We had big plans for today.
Yesterday I went on a cleaning/laundry spree when my husband was at work. I washed ever item in a growing avalanche of dirty clothes. My bed was covered in piles and piles of folded clothes.
After our birthday festivities this weekend, the plan was to get the house in order on Monday and enjoy my husband’s day off on Tuesday. We dreamed of finally having a relaxing day at home.
Plans are funny things…
It started with E. Our sweet baby girl decided to celebrate her new one year old status with a bout of wicked teething. It was like having a newborn all over again. I could not get that girl to sleep more than a few minutes at a time for anything.
I finally resigned myself to a night on the couch holding the flopping space heater that was my little teether.
Then at 1am I heard a heaving from my sons room. My husband came running and discovered that K, our 3 year old, was barfing all over his bed.
After a wash cloth bath, a change of clothes and sheets, and a dose of tummy meds he was back asleep… For all of 30 minutes.
More barfing, bathing, and changing ensued. K ended up in our bed with Andy. I dozed and comforted E in the living room.
By day break my empty laundry room was again filled with clothes and bedding.
*sigh*
So much for plans. By lunchtime I too was having issues.
Illness stinks for anyone, but it is especially hard on parents. There are no sick days for moms.
A few things we’ve discovered that make yucky days smoother:
•Keep crackers, pedialyte, or other sick day snacks on hand.
•Sick days are good movie days. We don’t do much TV, but today was a movie day.
•Bust out the puzzles, books, color books, and other quiet play activities.
•Keep it simple. Don’t over-stretch yourself, or you won’t be good for anyone.
•Drop cloths! In the event of stomach issues, we throw a blanket or sheet over the furniture the kids will be on. A 3 year old won’t always make it to the toilet.
•Even if you can’t fold it, keep the laundry going. You don’t want to run out of clean sheets, blankets, or towels.
Any other tips for dealing with a sickly family?
Mama Miller Parenting 
Oh gosh…you’ve brought back so many bad memories for me…haha!!! We’ve been through this so many times! It’s never just one…the whole gang and usually yourself is sick too!! If there’s a chance that one person in the family is not sick I’m constantly Lysoling every touchable surface and changing the hand towels hourly!!!
That is where we are right now. It also seems like the kids get just well enough to have energy back when mom is at her sickest point. Ugh. My husband almost never gets sick with us though. It is both frustrating and a blessing. At least I have one well helper when he is off work.