Ok, so before you think I’ve totally fallen off the rocker and I must be senile at the age of 33 read on. I promise you I’m not senile (ok, maybe a little…) :o)
So the Thompson’s have had some pretty good stomach flu’s. We’ve scrubbed carpet from a kids room, down the hall and into the bathroom. We’ve had multiple kids all puking at once. We’ve managed to give the flu to half of California, Utah, Washington and Nevada a couple of times. So when we think stomach flu we get all tight inside and start feeling woozy! But not this time!!
At the beginning of December the stomach flu was going around our ward pretty bad. We had avoided but I knew we couldn’t avoid it much longer. Especially when I got the phone call. I was asked if I could go help a family who were sick because the mom had to go to the hospital. I was cool with that. The little brother had already spent most of the day here while the dad was at work. I figured any act of service is worth it. I happily went. I was able to have a very fun evening with a couple of cute little boys who seemed energetic and fine.
The next day at church I had another wonderful opportunity to serve. A little girl puked in the hallway on her way to primary. Since I was not busy at that time, I helped clean up the mess in the hallway while others helped clean up the mess in the bathroom. I knew right then that our family was going to get it.
After being asked to go to the home I had prayed that my service would be blessed and we’d avoid the flu. But after cleaning up the puke in the hallway I changed my prayer to asking for it not to be that bad.
That night before putting all the kids to bed I sat them down and gave them this speech: ‘Ok, look, the Thompson’s are getting the stomach flu. Now we’ve had this pretty bad in the past, but we don’t have to this time. You are all old enough, with the exception of Keri, to throw up in the toilet, to wash your hands with soap frequently and use hand sanitizer whenever possible. Please, if you feel even a little queasy, get a pot and carry it around. Please don’t just throw up where you are. Do something about it alright?’ They all shook their heads in agreement and the stage was set.
Afton went that night. She made it to the toilet or the in the pan each time. Alix was the next night. Scott was the night after that. Then Keri. Even Keri was clean about it. Then a week went by with nothing. But then I got it Saturday night preventing me from going to church the next day. Jaime got it Sunday night. Milo and Niah both skirted past this one. Lucky them!!
Why the best stomach flu ever? I didn’t have to scrub ANYTHING, everyone made it to the toilet or pan and we didn’t give the sickness to anyone. Plus, it was pretty quick. Once you got everything out of your stomach it was only a matter of hours before you were feeling up to eating again. WHOOT!!
I LOVE that miracles still happen on the earth today. I’m grateful for a mindful Heavenly Father. I seriously felt so humbled by the whole experience. I also realized that I am in a new stage of life. No little babies to keep me up all night. So I was fresh and ready for the night pukes when they came. Awesome!!
Love it! I too am loving this stage of life.
That’s great that you were able to expect it! We hadn’t had a bad stomach bug in our house in almost 2 years but we got it about 2 months ago. But as soon as the first kid puked I pulled out the puke bowls and never let them go anywhere without them! I covered the couch with towels and made them sit there and watch tv all day :) And then I pretty much starved them for a day and we got over it pretty quickly. Luckily my 18 month old didn’t get it, and Roy and I didn’t get it either (but I was still puking from morning sickness) The nice thing about homeschooling is avoiding a lot of germs! Also helps that we are in a really small branch with only one primary kid besides mine and no nursery!