Two weeks ago, when people asked me how staying at home was going, I said, "Great, I love it!" If you had asked me during this past week (which was hard because I don't think I put on make up, got dressed or left the house) I would have shot you a glare and said, "Don't ask."
That's because the flu got us. Again. And while it's been about a year, it seems like it was only days since the last time. I hate the flu. I mean, really, vehemently, venomously, abhor it. I'll take colds, congestion, coughing, strep throat, heck, I'd even take a little bird flu over THE FLU. Not the flu for which you get a shot every year, the dreaded stomach flu.
Ben got it first. Friday night we had a play date at a friend's house while Matt hunted. We were there not twenty minutes when Ben sneezed, looked at me, and promptly threw up on their carpet. I thought, naively that it was an anomaly. Thirty seconds later he proved that theory wrong. This time we made it to the bathroom floor anyway. Well, playdate over! We cleaned up, I left Gabe there because he was having a great time and my friend was willing to keep him for awhile and we went home in the van. With a bucket!
We got home, Matt got home, and Ben threw up again. Poor kid. He's never had it happen before and you could just tell he was a bit bewildered. I was cleaning up the carpet in the hallway and he came out of the bathroom with a towel and said, "I help you Mommy." What a sweetie. Then he said, "I got to bed now. I'm tired, " picked up his puppy and his paci and headed down to his room. I never heard another peep from him and he slept a full 13 hours. Saturday dawned, nobody threw up again, I cleaned and lysoled everything I could and I thought, "Oh thank goodness, we're in the clear." Early Sunday morning, Gabe threw up.
Now, as a side note, you should know that one of the very worst, depressing periods of my life occurred when Gabe was 20 mos. old and I was pregnant with Ben. Gabe got the rotovirus. He was literally sick for almost 8 weeks and I practically missed work the whole month of March. It was awful. Two trips to the ER for fluids and $1400 later, he recovered, but man, it was a long haul!
(NOTE: I started this post on Nov. 18th and am just returning to it now on Jan. 11th!)
Well, Sunday morning was not the end of it. I ended up taking Gabe to the ER and 2.5 hours later they sent us home with advice to wait it out. Tuesday morning Lyndee threw up. Wednesday night Gabe started throwing up again. Thursday morning Lyndee threw up again. Ugh, I think we finally were rid of it by Sunday. Thankfully Matt and I escaped it. I don't know what is worse though, thinking you're going to get it and feeling sick all the time, or just getting it and being done with it!
Then the second week of December it hit us again! Only Ben this time, yay! If there is a Yay in that at all!!!
Finally we are all doing better and getting on with our lives. Seriously, being sick or having sick kids consumes your days and your nights. Knock on wood, I hope we're in the clear for another year!
Lesson learned: Use lysol often and religiously along with clorox wipes, purell hand gel and frequent hand washing. Also, patience....this too shall pass.
