Warrior - Fighting Cold & Flu Season

There is an illness that has been ripping through our family.  I guess it "Tis" the season.  Chris was the first one to be taken down and spent the better part of two and a half days in bed.  This meant a lot of disinfecting (which apparently didn't work), cleaning, laundry, in addition to running hot baths for him and making sure he stayed hydrated.

Image Courtesy of YouAndMeme.com

Last night Jack got sick.  It came on quickly, like a tidal wave, and all over the staircase (thank you mucous).  Today he's at home with me, binge watching Netflix, and feeling a whole lot better.  I probably could have sent him to school today, but thought better of it.  Kids need R and R too, and I'm guessing the other parents don't want us to gift this to them for the holidays. I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that Molly and I get to skip this one.


I am not happy that Jackie is sick, however I am thankful for the capabilities of ill six year olds  compared to coping with sick infants and toddlers.  When I think back to the run six month span of infant illnesses when they were toddlers, like the Strep Throat of 2012, I am thankful that we're not living those days anymore. Here are some important illness milestones we've reached.

1. My kids can make it to the toilet (most of the time) when they need the facilities.
2. They know how to use disinfectant wipes to help minimize the spread of germs.
3. They can tell me what's wrong.
4. They can tell me what they need, whether it's a blanket, a bucket, or a cherry Popsicle.
5. Losing a few pounds due to lack of appetite isn't going to warrant a trip to the doctor.
6. They can wash their hands properly.
7. They have an understanding of why we kiss on the cheek and sneeze like a vampire.
8. They can take their own temperature and understand what the numbers mean.
   
   And Most Importantly
9. They still want extra cuddles from mom and dad when they're not feeling well. 

May your holidays bring you health and wellness with your family, and if someone gets sick don't forget to enjoy the extra cuddles!

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12:59 Lullaby

Over the December break Jack got sick.  For five days he had a fever that spiked randomly, a low appetite and a trace of a cough.  Fortunately, we were off work and able to endure some sleepless nights as we nursed him back to health shortly after New Year's.  One of the common side-effects of having twins, or multiple children of any age, is that they rarely get sick at the same time.  They have a tendency to stagger their illnesses leaving us with what seems like week after week of grossness.

On Monday afternoon, my first work day post holiday, Molly was sent home with a fever of 101.5. That night her fever neared 104.  In the first week of the new year Chris and I have each already been forced to use personal days and Nana and Papa have taken two shifts with Miss Molly.

Taking up a lot of bed space, even at 10 months old.

During the course of both of these illnesses (AKA the 13 days of the winter of our discontent (17 days if you count the bronchial cough I've been fighting)), we've sacrificed something very important to us, our adult bed, to sick minions.

It always starts out the same way.  After several awakenings to tend to a sick (or nightmare riddled) child you decide that it would just be easier to let said child sleep in your bed as you surrender to your state of chronic exhaustion.  As a person who has inflicted this unnecessary ordeal on themselves several times over the past fortnight, I give this warning: DON'T DO IT!  Go downstairs, go to a couch, take shifts....just don't let them in or you'll regret it.

10 reasons why letting your child into bed with you is a terrible, horrible, no good very bad idea:

1. 30-35 pounds of child doesn't seem like it would take up a lot of space, but it does when they starfish (sideways) across the bed pushing you into the outermost corners.
2. You are berated with constant beverage demands.
3. The above-mentioned beverages are either consumed loudly or poured all over your bedding, or both.
4. You are kept awake with conversational gems like, "Mom, that's a light on the ceiling" which apparently needs a response.  As does the question, "Do you like cars?"
5. If you ask Chatty Cathy (or Cliff) to be quiet and go to sleep, they will cry that you are being mean to them.
6. You might as well be Goldilocks in a pot of porridge as you get the sauna treatment of a fevered child pressed against your back, followed by a visit from the duvet thief who cocoons in your sheets and blankets while you shiver.
7. At four o'clock in the morning your child will call for something they've lost in the bed.  You'll tear everything apart looking for said item so they'll go back to sleep, only to discover they've been holding it in their hands the entire time. 
8. Your back will hurt, because you'll discover (when you get into bed the next evening) that you were sleeping on a blue toy car.
9. Squatters rights.  As soon as you let them into your bed one night, they'll ask again, and again, for weeks, hoping you'll give in.
10. You finally settle into a child-free bed only to discover there are crumbs everywhere.  It appears that not only your child, but also the Keebler Elves and six boxes of cookies must have made it into your bed last night.  

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