Today’s post is guest authored by the wonderful Jen of Buried with Children. Jen is the mother of 4 children, including two year old triplets. Seriously, can you even imagine? I can’t, especially when the stomach flu is involved…
When you have sick kids, or kids that are threatening to be sick, the smart thing to do would be pick up on those subtle signs, like vomiting, and then batten down the hatches and stay home. It really is for the best. Unless of course, you are me.
A couple weeks ago, the stomach flu went through the house. The good part was that it was a very fast moving bug. Each kid got sick once, was a little crabby and that was it. They were done, life could go on.
So, on the morning of a playgroup with my sister and her kids, when Claire threw up, just a little, I thought, “Great, today is her turn.” She did the vomit thing early and she should be fine by the time we need to go.
The rest of the morning went off without a hitch until… Claire erupted in the van. Not a huge deal. Since we were still close to home, I turned around and ran into the house and got her cleaned up. She seemed no worse for the wear. She even ate a couple crackers and drank some water. All was good so back in the car we went.
The rest of the ride went on as normal, kids laughing one second and bickering the next. Mommy rocking out. But then I hear it. The distinctive sounds of gagging and purging from the back.
“Mom. Yuck!” Hayden screams. “This is just too gross. I just can’t look at it any more. She totally puked.”
Now a Prepared and Organized Mommy like I like to think I am would have totally expected this. In fact a Prepared and Organized Mommy would have stayed home after the first vomit but who I am kidding, I am not that prepared and organized.
After the purge, Claire again seemed fine. I pulled over the car to call my sister and try and decide what to do. I looked in my rear view mirror and listened to the boys beg to continue on.
“Well, Claire, time to take one for the team” I said and we continued on to the park to play.
Playgroup was a success. Thanks mostly to my sister who stopped at the store and purchased a new outfit for Claire. Things were going so well that I decided to sneak in a quick trip to Target. You know, just a quick in and out trip.
Now you would think that I would have learned my lesson by this time. Claire was obviously sick. She needed to be at home. A Prepared and Organized Mommy would have brought her home and put her to bed. But no, I just had to go to Target.
Lets just say that I totally learned my lesson that sick children need to stay home while I was cleaning vomit out of the car seat for a third time.
What’s your biggest failure in being prepared and organized?
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s so funny, because I was out yesterday with my youngest and I KNEW she had diarrhea, and yet I forgot nappies and wipes. I managed to find some, but ended up taking her around a hospital in her nappy because her trousers were soaked in the stuff.
Mwa´s last blog ..Happy birthday, America – from Belgium
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Oh that is too funny!
I failed to bring diapers to change into after swim lessons recently. What was I thinking?!
christy´s last blog ..There may not be crying in baseball…
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Not sure what is worse – cleaning out vomit from car seats or bunk beds. I’d have to toss a coin. Cute post…..nice to meet you!
Starnes Fam´s last blog ..Worlds Of Fun With Caroline
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Oh, God, there is nothing worse than cleaning up vomit from the car! And 3 times in one day… poor you!
Loukia´s last blog ..Cause for celebration!
Twitter: MrsLoulou
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Yowza – I would have stayed at home after the first puke, just because I don’t like to spread our germs to other unsuspecting families.
Lynn from For Love or Funny´s last blog ..Scenes from For Love or Funny
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EEEWWW Nasty! Poor Claire, and poor you! I would rather do JUST ABOUT ANYTHING than vomit/deal with vomit/smell vomit/hear vomit. Like, I would rather give birth.
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Well see, I never, ever think of myself as a prepared and organized mommy. I always expect things to go completely haywire, and I’m usually right on the money. LOL
Jennifer´s last blog ..Read any good books lately?
Twitter: jwilliams057
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We just took a 7 hour car trip where at one point my 11 month old daughter cried so hard from the backseat that she puked all over herself. Fun times.
Crystal´s last blog ..Flint
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I have no idea what to say in response. I’ll have to sit on it a while but I must say your post was quite funny :D
Added ya to my feed.
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Oh yuck. If there’s one thing I detest it’s cleaning up vomit. And three times in one day – after a while you can’t get the smell out of your head. Eww.
Lady Mama´s last blog ..The Mac Genius
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My biggest downfall is underestimating how many diapers, changes of clothes, and toys my five-month-old will need when I take him anywhere. I also have a tendency to push the envelope, running errands when he is tired or hungry. And I always swore I wouldn’t never be that parent!
Sandy´s last blog ..The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
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I am never prepared. My kid crapped in the woods last week {too much junk food on Canada Day} and I had nothing but leaves to clean him off.
Not even a lousy bottle of water!
Sorry about your puke-extravaganza.
Schmoochiepoo´s last blog ..In search of Oncorhynchus mykiss
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I have nursed a baby sprawled over their carseat while my husband drives. I have cleaned out carseats in a hotel laundry when there was a poopy blowout. I have held fast food cups as my children vomit in the car as we apparently are unable to stop for these things… I have (in a pinch) made my daughter vomit in a hotel room sink. Cleaned vomit out of a rental car when we didn’t grasp what it meant that my son said the seatbelt was too tight. I have dressed my youngest in her older sisters coat when she used up all her diapers and clothing after multiple blowouts at a church dinner and failed to notice when her older sister claimed her coat back to play outside.
Val´s last blog ..Wonderful 4th of July-tide weekend!
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I am constantly running out of diapers for the twins. It’s just like filling the gas tank for me. I wait until I basically driving on fumes…
I can’t believe you have triplets. I know one other person who had triplets and then a surprise baby 15 months later. Anytime someone tries to congratulate me on my supermomness for having three kids in 18 months, I have to say, “oh no – you have nooooo idea what some women can do….”
Twitter: BigPieceofCake
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When Lily was a few days old, Jeff and I brought her to the first checkup at the doctors. When he checked her belly button, we noticed she had a poopy diaper. The doc asked us for a diaper and we just stared back blankly– I hadn’t even dawned on me to actually bring the diaper bag that I’d shopped for over the last 9 months. Duh.
That was the first, and just the start of my being totally unprepared.
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Oh boy–I have had to buy outfits on th efly after vomit disasters and you’d think after 5 kids I would always be prepared w/ diapers–but no!
Jennifer´s last blog ..Eye Love It!!
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Wow! and ugh. Being on the tail end of a massive stomach bug attack in our house, I feel your pain. You are an inspiration to us all, Jen, with your ability to persevere in dire circumstances.
I usually just throw in the towel and batten down the hatches. No one gets in or out of our house during times like these.
-Francesca
Three Bay B Chicks´s last blog ..Stay Cool with Bleeding Art
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I always forget diapers. I never bring extra clothes. I have dried pee-soaked pants using a hand dryer in a public bathroom more than once! I wonder if the people around me can smell the urin, as I continue shopping or letting my kid play in the mall play place! Bad Mommy!
Great Post!
Amber´s last blog ..Creamy Alfredo Pasta Toss
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Yikes – so sorry about three vomit cleanings – but sounds like it was more distressful for everyone else than her!
T Rex Mom´s last blog ..Duck…
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I hate cleaning up vomit. I can do poo but vomit just makes me gag.
Amber´s last blog ..The Wake Up Call
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Puke in the car is THE worst. EVER. Seriously.
angie´s last blog ..Wordful Wednesday-trips to Los Angeles
Twitter: 7clowncircus
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So nice to read that I am not the only one living a crazy life with children and regular poop and puke stories. I had 5 kids in 6 years and it seems there is always someone sick at our house. The other day my 4 year old filled a bowl with vomit while I was driving on the highway during a thunderstorm, her brothers were gagging and her sister didn’t want to help her hold the full bowl. what a day!
anyway, as far as being prepared goes-twice this year I told my 3 school age kids that I would bring them their lunch to school at lunchtime and then remembered two hours after lunch hour, while running on the treadmill at the gym! Not a good feeling-and they didnt particularly enjoy being forgotten either!
Kelly Smith´s last blog ..Knock knock? Not again!
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