As a mother you are expected to make sure that the things get done that should be done. Teeth need to be brushed, dinner on the table, homework checked over, laundry folded and put away in the right locations, house straighted, and kids driven to school. But, what happens when mommy gets sick?

My oldest daughter is know for not getting sick. Her record is 4 years since the last illness! So the other day she was acting a bit funny and not making any since. I checked her temp only to find she was a hundred and 3.5! Now the hard part was getting her to go to bed and rest. She is stubborn and refuses to believe anything is wrong with her at all. Then the throwing up started. This is one of any mothers most dreaded things, right below pooing everywhere.

So, once again I called up my now favorite Dr in the whole wide world, Dr Bean, and explained what was happening. Her sister just had Phenomia, and they share a room. Could Aspen have caught it from her? He got me in right away. She just has the stomach flu thank heavens, but no fun just the same. He gave her some medicine that knocked my stubborn girl right out. She slept for 5 hours!

I thought I had it all under control. Jordan was nearly better, Micah has no symptoms at all, and Aspen was resting and will be better in no time. Then it happened! I woke up and hurt all over. I checked my temp to find that I was well into the 100s. I could hardly get out of bed, but knew that Jordan needed help getting ready and her lunch was needing to be fixed. I just wanted to cry! I prayed that I could just make it through the morning and then have Aspen help me take care of Micah. But wait! Aspen is sick too, and would be of no help for me. So, I did what I thought was best and put on Micahs Monster truck movie that would keep him busy for 2 hours, and I laid down on the couch, cried, and fell asleep.

I woke up when he threw his sippy cup on my head leaving a small bruise on my temple. His movie was over and he was wanting my full attention now. I felt even worse than I did that morning, but he is only 1 1/2 and all my trying to reason with him left him looking confused.

I ended up reading him a few books, and singing a lot of songs before he was contented enough to go play with his train set in his room for half an hour.

Aspen on the other hand had gotten up and was moaning and groaning about her tummy hurting and could I help her make soup? We made some homemade chicken and rice soup because I had no cans that would do.

As I stood over the hot stove cooking the soup, I started feeling like throwing up. So I ran to the toilet and missed it. I now have it all over the floor, and some more on the walls. More work to do in a bit. Right now I had to get back to the soup that needed stirring.

So, back at the stove I was. I had informed Aspen to avoid the bathroom because I needed to tend to it later. At this point I remembered I had to wash Jordan a pair of shorts for school tomorrow. She had been so sweet and asked me to wash them because all her friends were wearing the same thing tomorrow. I now had laundry that I would have to struggle through so as to not disappoint my little one. GREAT!

The straw that finally broke the mommys back was while Micah was in there playing so nicely with his new train set he took off his pants and diaper (see where I am heading?) I went to check on him only to find him (and half his room) covered in what looks like guacamole, but in no way smelt like it. AGHH

I put him in the tub, took some more medicine for my rising temp and cried again.

Aspen was now unable to eat her food because of the horrible smell filling the house. I put it in the fridge for later.

After cleaning bathroom and Micahs bedroom I was no longer able to stand without my head pounding. I laid Micah down for a nap, put Aspen back to bed, and tried to close my eyes for a minute. HAHA

Instead of a rest I got 4 phone calls and a repair man in my house fixing a leak I had called in a week ago. Oh, and dinner is getting taken care of. I am defrosting a yummy meatloaf from a friend. It is at these moments that I am thankful for the cooking club!

Then it is off to pick up my middle child from school and go over her homework and oversee the chores.

I feel for my hubby when he comes home because I am locking myself in the bathroom and taking a long bath. Then I am going to bed!

Lord, please be with my family and all the sickness that is in it right now. I pray that I can get back on my feet quickly. My family needs me to be at my best and not sick. Be over all the people we have been around lately and help them to not catch any of our illness.

San Diego

We got back from Sad Diego on Saturday, and it is so true what they say "You need a vacation from your vacation". I love my children, honest! Anyone who knows me will tell you that, yes, I am a bit scatter brained, but I do love my children.

Having said that.... I came back from this trip with the only thought running through my head being "get away from the children!" What was supposed to be a 6 hour car ride took over 9 hours because my children needed bathrooms and food and stretching, etc. I know that I should have been planning on these little stops, but I did not think it would be every 30 minutes. My in-laws are great, but they gave in way too many times to my children. Anytime Micah would whimper they would pull into the nearest stop and get him goodies. What that is teaching my child would make any mother cringe.

We stayed at the most beautiful hotel on Coronado Island. We had our own kitchen and huge tub and private bedroom. The girls slept on a huge fold out couch and Micah in a crib. While I was unpacking, I noticed Jordan had a bit of a cough. As I listened throughout the night it got worse and worse. The next morning there was a fever along with the cough.

I flashed back on the Disney trip where Jordan and I walked around Disneyland while everyone else rode rides because she was unable to do so. I just knew if she got sick it would be mommy home with Jordan while everyone else went sailing and to the beach and bike riding along the cost. So I prayed. Please don't let this be a bad thing Jordan has.

Later that day she seemed better, and we went bike riding and to the beach and out to a very cool restaurant. All seemed ok.

When we got back to our room the coughing started again. I started thinking "is this her trying to get attention now because she got attention earlier for being ill?" I sat down with her and we read a story and talked for awhile. I ran her a bath and she was still coughing. hmmmmm.

After she went to sleep I checked her temp again and it was 103. WHAT? How could she have gotten so high and me not know it? I woke her up and gave her the dye free Tylenol and some cool water. She went to sleep right after with no problems. She woke up the next morning coughing so hard she threw up. I found myself asking why now? We are supposed to be on vacation and not sick!

The 2 of us stayed in that day while everyone else had fun on the beach. We did order 100 dollars of room service though and sit on the bed and eat and drink and veg on old I Love Lucy shows. all in all, not too bad of a day. Plus, I did not get sand in my bum.

Long story short, we stayed away from the outside activities as much as possible due to her cough and not wanting to get the rest of the world sick from whatever she had.

on a different note, Micah spent a lot of time with his grandpa. Grandpa would knock on our door at 7 am wanting the boy to come out and play with him. It was so sweet, but now my boy is a rotten terror. He is starting preschool in a few weeks and I fear he may get kicked out. But my boy had a blast. He did not like the water at all this year, but maybe next year he will.

Back to Jordan. We got back home and she still had fever and a huge cough followed by vomiting. I called the doctor first thing Monday morning. I already have been wanting to switch doctors because I hate dirty offices and rude nurses and doctors who really don't listen to you, but when I got an answering machine saying they were out that day I decided it was time to act. My daughter Aspen has a friend who's dad is a doctor (Dr. Bean) He has been telling me that night or day I could call him if I needed anything. I called him up and they got me in the office in an hour. WOW! I am switching all 3 kids there now. She ended up seeing Dr. Delp, who used to go to the church I attend. He is just awesome with kids. We had to get x-rays, and found out that my daughter has been walking around with pneumonia. I felt so bad for her. School is starting right around the cornor so I am rushing to get her better so she wont miss any days.

She is getting better now that she has the rest and meds.