Those of you that know me, or if you’ve read many of my blog posts, probably know that I am a HUGE germ-o-phobe. I haven’t always been this way… well, not to this extreme, anyway. Adding the trio to the mix changed things. Something about having 5 kids will do that to you, I guess. We don’t live in a bubble, but I am super careful and don’t take the littles to places like Chuck E Cheese, mall playgrounds, etc. (the obvious germy places). N&E know that as soon as they set foot in the car from school they are to use the hand sanitizer. They know the drill. I do take the littles out to places like Target… but they are not allowed OUT of the stroller, and most certainly not allowed to ride in the shopping cart, even after I have wiped it down (yes, I am one of those people that actually use the sanitizing wipes the stores have out by the carts.). People with 1 or 2 kids think I’m over-the-top, psychotic, or weird. Until you have 3 toddlers at once on top of 2 others, you just really can’t compare. Regardless, it’s working for us. The last time I had the kids at the pedi (other than for flu shots) was at their well check over a year ago. I can handle a cold here and there… even a fever… but I am DEATHLY AFRAID of VOMIT! I think after seeing the episode of Jon & Kate where all 8 kids were sick with the bug, laying in the basement with individual buckets… yep, I’m pretty sure that did me in.
But it was bound to happen. Monday morning started as usual around here. Big boys were dragging getting ready for school. I had the littles downstairs… had fed them breakfast, and was in the middle of my first cup of coffee. Matt was still home, which was unusual for him, and Luke had snuck back up the stairs to hang with Dad. Sure enough, I heard Matt shouting from upstairs. Luke had just thrown up. Instantly I felt sick, and the adrenaline rush started right on cue. We sent the big boys downstairs to watch the other two (which they were quite happy to do this time… pretty much ran down the stairs). Matt kept his distance from Luke while I tried to help him and start the clean up process. Poor guy was scared to death (referring to Luke, but Matt, too, was white with fear). We laid him out on the couch downstairs on blankets, and I shooed Matt & the boys out the door. I did my best throughout the day to keep paci’s and sippie cups separated. Luke actually did pretty well with this bug. He always seemed to get that ‘look’ on his face so I knew when to grab him and run to the bathroom. By evening, he finally passed out on the couch. I didn’t want to move him, so I left him there while I took Aidan and Liam up to their cribs. Prior to this, I had sent Matt to Target to buy me some Pedialyte, Gatorade, and an air mattress. I planned to sleep on the air mattress in their room in case one of the others came down with it during the night. I put Aidan in his crib, then Liam. Liam actually wanted to lay on the air mattress for a minute so I had to lay down next to him. He wasn’t there 2 minutes before he lost it over the side. I FREAKED OUT. I jumped up, grabbed him and hadn’t even rounded the corner out of the bedroom when Aidan chimed in too. OH MY HELL… at the same time??? Are you kidding me??? At this point I was screeching out for anyone that would listen.
Needless to say, I spent the night back downstairs with all 3 of my littles on the floor, on blankets, with buckets. Just like Jon & Kate (minus 5 kids). I will say that dealing with a stomach bug at NIGHT is much, much worse than during the day. Pure torture. Poor Aidan & Liam were desperately trying to (and needed) sleep, but just couldn’t… and they are still too little to make it to the bathroom, even in the day when they are awake. I personally didn’t sleep a wink, for obvious reasons. At least I was able to clear off the DVR. Liam was better by morning, but poor Aidan had it for the bulk of Tuesday as well.
I lived to tell the story, barely. However I NEVER, EVER want to live that experience over again. I went through Lysol, Clorox wipes, and hand sanitizer like crazy for several days. Thankfully the rest of us were spared. Most dreadful experience to date with kids… without a doubt. Words can not express how bad it was. Matt used ‘disaster’ a few times. I’m thinking worse.
My poor babies… in the sick ward…
Now… let me tell you how this happened. I let my guard down, took them out of the bubble the previous weekend. On Saturday I took all 5 to a very crowded park to play. (I do take them to the park, but usually during the week when there are few to no other children). Noah & Eli went to the dreaded Chuck E Cheese for a birthday party. I am fine with the big kids (fine is a strong word) going. They know better than to put their hands & other objects in their mouths, unlike my littles. (They don’t always oblige, but they do KNOW better.). I took the littles to Nordstrom’s for new shoes, and they did get out of the stroller and sit on the seats in the shoe area. On Sunday we took the family to Ikea. We had lunch in the restaurant, and we allowed the littles to sit at the table vs. their stroller to eat. Of course they did not stay seated. We then walked around Ikea, and Luke escaped the stroller. He was laying in beds, etc., enjoying the freedom. Before I knew it, all were OUT of the stroller, walking. Everyone held hands, so they were somewhat controlled. After we left Ikea, we went to the OC Market Place to look at some triple bunk beds (which we have since purchased). All stayed in the stroller, but there were some serious protests. I’m not sure exactly where they picked this up, but I do know it was very likely from one of these places! As we went to bed that Sunday night, I remember saying out loud ‘I sure hope that nobody catches the plague from all of our activities this weekend’. I need to learn to keep my mouth shut!
Needless to say, we are back in our bubble and it will be a LONG time before they see that kind of freedom again!
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