It was only a matter of time...

We had our first kid-related ER trip yesterday. B & G were playing while T & I cleaned up in the kitchen after dinner. Then we hear the blood curdling screams from B. T got there first and says, "Oh, no." I take a quick look and run for towels to sop up the blood. We do a quick assessment and get into the car. Apparently, the bed frame jumped up and took a chunk out of B's forehead. That or he tripped and fell into it. Either way, deep gash = stitches.

I've attached photos. Warning - there is blood. Worst one is toward the end and I will warn you again...

Seriously, the kid was so calm.

We all decided to joke around while he got it cleaned.

Yes, he's laughing during the cleaning.

All sewn up and still smiling.

WARNING - GROSS PHOTO COMING. STOP NOW IF YOU DON'T LIKE BLOOD (OR DEEP GASHES TO THE FOREHEAD).

BEFORE

AFTER

Sick Mama Rant

I am not a fan of the word "HATE". I try to avoid it. However, I think when it comes to the flu, HATE is appropriate. I HATE THE FLU. I HATE FEELING THIS WAY. I hate feeling like I've been hit by a truck. I hate feeling pain in every hair follicle on my body. I hate not being able to take care of my family. I hate caring for my sick kids wondering when and if I will get it, too, because this year, I have gotten sick each and every time they have had a stomach virus. I hate that my hands are raw from washing them about 20 times per hour. I am frustrated that both kids missed an entire week of school, especially when they have less than one month left for this year. I am frustrated that I have not had a chance to work out all week when I am intended to run a 5K in 2 weeks. I am frustrated that we are going to miss a great auction tomorrow because I haven't left the house in a week and don't think I should infect a room full of charitable people. We have friends who have been working hard for Ethiopian Orphan Relief and we are going to miss the big night.

Enough complaining...

I am so thankful that we have family members who live close and who can help care for the kids when I am too sick to get out of bed. I am thankful that we have great doctors, clean water, electrolyte solution and other goodies that keep us hydrated and out of the hospital. (It is not lost on me that this type of flu could literally kill us if we lived in a under developed country.) I am thankful that I have a spouse who puts everything on hold (even when that seems impossible) to watch the kids, run errands or bring me a pint of Ben & Jerry's (now that my appetite is back). I am thankful that I have the energy to turn on the computer (that I have a computer to turn on and internet at my house, too) and complain via this blog about my crummy week.

Keep an Eye Out for the Water Bill

Laundry. I have been doing an obscene amount of laundry over the last few days. Why? First, we spent a few days visiting my sister. After any trip away from home, we always tend to have a backlog of laundry. Add to this issue the fact that my sister has a long-haired cat and T is allergic to cats (leads me wash EVERYTHING as soon as we return lest he become one big hive). My sister is also currently caring for a long-haired dog, so we brought lots of dog hair home, too. Second, the day after our return G decided to get the flu. It started in the car, then continued into the parking lot and all over me. Since G has a habit of getting car sick, I wasn't really worried, until she woke up at 1 am sick in her crib. She is only 2, so every time she got sick (several over the next 36 hour period) despite her efforts to make it to some kind of basin, most often her aim was off and lots of laundry needed to be done as a result. Good news is that her favorite lovey is machine washable. Even better news, she seems to be back to her old self as of this evening. Phew.

I have been planning to post pictures from B's birthday celebrations as well as our trip to the great state of Idaho. But, there is another batch of laundry to fold.

Not for the faint of stomach...

Seriously. Stop now if you have a weak stomach.

Why, oh why, do my children wait until we are in the car to vomit?

Have you ever had to take apart a car seat, piece by piece, to get the vomit out of the nooks and crannies? Well, I am now an expert. I would say that as an infant and toddler, B only puked in the car. G used to be less picky. She'd blow chunks all over the house, in her crib, in the tub, in her high chair. Now, it's the car.

To add insult to injury, when she decided to fill my car with an odor that is so non-human, B was also in the car and he has a sympathetic gage reaction. So, if he sees, hears or smells it himself, he, too will get sick. Fortunately, I was able to distract him enough to keep him from joining the puke party. But then he fell asleep for the remainder of the ride home and couldn't hold his bladder. Yes, I got to take apart a second car seat so I could clean up the urine.

Yeah, me.