If there is one phrase that irks me to no end, it is the one that is oft said to me about the fact that I have three children. The statement is the same, irregardless of who is uttering it.
“Wow. You must be busy.”
Which, of course, I am. I do not, however, claim to be busier than any other parent on the planet. Or any other person for that matter. I remember having just one child and being overwhelmed by it all. The sleeping, the eating, the PLEASE LET ME KEEP THEM ALIVE deal. Then we had a second, only twenty months after the first one. Talk about taking life as you know it and throwing it on its tail. I am an accountant, so how one child plus one child equals far more than double the work is beyond me.
We muddled through that first year and, you know, KEPT OUR CHILDREN ALIVE. It was touch and go at times, but we did it. Barely.
One day we looked at each other and said that we wanted to do the “Baby Thing” again. Just one more time. Fast forward nine months or so and we were outnumbered by these little people. One (almost) four-year-old boy, one (just turned) two-year-old boy, and this pink little peanut of a girl. We were beyond giddy about our perfect little family and beyond tired with the ins and outs of daily life.
Fast forward over two years and we have a good system going. Our eldest child is in school full-time, our next one has pre-school twice a week and our peanut is a force to be reckoned with gets more one-on-one time than you would expect for a third child. The shuttling kids back and forth to school, and to swimming lessons, and the regular every day things such as foraging for food keep us busy. YES.
It is all manageable, though. We are lucky in that my husband and I are both self-employed and (generally) work from home. We balance each other out with the work and life commitments we have and manage to run this family as a pretty well-oiled machine. For the most part.
This week is one where we have thrown up our hands and have started waving the white flag. As I mentioned yesterday, this cold that we have all come down with is a doozy. There is coughing, there is puking (from coughing too hard), there are snot bubbles. Matthew has been working out of the house most of this week so I have spent my days fetching water, cleaning barf buckets and wiping noses. While hacking like a seasoned smoker and battling my own sore throat, aches, and nausea. While also having three kids draped all over me in their complete and utter need to be as close to me as possible. I MAY OR MAY NOT BE FEELING A LITTLE BIT INCAPABLE OF COPING.
Matthew stayed home on Tuesday, and has been helping when he gets home, but he’s sick too. We’re just barely treading water over here. There should be some rule in the Universe that if children are sick, then the parents are not, and vice versa. Cleaning out a bucket of bile while trying not to create your own pile of it just doesn’t seem right somehow.
I feel bad complaining about the weight that this week has put on my shoulders because Hey! Three kids! I did this to myself! Well, Honey helped. It takes two to tango and all that jazz.
I know that this too shall pass, and that we will all be healthy again. I will be back to being annoyed when people tell me that I must be busy. Right now, however, I feel that busy doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel. Overwhelmed might be a better choice. It has already been seven days since this all started and nobody seems to be getting any better; we only seem to be getting worse.
But we can’t be sick forever. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
It will get better! You won’t be sick forever! Praying for you over here.
bethany actually’s last blog post..this and that and the other thing
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Oh boy. So not fun. I’ll keep your family in my prayers – and pray for a QUICK and FULL recovery for all five of you!
Mrs. Wilson’s last blog post..Who are you and where did you come from? Part I
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Let’s hope the snotbagginess is over soon.
witchypoo’s last blog post..February Search Terms
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Oh, I feel ya, girl. I feel ya. I am a TOTAL freak about keeping my kids sick. Like, really. You’d raise your eyebrows. Believe me.
So, when my kids DO get sick, you can imagine what that does to me. This past Dec. my family got the flu (the 24 hour, healthy for one day, and then SURPRISE! I’m throwing up again for 24 more hours – flu) twice within three weeks.
I was pretty sure the men in white coats were going to show up at my house to take me away. And you know, at that point it sounded pretty stinkin’ good. Because I could have slept and not clean-up anyone else’s stomach contents or wiped another BUTT.
All this to say… I am so sorry that your house in a germ fest. I can totally empathize. And I hope upon hope this evil bug will FLEE.
-Andrea
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I’m sorry to hear you guys are all so under the weather. You’re right, sickness should occur in shifts! Hope you’re feeling better very, very soon.
Assertagirl’s last blog post..Everybody poops.
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I remember once my sisters entire family was sick and I was enlisted to help out – and then got sick myself (thankfully afterward). It was a nasty stomach thing too. I didn’t know how she would cope. And here I am, sick AGAIN, with a sick child and sick husband (first child = overwhelming = PLEASE JUST STAY ALIVE, so I totally hear you) and constantly repeating “this can’t last forever, this can’t last forever”. And as miserable as it has been I’m still thinking about that second child.
melanie’s last blog post..?
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It can’t last forever. But it can FEEL like forever.
Hope you all recover quickly!
Sizzle’s last blog post..Is this Kindergarten Cop?
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Good gosh – you have been nailed this week, haven’t you? I hope it’s all over soon for you and maybe you can have some time to crawl into bed and heal yourself? Take care!
TUWABVB’s last blog post..Prison and a Shout Out to Public Servants
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Hope you’re all feeling much better very soon!
Sharon’s last blog post..Help me satisfy my craving!
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Bah! I know what you’re going though and it BLOWS! Poor girl, poor kids, poor Matthew. It’s just awful and I hope it passes soon. And then I think a girls’ night is in order, to celebrate the passing of the Boogs.
Amanda Brown’s last blog post..I Am Sleepy.
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I’m suffering enough on my own, barely able to function. I can’t imagine taking care of three little ones — with or without help from another.
Thinking of you
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P.S. Get the pepto ready… the reason I say is that near the end of all of this, that virus will be leaving the body through *ahem* that way. I’ve got a few days headstart on this thing and am just sharing my knowledge. It isn’t exactly gastro but is uncomfortable enough to warrant a few spoons of the stuff. Consider yourself warned, hehe
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sorry to hear that it has been a week with no let up. I am praying you guys are feeling better soon. I am miserable myself, today, but I can blame that entirely on the dog & cat deciding that sleeping next to my head last night because I forgot to shut my door. At least I am hoping it is allergies because I went to see my BF’s wee baby last night and if she gets a cold from me I don’t think BF will let me near the child again.
Domestic Extraordinaire’s last blog post..You Blink and its Gone
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I’ve never feelt so overwhelmed as a parent when the whole family was sick earlier this winter. Yick. And for some reason it just felt like we were never going to get back in our groove.
But hey! We did. And you will too. Until then, hang in there.
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I detest that word, as well. I totally posted about it, too (a while ago). It’s like we can’t come up with any other word? Why couldn’t someone say – “wow, you must get a lot of snuggles?” THAT would be a great comment.
Hope you are all feeling better soon.
ELizabeth’s last blog post..Still here?
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The one thing that probably scares me the most if I ever have kids is this. I am a baby when I’m sick. I like to just sleep and lie around. Being sick and having to take care of other people? That is NOT EASY!
Dude, you’re allowed to feel overwhelmed.
Kristabella’s last blog post..Random Thoughts
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i hope next week is snot, phlegm, and bile free for you, love!
ali’s last blog post..an awfully big adventure (or: bomb. dropped.)
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Aw Angella, you poor thing! I sure hope everyone gets over it soon…and then they all WAIT ON YOU HAND AND FOOT to make up for all you are doing for them right now.
{{{hugs}}}
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Awww, I really hope you guys all feel better soon.
There is nothing more tiring than looking after an entire family of sick people while feeling awful yourself. I think all of us have been there, we know how horrible it is! Sending prayers your way, that you will soon have a healthy household again. xx
Hannah’s last blog post..Questionable
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Oh man, get better soon. All of you!
Being busy is a good thing. Think of the alterative. You should just reply to those who say wow you must be busy with, yes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Well except this week, of course
Kami’s last blog post..Hawaii, The Big Island Part II
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I’m sorry to hear you’re all still under the weather. I hope this passes soon. It can’t go on forever!
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Oh, I should have sent you some happy pills! I’m so sorry you have all been under the weather and I hope you are all well on the road to recovery by the time you read this. Hugs to you. Get well!
teeni’s last blog post..Blogging Goes to My Head
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I already gave your cold executive orders to cease and desist. Clearly, your cold needs to pay more attention to me.
(Here’s to a snot free weekend soon and very soon!)
Kerri Anne’s last blog post..Weekend Update, Beachy Valentine Edition
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Awww!!! Being sick is no fun. Hope you guys are all feeling better really soon!
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I HEAR YOU. 3 little ones myself. And it IS annoying when the first thing people say is “Wow, you have your hands full, eh?” (My boyz are 7, 4 and 3.)
Here’s hoping for good health for the rest of your winter!
Trenches of Mommyhood’s last blog post..A Letter To A Fellow Employee
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Oh hon, I’m so sorry that you’ve all be so sick. We’re battling some crazy colds over here too, including a MAN COLD, which in my house is THE worst! ; ) I pray that you all start to feel better VERY soon.
Elaine’s last blog post..WW – 7 Weeks + 1 Day
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Gah, right after we spoke last night? I just got sick! I think it’s a Fashion Week cold, which is like, the most fashionable cold there is.
metalia’s last blog post..I don’t often quote Joey Lawrence, but…WHOA.
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