At 11:20 p.m. last night I dragged a spare comforter and three pillows to my daughter’s room. She thought she had already slept (she had been in bed, until she threw up over her blankets a little after 8 p.m. and since then, she’d been watching videos in her room, laying on the floor, in the dark) and balked at going back to bed, so we both slept on the floor. She woke up periodically throughout that long night to lean over the vomit-bowl. I think I was awake more than I was asleep because I am an old woman who doesn’t sleep well on the hard floor. Whenever I heard she stir, I’d grab the flashlight so we could see (she doesn’t have a nightlight) and then I’d wait as she gaggd over the bowl.
At some point in the pre-dawn darkness, she wanted to go downstairs and for whatever delirious reason, I agreed. So, I took my blankets and pillows and relocated to the recliner. She laid down on the couch and, after a lot of talk, slept. The recliner was an improvement over the hard floor, so I was grateful. When dawn came, she asked for a “kid show,” so I turned on the television and slept, sort of, some more.
By 8 a.m., I realized she hadn’t been sick a long time. So I abandoned her, went upstairs and crawled into bed. I slept through the noise of my husband getting up, the boys showering, my daughter talking and only when the phone rang at 10:20 a.m. did I really wake up for good. (My son was invited to go sledding–and I thought I sounded perfectly wide awake, completely lucid, but my friend said, “Are you getting sick?” and I launched into my description of the Night of Vomit. I hate it when I offer too much information.)
Anyway, by the time my husband returned home with the teenagers (from P.E. class), I had growing hope that I’d be able to get out today after all. My daughter seemed well and the sun shone and . . . my husband mentioned that his stomach hurt.
I confess that I really, really, really wanted to roll my eyes because HOW DARE HE GET SICK ON MY DAY OFF? I’m not sick and I’ve been touching vomit! But I decided to be a grown-up and spent the day puttering here and there, reading the newspaper, catching up on the laundry, answering email and providing activities for my daughter (painting, Play-doh, scissors and paper . . . the fun never ends!) I put dinner in the crock-pot this morning and made myself notice the lovely sound of a dishwasher at work.
Why fret when there’s nothing you can do to change things?
Besides, tonight, “24” continues and I think that just possibly, I won’t miss a minute.
(Also, my daughter naps at this very moment and how much do I love the quiet moments when she isn’t asking me questions? And the boys are all outside playing in the frigid, icy yard . . . I’m practically alone!)
Actual Unretouched Photo 
“Why fret when there’s nothing you can do to change things?”
Indeed. Wiser words I have seldome read.
I hope good health returns to your home soon. Jack Bauer would doubtless agree with my perspective.
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I am VERY sorry you missed a “you day”! We all desperately need those, don’t we — ESPECIALLY after a vomit-night. May an evening with Jack be dubious comfort!
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I am so sorry to hear that your TV viewing was interrupted. I know how you feel because like you, I only have a few shows I watch and there’s nothing like being able to watch something you’ve been waiting for. And I’ll never be good at vomit!
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Alone is good-esp. after a “Night of Vomit”. When they’re sick, my kids are the pukey, vomity, barfy kind of kids. My youngest will vomit if he laughs too hard! Of course, he is also a silly, laughing, giggling type of kid too-so there’s never a shortage of vomit at this house. Hope the vomit bug is done wreaking havoc at your house.
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“You’re not a vomiting house?” I am so jealous. We vomit everywhere. 3 kids that have litterally vomited more places than I can count. I keep disposable tupperware in the car. We barf regularly around here. The best one was at the marie callenders. we were having dinner and my son did not “look right”. We walked across the resaurant to get to the bathroom and as we hit the front waiting area, filled with people on a weekend dinner time, he could wait no longer. AS I held my hand over his mouth I must have been pressing too hard which caused the vomit to shoot like a rocket about 10feet to the side and land at the seat of the people eating dinner. He left about a 15 trail to the bathroom. ( we have not been back ). Oh and my husband faints when he vomits. that right passes out, falls to the floor. I hate vomit.
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Bummer on the getting sick! And yes I’m so looking forward to spring. 😉
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Glad to hear that the baby is doing better. It is always hardest when the smaller ones get sick.
Until we meet in Heaven,
Mrs. DM Garcia
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We love 24 too!!! I’m so sorry your viewing got interrupted with vomiting – 24 is designed so that you shouldn’t miss a single minute! My family always calls Monday, “24 night” and everyone comes over, we have supper together and we watch 24! In fact, we just got a fantastic 24 sofa for the family room – we are so excited.
Seriously – I am sorry to hear of your daughter’s illness and I hope everyone is real healthy – real soon!
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Hey Mel,
Give us lurkers a break! Sometimes we (I) feel overwhelmed and can’t think of anything witty or even normal to say.
Today I can say Thank God my children are also not vomiters! (Ok the older one gets motion sick sometimes but it’s usually avoidable.)
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Oh man. The vomit nights are the worst. I feel your pain. My husband and I are giddy with excitement that 24 is back on. He was not excited, however, that I made him exercise with me during all of the commercials. Yeah, I’m trying again. 😛
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