Caution: A Tale of Vomiting

First, a Short Preface--I had hoped to post a re-cap of my past 5-6 months, and I am currently working on it. It is a review of sorts because those months had so much crammed into them, that at times it felt impossible for me to catch my breath, let alone write about it. So my long post w/photos is coming, if for no one but myself. The review post has to come because I have this really weird obsession with making sure I write about and post things chronologically. I can’t just skip 6 months of important things. It’s kind of a problem because when I skip writing about an event or something important, I can’t move on. It just hangs there waiting for me to write about it. Then more time passes and another thing happens, but since I haven’t written about the first one, I definitely can’t write about that one because then they would be chronologically out of order. My problem grows and grows until here I am 6 months later wanting to tell you about a very ordinary, albeit gross evening of my kids getting a stomach bug (yes throw-up) and I can’t because I still haven’t written about our vacation to Colorado (August) or Naomi’s adoption finalization (September) or moving into our new house (November). Mucho more important things. But as important as those things are, the “review” isn’t ready (posting pics takes a long time), and I have to get back on the posting wagon sooooo I’m going to do it by telling about my kids puking.

Now the story...I had grand plans to go to IKEA this week. I need a bunch of things for our new house and IKEA is very budget-friendly. I wish wish wish we had one here, but who am I kidding. So, I was planning to go today, but Naomi woke up from her nap on Tuesday throwing up. This is after she had diarrhea for 4 days, one time in which it got all over her bed, bumper pad, everything. Due to that I moved the IKEA day to Friday thinking she would be better by then. The kids were at Ross’ parents for a few hours this afternoon and they called to tell me Jude was asking for me. This was a bit unusual, but since he didn’t have a nap I figured he just felt whiny and was tired. It didn’t occur to me that he might be sick although Ross woke up with the stuff today. So on the way home, in the car, Jude says “uh-oh…” and then vomits all over the back seat, himself, and his car seat. Ugh. I pull over and try to clean him?? /comfort him??...I mean what can I do? I just try to make sure he’s done (he wasn’t) and then speed all the way home texting Ross that my car smells like throw-up. We put Jude in the bathtub and I begin the lovely job of cleaning up the car. (I will spare you the details.)

After cleaning up everything, kids tucked nicely in bed, Ross tells me to go ahead and go to IKEA tomorrow. I can take Sam, he can stay with Jude, and Naomi can go to his parents’. So it’s back on, until about 10 when I hear Sam crying and wailing. Now he is throwing up all over his bed. Round 2. So, I’ve spent the last hour cleaning up his throw-up, bathing him, and praying to God and willing myself to not get this.

So, as I’m standing at the sink for what seems like hours rinsing off sheets and pillow cases, shirts and towels, I had time to think. One of the things I thought of was how thankful I am for indoor plumbing. How in the world could I do this without running hot water? I have washed poop and puke out of about 40 items in the last 48 hours. I am so glad I have a big sink with hot water and a washing machine 6 feet from it. I’m not kidding. I was really actually able to praise God in this trial because of how immensely grateful I am for running water. (This trial, on the scale of trials, is not that big. But when you’re cleaning up your 15^th puke-covered item, it’s hard to be joyful.)

Another thing I thought of while cleaning up is the different between Sam and Jude in the area of toughness. Jude is very, very tough. Today, he cried for a few seconds after he threw up in the car and then waited patiently until we got home. While Jude was in the bathtub, Ross was laughing at how tough Jude is. He calmly said, “daddy, I’m going to throw-up again.” He said it so normal that Ross thought he was kidding. But then he just stood up, leaned over the tub and puked into a bucket. Then he just sat back down and started playing in the tub. No big deal.

Sam, on the other hand, is more normal. When he throws up, he cries and cries. That’s how I am. Crying like a baby. It’s like everything on my face has fluid coming out…throw-up, snot, tears. So poor Sam, tonight he was up there crying so hard and was so grossed out. Not quite as tough as Jude, but definitely more normal.

I am truly trying to will myself against getting this bug which reminds me of the last thing I was thinking about tonight: my mom. When we were growing up, anytime we got sick, the whole family would get it except for her. One time, we had to drive home from Colorado with all 4 kids and my dad sick in the back of the suburban. My mom drove the whole way and we each had our own throw-up bowl. We’d pull over constantly to empty them. She took care of us the whole way home and never got sick. It’s like a special mom power born out of necessity. I can’t get sick. I just can’t. If I do, then who’s gonna take care of all these other sick people? So, that’s how I see it. I just can’t get sick so I won’t.

It’s late and now all my sick people are tucked into bed with sheets and towels covering every surface and buckets and bowls nearby. I hope to get some sleep tonight so I can be super-mom tomorrow, although I will miss IKEA.