A Run For My Mommy Money

We weren't even through the first week of February, and I had already been given a run for my Mommy money.  This is pretty impressive considering that I leave our house no more than 2 times a week.  Part of this is because I am still adjusting to two children (I still haven't figured out where getting myself dressed and ready fits into the day) but it also because I have been trying to limit our exposure to the cold and flu season.
Well, apparently two times a week is two times too many because it caught us...a nasty stomach flu caught us.  
Arthur was the first to come down with it, and it hit him hard.  The only word to describe this particular virus is violent...very violent.  With our two little ones to care for, I was little help to him.  I just tried to let him rest and keep the kids away from him.  I noticed that Jake didn't really have an appetite but he was still his normal busy self so I optimistically put him to bed.  However, after just a short hour and a half, I heard him cry out and immediately I knew two things..one, get him over the toilet...NOW...and two, it was going to be a LONG night.
It was my first experience holding the tiny rib cage of a dry heaving 2 (almost 3) year old, but he couldn't have been tougher.  I expected him to be so much more dramatic about the whole thing, I know I would have been at his age.  But instead, he just laid in the "sick bed" that I made him on the couch and watched episodes of Little Einsteins.  Each time he was going to be sick he would make a little whine to warn me as he got up to crouch over his bowl...he didn't miss once  He was such a trouper, he would even glance up at the TV in between heaves.  Five times in less than 3 hours, and then it was over.  I watched him closely for the next little while but when he started asking me for an apple, I knew we were going to be okay.  By this point it was 3:45am and I was exhausted.  Jake, on the other hand, was in the middle of a Caillou episode and didn't want to go to bed.  Since I was too tired to argue, I left him the controls and said, "Okay when your show is over, turn off the TV and come to bed."  Sure, enough 10 minutes later, the TV was off and he was climbing in bed next to me.

Hanging out with my boys during the eye of our sick storm

As our family recovered over the next two days, I couldn't help but think about how grateful I was that I hadn't gotten sick too.  I should have knocked on wood at that moment because that night I woke up with an unmistakable stomach ache.  Arthur was amazing of course.  He called into work and he stayed home to keep Jake entertained while I took my turn in the "sick bed."  And luckily, James was content to just cuddle and sleep on my chest all day (however, I am still paying for messing up his sleep cycle).
Compared to Arthur and Jake, my illness was pretty mild and passed quickly...but not quick enough to beat Jake walking up from his nap crying and yanking at his ear.  Of course, his third ear infection in his whole life had to be at 3 o'clock (when there are no Dr appointments available and urgent care closes at 4) on a day when I can't get off the couch.  But again Arthur sprang into action and with in a few hours he had Jacob seen at urgent care, his prescriptions filled, and had even picked up dinner.  I couldn't have done it better myself, and on this particular day I really couldn't have done it at all without him.  It was one of those days where I was reminded just how lucky I am to have him.
We were also blessed that James stayed healthy through our crazy week.  Thank goodness for nursing!  He just keeps getting bigger and stronger.  I even had to pack up all his newborn clothes this month.  That of course was bitter sweet.  I am so happy he growing into such a big healthy boy, but sometimes I wish it wasn't happening quite so fast.
So now we are all better and just trying to get back into our rhythm.  Okay I'll be honest, I am still trying to find our rhythm.  But I'm sure as soon I think I have found it, something else will come up and give me a run for my Mommy money.

I think this picture just sums it all up...yep, a run for my money