When All Three Are Down

The last few days have been something to remember. It started Wednesday night when Joshua began coughing. Looking for a remedy, I was hoping it would subside and that would be that. I was wrong. He woke up Wednesday with a very high fever and an overall glaze in his beautiful blues. Riley, having slept the whole night (this sleep thing has just begun with her) woke with lots of yucky in her nose and a cough to go along. Bummer, but not the end of the world. George at this point was 100%. I felt like I could manage Josh's fever with ibprofen and keep him rested simply by laying low and not visiting with friends. I was also confident that Riley wouldn't get any worse and I would buy her some baby vapor rub to keep her happy. Not so again... throughout Thursday, Josh's fever spiked to 103 degrees his cough hurt his chest and now George began to cough and was showing signs of a runny nose. Im not sure why, but I usually panic when my children get sick. I don't like watching them suffer with flu lke symptoms and generally the whining tends to be unbearable at times. We struggled to get through the hardest part of the day, 3:30-6:00pm, when my beloved husband would be home. Thank God (literally) for hubbies. Jamie walks in, he already knows whats in store for him, as I debrief him on dinner then walk out the door to my car headed for the gym. After a good sweat session I have a clear head again so I can begin the process of bedtime with 3 sick children.

Last night beat by far any newborn sleepless nights. Collectively, Jamie and I were up every hour on the hour tending to one or both of the boys. Riley, being the sweetest baby on the planet slept again through the night. With every cry for mom or dad, Jamie and I would respond by getting out of bed, rubbing a back, pouring medicine, getting a cool drink of water, blowing noses and the needs go on and on...Jamie and I could sense when the other one had had enough, so we'd trade getting up and out of bed. After Riley was born, I think both of us have become so accustomed to tending to a young child, that we don't argue about it anymore. We just do what we have to, trying to sleep as much as we can inbetween shifts.

So this morning, as Jamie is getting up with the boys and I am waking up slowly, wondering what today will be like, I say a quick prayer, asking for patience and guidance and head out to see my sick family. Josh's tmeperature is still 103, Georgy has a low grade fever of 100 and Riley remains just snotty. The morning however has been a controlled caos. I am indeed anxious about being in my fever filled house, trying to sanitize my hands every two seconds, and clorox every surface, but I'm also grateful . As I peak in on each one napping, I'm grateful for being "entrusted" to meet their needs. It's caos at times, but I know tonight will be better, each little body will slowly begin to heal, tomorrow will come and a new day promises something different.