Helping & Heaving

Saturday night we went to Crane's Roost in Altamonte for "Light up the Holidays." There are a bunch of vendors, music and performances (which we never really get to see because it's too crowded) and then they have fireworks.  We ate at the mall first and then rushed to get over there in time for the fireworks.  No need to rush as the fireworks didn't go off until 7:20.  I wanted to write that down for next year!  We think they had technical difficulties though since that seemed later than years past.  All the kids thoroughly enjoyed the fireworks...glad none of them were scared of the sounds.  Aubree asked for some cotton candy and we indulged them with a bag of it.  Calleigh reluctantly ate some - - she seemed to indicate that it usually made her stomach not feel good.  

Fast forward to Sunday morning 5 am and Calleigh wakes me up saying her stomach doesn't feel good.  She lies down in the sleeping bag next to the bed but then a short time later ends up on the bad complaining some more.  Sure enough, a few minutes later she's over the side of the bed heaving onto the sleeping bag (much easier to clean it up off the sleeping bag than the floor so thank goodness for that!).  Of course, we came to the conclusion that this was happening because of that darn cotton candy.  But for the rest of the day she was kind of lethargic...lying on the couch and snoozing for most of the day.  That evening she threw up again but wasn't really in any pain or complaining or anything.  I decided to sleep with her in the guest room in case she had problems during the night.

As I was drifting off, I thought to myself "Hmm, my stomach feels a little funny." My second thought was "Shoot.  Duncan is leaving for Kansas City in the morning which means if I don't feel good tomorrow, that's not going to be good." And sure enough, I knew I had it in the morning. Duncan came in to see me and I told him I was going to throw up any moment but he should just go. Escape before he gets anything.  I threw up three times over the course of the morning and Calleigh threw up another time.  My stomach was in turmoil the whole day so I spent most of it curled up on the floor.  The kids watched a month's worth of TV in one day and I don't think they really believed their good fortune.  I longed for Duncan to come home and thought about how this was terrible timing because Ron and Elaine were out of town too so there was no one to help me.  Nothing like having to make your kids food when you can hardly stand up and the sight of food makes you want to hurl! Ughh.  Fortunately for supper, Calleigh really stepped up and made PB&J's for everyone and really was very helpful.  How often can I say that about her?  Aubree is usually my little helper so honestly, seeing Calleigh in that mode was a big silver lining in all of this.  I didn't have a fever or anything but I did feel really cold so I took three bath's throughout the day.  As to be expected, this made Colby go bonkers and each time he stood next to the tub and cried and screamed the entire time I was in there.  That kid.  Seriously.  

And then, as I was feeling a little sorry for myself, poor Duncan sends me a text that as he got off the plane he got hit with it in a really bad way.  He stomach was killing him and he was really cold. Those stinking fancy shmancy hotels don't have tubs any more so he had to warm up by sitting on the floor in the shower.  He was supposed to be there until Wednesday afternoon but took a Tuesday morning flight.  

The good news in all of this was that 1) Calleigh was better Monday morning and thus was able to help me 2) It only lasted 24 hours because I was almost as good as new on Tuesday morning and 3) By some miracle, the other three kids didn't get it.  The only thing I can think of is that Duncan and I got it because we were holding Calleigh's bowl while she vomitted and held back her hair, etc.  

Anyway, thank goodness for good health.  It can not be underestimated!

On Wednesday I dodged a bullet.  I always bath the kids in the morning rather than in the busyness of the evenings and Wednesday was one of those mornings.  It's also when I cut all their nails.  Brady stayed in the tub while I was doing the girls.  As I was cutting Aubree's toenails I hear a yell from Brady..."Mom!  Your phone is in the tub." Yup, Colby had picked up my phone off the floor and thrown it into the tub.  Calleigh went and yanked it out and Duncan (who was working from home) yelled to me to put it in a bowl of rice which I did.  I was cautiously optimistic because I do have an Otter Box on it which isn't necessarily water proof but it does cover up most of the phone.  I'll tell you, it is a weird feeling to not have your phone.  I don't know how many times I would forget it was out of commission and I would be looking around the room trying to find where I put it.  About mid-afternoon Duncan said I could take it out and try it and voila!  It worked.  So yay for Otter Boxes.  

Wednesday was also an exciting day in that we got the van's interior detailed.  I had spilled some milk in it a few weeks ago and I'm sure you can imagine how badly spoiled, curdled milk must smell from being in a small enclosed space baking in the hot sun.  Duncan could barely stand being in the van to drive to church. The phrase "No crying over spilled milk" really does not apply to this situation. It's very hard to find the time to take the van somewhere to get it cleaned so we decided to spring for it and have a mobile detailing guy come to us to do it.  A little pricey I guess but so worth it to have the smell gone and to have the van cleaned like it's new.  And yeah, I know it will be all messed up from the kids again in a few days but it looks really good for at least a few days.  

A few quotes from the kids...

We were watching the Broncos game on Sunday afternoon and it went to a commercial which featured Peyton Manning.  

Aubree:"Heeyyyyy.  That looks like Peyton Manning." 

Me:"It IS Peyton Manning."

Aubree:"How can he be doing this commerical and playing in the game at the same time?"

I couldn't get past the fact that she can recognize Peyton Manning!

I was upstairs putting some of the girls' clothes away just after they had gotten in bed for the night.

Calleigh & Aubree (in unison): "Eighteen sheep."

Me (thinking they were counting sheep): "Do you guys do that every night?!"

Aubree:"Yes, we do this every night."

Calleigh: "No we don't!  Aubree just wants you to think that you don't know a lot of details about us and they we're very unusual."

Calleigh (seeing me looking at her with a strange look on my face: "What? I like to use words that are very stunning."

A few pictures to close.