So it begins...again

So I just reset the ER counter.  The boys and I have been stuck in the house for the last 3 days because first Jack was sick and Callen woke up sick this morning and had a terrible cough.  As soon as my husband got home from work this afternoon, I went out for a bit just to get away.  I went to Toys R Us to check out some sales and while there, Callen’s fever spiked and my husband couldn’t get it to go down.  So off to the ER they went…it looks like he has an ear infection.  Blanton and Callen are still there waiting to get results from the chest x-rays.  The good news is that his fever came down and it looks they’ll be home soon.  It’s almost always me taking the boys to the ER because until just recently, Blanton was always working so many hours.  On my way home from Toys R Us, I stopped by the hospital to get Jack.  Callen was a wreck and just wanted me to hold him.  Blanton clearly had the situation under control but it was hard to see him so upset and hurting.  As soon as he gets home, I’m going to cuddle with him until he falls asleep on me.  I think I need it as much as he does. 

  On a positive note, I think that was the longest stretch we have had without an ER visit.  We went the WHOLE summer without even one stitch in someone's head.  210 days ER-free...not too bad!

A sick kid. (do not use your hands!)

Jack is sick on his 1^st day of Thanksgiving break.  I feel bad for him but he is finally at an age where he accepts that he must rest to get better.  And, for the last several years, he has been good at puking into a bucket…a skill that comes with age and one that I am equally grateful for each and every time him and Callen are sick.  Right now, Jack is in his bed, tucked in, and watching a movie.  He wants Dave to be in there with him, but Dave always follows me everywhere I go and won’t stay in his room.  Anyway, this is not my first sick kid…I know the routine and I hate to admit it, but I can usually get a lot of stuff done when the boys are sick...a definite upside.  So here are some things I have learned about having a sick kid at home:

- they want to be loved on and treated like they are the center of the universe and, for the duration of their cold, to me they are;  J

- if they need to vomit and you do not have anything for them to vomit in to, your first instinct will be to let them puke into your hands.  Although this may prevent some puke from hitting the carpet, it doesn’t work well enough to make it worthwhile.  Oh, and you’ll also have your hands full of puke;

- the kids get a nice break from each other and what a relief that is for EVERTYONE.  No fighting, no bickering, and no brotherly playfulness that always gets out of hand and ends in someone crying…always;

- a sure sign that the sick child is feeling better is that all behavior listed in the previous bullet will resume;

- do not give the sick child any sort of bell or noise making object to use if they need you.  By the end of the day, that object will have drained you of your patience…and believe me, you’ll need all of it if it’s a bad cold and there’s vomiting involved (remember, not in your hands!)

- pay attention to their symptoms and behavior while they're sick.  It will help you in the future to be able to determine when he or she needs to see the doctor AND since your kids will feel good about being the center of attention for a while, you may also need to be able to raise the bull sh*t flag on them in case they try to take advantage of the situation;

- when they are feeling better, they will try to take advantage of the situation.  They will expect you to continue to wait on them and respond to their requests for food as they yell them from down the hall.  Beware and follow your instincts!  Trust me…that’s what they’re doing.

IHOP, Santa, beer, and me

We all know that some crazy things can come out of our kids' mouths.  What they say is sometimes the funniest, most embarrassing, most honest things we have ever heard.  And sometimes, they say things that make us wonder what the heck they are learning from us.  Okay, so here's what happened tonight at IHOP: my husband and I were trying to get the boys to settle down and stop bothering each other.  So of course, the topic lately has been Christmas and what they need to do and how they need to behave if they want Santa to bring them toys.  So basically, Santa = leverage, at least for me.  The conversation went like this:  "Hey boys...it's getting cold outside.  Guess what cold weather means?  (blank stares from all, including husband) It's getting closer to SOMEONE coming to visit...and guess what that SOMEONE brings????"  Well, Callen opened his mouth and said, "beer".  I do not know what I am doing that would make my son think that Santa will be bringing beer for Christmas.  And did he mean for him or hubs and I????  I decided not to ask and I knew by the look on my husbands face that he wanted to let it go too.  It was kind of funny and I did laugh a bit, but seriously, it does make me wonder if I'm keeping the family train on the tracks or if I, at some point, built the track wrong which will eventually derail the whole train.  I'm not sure but I do know that it was not my most proud moment as a parent.  Oh, and Callen also farted quite loud several times while at the table which his plastic booster seat amplified.  So yeah, it was an interesting night but at least IHOP has free kids meals from 4-7pm every night.