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Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Down and Dirty MotheringYesterday, after work, I had to brave the grocery store to get last-minute Valentine's Day supplies for my kids. I wanted to get a surprise gift for my boyfriend, as well, but nothing at Kroger looked good, so I decided I'd wait until this morning and try somewhere else.
I stopped on the way home from the grocery store and bought my kids a nutritious dinner from Whataburger.
I came home, force-fed the burgers and chicken strips, nagged everyone about homework and chores, and then started my work. My other work, I mean. Not my day job, but my writing. While I worked, I kept in touch with my kids' activities via frequent hollering.
I worked my brians out. I tore it up. I finished what I'd set out to do so many weeks before, thank God. And then, two of my children screamed. "Mom! Dallas threw up!"
I ran into one of the bedrooms just in time to see Dallas projectile vomit all over the floor, the bed, and his music stand. Quick as a mom, though, I took care of the situation. Within half an hour, all was purged and everything detoxed.
Dallas asked to lie on the couch and watch TV while his brothers finished up their chores and pre-bedtime rituals. I said okay. I went back to work (there's always more work to do) and watched him out of the corner of my eye. He fell asleep on the couch. His brothers fell asleep in the other bedroom, the one that had clean sheets.
Dallas woke up suddenly and puked into the bowl I'd left on the floor at his side. I jumped up and helped him, then detoxed again. I realized I would have to put Dallas in my bed for the night, since he obviously had a virus or else seriously bad Whataburger poisoning.
So, then, Dallas and I went to bed, whereupon we entered a twilit hell. From 9 PM until 6:30 AM, we never slept for more than a half-hour stretch. I won't go into extreme detail, but I will say that, during the night, I queued up a lot of emergency laundry, including two sets of bed sheets, two blankets, three pillows, two towels, four washclothes, one set of woman-sized pajamas and three pairs of boy-sized boxers.
Poor Dallas.
In the morning, my other two sons got themselves dressed and went to the schoolbus stop. I supervised this via hollering from my bed, or from the bathroom as I held Dallas' head, as the moment required.
I went ahead and called in sick to work. (Because I also had diarrhea today, hence it was a real sick day, hence anyone reading this who may have the power to dock my pay for today will know not to do so. Ahem.) Dallas and I managed to sleep from 7 to 10 AM. Then I got up and showered and ran back to the grocery store to replenish our supplies of Immodium, toilet paper, Gaterade, and soup. I didn't get my boyfriend anything for Valentine's day, after all. Instead, I texted him and told him not to come over for dinner, after all. He was going to cook for us, but I didn't want him to end up sick.
It was funny that I got an impromptu day off today, because I'd already finished the writing I had to do, so I didn't have much to do at all but look after my kid. And laundry. And cooking dinner. (And I did write a little, anyway, of course, while Dallas slept. There's always stuff you can write, if you're trying to make extra money.) Whatever he had, passed. Thank God.
It was weird: Watching your kid be sick is such a sucky feeling. You feel so effing helpless. But, at the same time, you know how to deal with it, even if you haven't had to deal with so much of it in years. I was glad I could be there for Dallas and take care of him. More than that, though, I'm glad he's not puking anymore.
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all. 9:23 PM #
Comments:
Feel better, Dallas!# posted by
Jeffytown, USA : 2:33 AM
Wow, poor Dallas! But it's true that there's something great about being confronted with a scary situation and finding you know exactly how to handle it.
# posted by
Calista : 7:09 AM
yeah, see, valentine's day is sooo not worth it.
# posted by
blake : 9:57 AM
Your kids are very lucky to have a mother like you. At times like such thats when they need us the most. Dallas i'm glad to hear your better, but next time your sick remember you have a wonderful mom to take care of you.
# posted by
Gwen : 10:06 AM
Urp. Sorry your Valentine's Day was ruined, but I'm glad the kid is feeling better.
Thanks for blogging, Gwen...I love it.
# posted by
little wing : 4:16 PM
Gwen, you sound so competent. Jeremy's got the same thing, and the sound of puking makes me run into another room and hide, for fear of getting sick myself. I'm worried that when my child is born, I won't be able to handle the throwing up that comes with the territory. At least it's only spit up at first.
I'm glad Dallas is feeling better.
# posted by
kate : 6:00 AM
Jeffy: Thanks!
Calista: Exactly. :)
Blake: Ha. You're funny.
Gwen: I told him that, but he just puked on me. Ha, just kidding.
Little W: Thanks, buddy.
Kate: I swear to you, before I had kids, I had as low a tolerance for vomit as anyone else. But nothing desensitizes you to bodily fluids like child-rearing.
(This reminds me of back in the day, when I posted on Hipmama.com's forums sometimes, and we'd talk about the life-changing event that is catching your child's vomit, in public, in your hands. It's, like, the ultimate initiation ritual.)
# posted by
Gwen : 1:15 PM
P.S. Pass your well wishes onto Rory, who's taking his turn with the virus now. Another day off - woo.
# posted by
Gwen : 1:15 PM
i'm sorry your kids are taking turns working through a virus. i hope they all (and you) will be back to normal soon!
# posted by
curvature : 8:02 PM
Great blog. I found you in some random internet way through a link on I Asshole which led me to Halo which led me to you. Hope Dallas is feeling better right now.
Also, may I bow down and worship you for writing with three kids. And may I ask you: How is that possible? I can't imagine my daughter letting me work when she is awake. (I write but after she is asleep or when she is in daycare.) Is there some technique you used? Does it change when they get older? Do you have any tips? (Hope I don't sound too desperate--even though I am.)
# posted by
L : 10:50 PM
I remember that hipmama thread! Having vomit in your bare hands is so very punk rock. (And speaking of rock, you do.)
Good wishes and health to all of you.
# posted by
queen of the harpies : 12:04 AM
Thanks, Curve, Queen, and L.
L, I'm going to answer your question in my next post.
# posted by
Gwen : 6:31 PM
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