The Sickies

There is one thing that I try to avoid more than anything else and that is the throwing up kind of flu virus. I know, you are probably laughing at this announcement as you think about me running about with my five kids. Kids seem to be the bearer and spreader of viruses. We even went so far as to stay home from church the two weeks before Christmas. You may think this is extreme but we've been caught too many times during the holiday season dealing with the flu. Let me assure you, it is a real downer to the holiday!

An invitation to a cute little girl birthday party came in the mail to which we agreed to go. What was I thinking? A night full of bouncy fun, pizza and cupcakes were planned along with lots and lots of cute little people under three and a half feet. Should I mention the squealing that was heard to the 30th degree? Two days after the party, our five year old threw up. Maybe a change in my thinking would be good. I say we need to hibernate from two weeks before Christmas to hmmm, let's say....May.

One of the downsides to having a bigger size family is times like these. I always hope that only one kid will be down with illness at a time. I cross my fingers and pray, begging God to spare the rest of us but then, the next kid will begin the process. Ahh...nuts, I say. As one by one, each member of the family succumbed to this sickness, I was determined to remain healthy. I detest throwing up and thus, me running the race to not do that.

In my determination, it may appear to some, mainly my husband, that I am unsympathetic or uncompassionate. One of the things that is important is to maintain healthy air within the home. So we open the windows, widely. I know that it's only 15 degrees outside but I encourage the family to just cover up under blankets and allow the temperature to drop four degrees. Is that so much to ask? It is very difficult to try and not breathe in a house full of the ickies. I can only imagine what the neighbors must be thinking when they hear me yank open the door and run outside to inhale the oxygen that is outside the home.

My husband always wants me to sit with him or hold his hand when he's sick. I suppose wiping him down with Lysol wipes might be going a bit too far? I don't know....maybe. As I was sitting in the office, catching up on some email, I hear this little blip coming from the intercom on the phone. When I looked at the interface screen on it, it told me that it was coming from the phone my darling husband had near him. Is that anything like him ringing a bell for me to get something for him? I'd say so. You can only guess how well that went over.

By the end of the week, I ran screaming from the house. I was feeling a bit claustrophobic. Just how many people can you sit on your lap at one time? There was a church meeting and I went. While there, I got a text message telling me that the final child has blessed the hallway. That left only me, the lone ranger. Ever feel like the odds are against you?

The following evening, the lone ranger lost the fight and joined the ranks of the rest of the family. It's good every now and then to experience a brief moment in time when you think you are dying and never ever again want to partake of food. It makes the moment you are better, seem like heaven. Ah...sweet, sweet food. Then, there are the cheers coming from Ryan, our seven year old, who had just come from the bathroom, empatically announcing that he once again had solid 'poop'. The things we take for granted....