All,
It is July 6th (almost the 7th and almost the work-week again) and everyone in our household seems to be getting better. Getting better from what you ask? Who knows...I just know that Reagan worked all weekend and each day brought me a new sick child. Luckily, our 4th of July tradition is to do Prairie Meadows Horse Racing and fireworks on July 3rd every year, so having sick children (and even Reagan was sick today) on the 4th and 6th was not a big deal. However, I missed getting tons of candy at the parade. I mean, Jack and Abby missed the parade and gathering candy to eat throughout the summer. Actually, I was going to use that candy for my student of the week program (my principal allows us to reward students with candy at times, unlike my mean brother Doug!) So, back to the sickness and how I handled it...
I think I handled it quite well. I remember the first time I was left alone with a sick child. Jack was 1 year old and looked fine when Reagan left for work that day. Heck, he looked fine all the way to dinner time and even ate a ton. But then he screamed and threw up and guess what? The puke was the least disgusting because when I realized that he was screaming about his diaper or what was left of it, that was when I almost fainted. I called Reagan in a panic and had her leave work to come home and help. I had no clue what to do (probably why I put Jack in the tub and only half-naked and watched him get sick more...and then I fainted again)! As for this time, we awoke on July 4th and 6:32 a.m. to the sounds of both cats puking...and then Jack crying and yelling at us he puked too! I just looked at Reagan and said 'Happy 4th of July' and rolled out of bed. Jack told me all day that he felt fine and that his stomach was fine, so I of course wasexperimented with small amounts of food or even some dreaded milk after he pleaded that he needed milk and promised not to throw it up. Every time, he threw it up, even the milk which came out of his nose just as fast as his mouth. So, with all plans cancelled and Reagan at work, I made it through the day. Reagan only worked a half day, so she helped with the afternoon cleanup crew that I was running. Saturday went great, but then Abby was up all night puking and crying and Reagan got no sleep again. Magically I slept through most of it (okay...kept my eyes closed and laid real still). Reagan worked another full day and I managed to make it through another day with a sick kid. I even did 4 loads of laundry and got in some Nintendo Wii time! It helped that Abby upped her nap time from 2 hours to 5 hours. The point of this whole story besides another holiday in our house ruined by rapidly spreading stomach viruses or bugs?? I have obviously matured in myability to care for kids. Reagan even noticed this when Jack started throwing up just before bed and I went racing across the room and slid right up next to him in order to cup my hands beneath him and catch as much former dinner as I could. I said my instinct was to protect the carpet, but she said I was just being a Dad. Either way, the carpet got another stain and Jack was un-impressed by my efforts, but I did kind of smile when I realized that my instinct was to do what I did.
I hope all of you had a great and safe 4th of July. We live in a special country and none of us should forget that. Next week's Emu will update you on our family vacation with the Kings/Caldwell's down in the Lake of Ozarks. Nine kids age 10 and under with just 10 adults (I know...including myself with the adults is questionable), I am sure some stories will develop.
Love&Prayers,
Ben
Things to leave you with:
1)Please consider donating at least $1 (or more!!!) to Reagan and my efforts in our Bowling for the Apes fundraiser in just 2 weeks. We are matching all donations up to $200. We already have $150 pledged from readers!
http://www.greatapetrust.org/
2)Remember, all of these emus are being blogged now. I know, big stuff...I wonder when my blog will go worldwide and get syndicated??
http://emuemail.blogspot.com/
3)Congrats to my brother Doug for joining the family tradition in saving a life last week. I don't know too many details, but apparently he had to hold a rag on the girl's neck for about 15 minutes until the ambulance came. With Brian having an experience similar to this on New Year's many years ago (but I don't think that person lived), and Mom and Dad as first responders and reviving several people with CPR, I guess I am the only one that has not had an experience like this. Probably a good thing, because as you know....I would faint. Good job Doug, and nice comment in the comment section of the article. Read article here:
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/07/04/news/local/346ba1711bdabf628625747c0010554c.txt
It is July 6th (almost the 7th and almost the work-week again) and everyone in our household seems to be getting better. Getting better from what you ask? Who knows...I just know that Reagan worked all weekend and each day brought me a new sick child. Luckily, our 4th of July tradition is to do Prairie Meadows Horse Racing and fireworks on July 3rd every year, so having sick children (and even Reagan was sick today) on the 4th and 6th was not a big deal. However, I missed getting tons of candy at the parade. I mean, Jack and Abby missed the parade and gathering candy to eat throughout the summer. Actually, I was going to use that candy for my student of the week program (my principal allows us to reward students with candy at times, unlike my mean brother Doug!) So, back to the sickness and how I handled it...
I think I handled it quite well. I remember the first time I was left alone with a sick child. Jack was 1 year old and looked fine when Reagan left for work that day. Heck, he looked fine all the way to dinner time and even ate a ton. But then he screamed and threw up and guess what? The puke was the least disgusting because when I realized that he was screaming about his diaper or what was left of it, that was when I almost fainted. I called Reagan in a panic and had her leave work to come home and help. I had no clue what to do (probably why I put Jack in the tub and only half-naked and watched him get sick more...and then I fainted again)! As for this time, we awoke on July 4th and 6:32 a.m. to the sounds of both cats puking...and then Jack crying and yelling at us he puked too! I just looked at Reagan and said 'Happy 4th of July' and rolled out of bed. Jack told me all day that he felt fine and that his stomach was fine, so I of course wasexperimented with small amounts of food or even some dreaded milk after he pleaded that he needed milk and promised not to throw it up. Every time, he threw it up, even the milk which came out of his nose just as fast as his mouth. So, with all plans cancelled and Reagan at work, I made it through the day. Reagan only worked a half day, so she helped with the afternoon cleanup crew that I was running. Saturday went great, but then Abby was up all night puking and crying and Reagan got no sleep again. Magically I slept through most of it (okay...kept my eyes closed and laid real still). Reagan worked another full day and I managed to make it through another day with a sick kid. I even did 4 loads of laundry and got in some Nintendo Wii time! It helped that Abby upped her nap time from 2 hours to 5 hours. The point of this whole story besides another holiday in our house ruined by rapidly spreading stomach viruses or bugs?? I have obviously matured in myability to care for kids. Reagan even noticed this when Jack started throwing up just before bed and I went racing across the room and slid right up next to him in order to cup my hands beneath him and catch as much former dinner as I could. I said my instinct was to protect the carpet, but she said I was just being a Dad. Either way, the carpet got another stain and Jack was un-impressed by my efforts, but I did kind of smile when I realized that my instinct was to do what I did.
I hope all of you had a great and safe 4th of July. We live in a special country and none of us should forget that. Next week's Emu will update you on our family vacation with the Kings/Caldwell's down in the Lake of Ozarks. Nine kids age 10 and under with just 10 adults (I know...including myself with the adults is questionable), I am sure some stories will develop.
Love&Prayers,
Ben
Things to leave you with:
1)Please consider donating at least $1 (or more!!!) to Reagan and my efforts in our Bowling for the Apes fundraiser in just 2 weeks. We are matching all donations up to $200. We already have $150 pledged from readers!
http://www.greatapetrust.org/
2)Remember, all of these emus are being blogged now. I know, big stuff...I wonder when my blog will go worldwide and get syndicated??
http://emuemail.blogspot.com/
3)Congrats to my brother Doug for joining the family tradition in saving a life last week. I don't know too many details, but apparently he had to hold a rag on the girl's neck for about 15 minutes until the ambulance came. With Brian having an experience similar to this on New Year's many years ago (but I don't think that person lived), and Mom and Dad as first responders and reviving several people with CPR, I guess I am the only one that has not had an experience like this. Probably a good thing, because as you know....I would faint. Good job Doug, and nice comment in the comment section of the article. Read article here:
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2008/07/04/news/local/346ba1711bdabf628625747c0010554c.txt
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