her big eyes. Then she would roll over, get to her knees and puke some more. Then she would lay with her head against me. I felt so bad for her and so helpless. I just kept rubbing her back and saying over and over, "It's okay, that's a girl...", like my mom used to do. Finally hubby came home and by 11 Jr. was clean again in a clean crib and hadn't vomited in an hour.

Then it was my turn.

I was up all night. Freezing, then sweating, curled up on the bathroom floor, not knowing which end it would be coming out. Thankfully we have an extra bed in the basement and a second bathroom so I could do all of my moaning in groaning without waking anyone. Finally, at 8am, my stomach was okay. Only now I felt like I had been hit by a dump truck. Every joint, every muscle ached. 

Hubby was fantastic. He took care of both Jr and I and managed not to get sick (unfortunately his hands are cracked from all the hand sanitizer). He bought all the necessary battle ammo: Gatorade, Gastrolite (for me), Pedialite (for Jr.), saltine crackers, Rice Krispies, Jell-o, ginger ale, Pepto-Bismal... you name it, he bought it. While he took care of Jr, I pretty much stuck to the couch all day. He forced me to drink the awful Gastrolite and eat crackers and eventually toast and then soup. I don't know what I would have done if I had been forced to look after Jr by myself. Thanks, Hubby!

So we're both almost back to normal. Jr. is a little off, I don't know how else to describe it. We're not sure if it's still the flu or just regular baby stuff: kind of lethargic, not wanting to drink a lot (but maybe we're expecting too much drinking?), fussy. Time will tell.

L, the mom of little P, sent a message to apologize for giving us the bug. I can understand her mortification; I would feel the same way. But I can't blame her or be mad at her. It's not like she came over knowing her son had the flu. And she also caught what he had and was sick and I wouldn't wish gastro on my worst enemy. On top of everything, while Jr. seemed to get everything out within hours,last I heard P still has the runs.

Nothing makes you appreciate your health and especially the health of your loved ones more than when you or they are sick!