Finding goodness in the yuckiness...

First, I must recognize how blessed my family has been over the past couple of years to have escaped passing sicknesses. The girls have had strep throat only once in two years, lil man has had a couple of runny noses that only lasted a bit of time, and I had the flu...but it left before I really began hating life. All in all, I feel extremely blessed.

That being said;
We have been SICK...Suh-Ick...this past week...with a capital Ugh and Ick.
Lil man began throwing up late late Friday night...and as of 6 short hours ago...is still doing just that. This poor child has thrown up close to 30 times in the past 5 and a half days. He is so hungry, but so wary of any food since it all seems to make a most unfortunate reappearance. He's been trooper, though. He knows now to reach for a towel when he feels sick...he even wipes his own mouth. He's so exhausted, that once he fell asleep on the couch and stayed asleep for a few hours (before waking up sick, of course) and once he even fell asleep face down on a pillow as he attempted to watch the girls play a game. Poor guy. And he NEVER sleeps ANYwhere except his own bed. We've had to adjust more than one overnight set of plans to accommodate our little non-sleeper. Anyhoo...a cough has now joined the party, but honestly, that seems kind of remote right now.

B succumbed to the nastiness around 2:30am Wednesday morning. She even had a fever with hers...lucky girl. What I considered to be the worst part of B getting sick is not that she was sick (of course that was horrible and it broke my heart), but that it happened while I was in the throws of my own personal sickness heck. I seriously ached so badly, I just wanted to pass out. *Pitiful, but I need to accurately document this past week so we can look back on it when we think we're feeling yucky in the future. :)*

So far, K is fine...a huge blessing. I have kept her home since the nurse explained to me how incredibly contagious this is and that even those who don't manifest symptoms, will still be carriers for 36-72 hours. Of course, the incubation period is still not past since we can't seem to get a break from vomit. Ick.
And since I'm riding the whining train right now, let me continue...
The nurse said this virus should last from 3-7 days. SEVEN! DAYS! And it looks like we may be striving for the highest number. My family is nothing if not high-achievers. ;)

The other bit of wah wah wah I'd like to document for all posterity...
Steve is out of town on business. WAH!
I see-saw between just wanting him home because we could each really benefit from having him here, to utter worry over him getting sick in the midst of this uber-important trip.

But I digress.
I know many many many others struggle through moments of sickness, sadness, and worry. I would never diminish anyone's trial by presuming mine is greater. What I can do...is more fully appreciate the times we enjoy health, when Steve is home, when sleep comes in greater increments than 2 hours & isn't interrupted by needing to once again change sheets/towels/clothes, clean floors, check temperatures, and do the general reassuring children need when they are woken from sleep in most disturbing manner, and the laundry...oh, the laundry...don't we all know about laundry during sickness. Another interesting blessing that caught me completely off-guard is that I find I am grateful (and who knew this was even possible?!) that my smell and taste are still completely nonexistent. The lack of those two particular senses has been a saving grace over the last few days.

My respect and admiration grows even greater for single parents, or parents who go it alone for whatever the reason. I never take for granted the blessings in my life. And even though this week hasn't been my favorite, I am thankful for once again being reminded of my blessings and miracles. I have always appreciated the times we enjoy "missing out on" viruses and such, and now my appreciation is deeper.

I may be living in a fog right now, but my fog isn't grey and dreary...it has a lovely silver lining and the promise of many fun colors on the horizon.

And now, I am going to lay back down. I'm feeling weak and sweaty. Fun...