Jenny On the Spot

Sickness has overtaken our home… like nearly every other home in the county. No one has been spared. K, everyone I talk to either has it, had it or has had to hope they wouldn’t get it from someone they visited over the holidays.

Our “Wheel of Sickness” started rolling just before Christmas - except I didn’t know it. Joel had complained his stomach didn’t feel well. He experienced a bit of the runs, and moved on. 4 or 5 days later, Olivia vomited for a morning and was better the next day. My mom got it New Year’s Eve and Lucy got it 2 days after that… 2 more days and it was my turn to take “the wheel”. Last night, my beloved got to join in on the fun. Meanwhile, I think Lucy is racing to catch another ear infection… AND I get to pay my new higher co-pay when I taker her to the doctor tomorrow! The fun never ends!

I probably shouldn’t talk about the delicious meal I made before my fated night at the porcelain throne (garlic-herb boursin stuffed mushrooms). I may never eat my favorite appetizer for an appetizer OR dinner ever again. Yeah, that was my dinner. Hubby was gone for the night, and I opted out of the “chicken dino delight”. I had 10 beautiful little mushrooms to stuff full of delightfully tasty cheese. The dish was as easy as making a Frito Boat (one of my own childhood favorite treats after swim meets). Unfortunately, it is probably just as nasty revisited, if ya know what I mean…

So, I’m learning about how my priorities have changed dramatically - due to living in “the hood”. MOTHERHOOD, that is… I once thought that vomiting was horrible - not matter what, no matter when. Now I have an internal chart that rolls out when I get to feeling like the situation is dire… For example, the timing of my pukage couldn’t have been better - here’s why:

1. My husband was out of town for the night, so maybe he wouldn’t get it after all (I misplace my optimism in the weirdest spots sometimes).

2. My stomach started turning around 9:30 p.m. The kids were asleep, so I wouldn’t have an audience.

3. I stopped puking about 3:30 a.m. The worst was through. If I can make it through there, I can make it any where - right?

4. Even though I didn’t sleep most of the night… by golly and woo hoo, not one puke with a child at arms length. I have a story. It’s one I have only shared by the spoken word… I will spare you the pain. Privacy is truly a privilege.

When did I turn that corner? When did NO sleep become the better option? It’s a rhetorical question - intended to highlight the insanity. I know the answer. I know…