I think one of the hardest things about having a large family is when everyone gets sick. I’m not talking snot and cough either. I’m talking about the kind of sick that requires you to seek out bathroom trash cans to use as puke receptacles and to spray disinfectant on every surface that might have been touched by a virus-carrying hand. There’s a faint smell of vomit coming from the carpet in front of the couch where Simon was hanging his head over like a seasick cruise line passenger.
Last night I was reminded of the scene from the Ya Ya Sisterhood movie when all the kids are barfing everywhere and Vivi is crying with her fingers in her ears.
Jamie’s napping in bed right now.
The kids are feeling a little better today.
If I don’t end up with this virus, it’ll be a Christmas miracle.
So Timothy doesn’t use the potty, but I thought this coloring page from Creative-Type Dad was HILARIOUS. He caught the dreaded hand, foot, and mouth disease (coxsackie!!) from somewhere–most likely church. He started running a fever Tuesday and was all red-eyed, whiny, and didn’t sleep at all. Yesterday, I decided that his excessive drooling was worrisome, too, so we went in to the doctor. I was fully expecting him to tell me that Timothy had an ear infection at the worst, but NOOO! Ear infections are too easy. No, Timothy had to have a huge ulcer in the back of his mouth.
The thing is, when I told the nurse that one of Timothy’s symptoms was drooling, she was so quick to tell me that he was teething. Yes, it is true that Timothy has been teething, but that tooth broke through last week and he has never, ever drooled like this. He was refusing to swallow at all, and whenever he would lean over, buckets of saliva would ooze out of his mouth and puddle on the floor. It was gross and disturbing!! I guess that nasty little blister in his mouth had something to do with it, didn’t it NURSE?
For the moment, Timothy is sleeping and we can only hope that he’ll feel a billion percent better by Saturday. We’re nursing ’round the clock, which isn’t really anything new, but it supposedly helps to coat the ulcer. The extra prolactin I’m getting doesn’t hurt, either–it’s helping me cope with the utter lack of sleep and the stress I’m feeling because Simon just barfed all over the futon from coughing so much.
Who wants to bring me a pumpkin spice latte?
See more Mommy Confessions and add your own at Life Starring the Kids and Me.
I haven’t done a Mommy Confession in a while, but this week made me realize I need to get something off my chest:
I feel guilty for being sick.
There. I said it. Why do I, as a mother, feel so guilty when I can’t do what I’m here for? Sure, I like the peace and quiet that comes with healing. And it’s great not having to wipe anyone’s butt, clean cheese out of the carpet, or solve major crises between children. There’s just this part of me that misses being able to snuggle, bounce, and pace the floor with Timothy. I want to bend down to kiss boo-boos and buckle belts. Mostly, I don’t want to see my husband overwhelmed like I usually am.
For these guilty feelings, I’m going to blame modern medicine. If this had been a few decades ago, I for sure would still be in the hospital with nurses tending to my every need. I’d have flowers by my bed and visitors bringing candies for me to nibble. But Timothy would not be with me, so I also have to thank modern medicine for allowing me to come home so soon. I just hate that I can only provide him with my milk and occasional cuddles right now.
Leave it to a mommy to feel guilty about getting her appendix out. Hopefully, I can heal quickly and get back to doing what I do best…whatever that is.
