The Sickies...

Don't viruses know they are supposed to hit mid-winter when the weather isn't beautiful outside?!? No, they don't. Oh well. We had an early wake-up call on Friday with Grace saying her tummy and head hurt. Trust me, by mid-morning, I wasn't thinking she was all that sick. We carried on with the weekend and the beautiful weather. Bryan and Jack had some much-needed Daddy-son time at the Purdue football game Saturday. Grace played a great soccer game. Sunday was a productive, fun day. Bryan and I both managed to exercise (no small feat on a Sunday lately). I mowed the grass, and he took Grace to a birthday party. They had a really nice time and came home for me to go to work. All in all, a really nice day. Then I came home from work. Mary woke up and wanted to nurse. No biggie except she was wide-awake and wanting to play with Daisy. Then Grace came in and said her tummy hurt again (first real mention of it since Friday morning). Honestly, if she were older, I would have thought she was trying to avoid school! Well, she quickly put that thought to rest when she got sick. So Mary, Grace and I headed downstairs to set up the "sick couch." We fell asleep around 3AM and got up with Jack at 6. Katie came down and told Bryan she didn't want breakfast but easily drank her milk. Poor little thing got sick about an hour later. I don't even think she saw it coming. So the plans for the park and for a walk are on hold. I am in bleach-cleaning mode and praying that Jack, Mary and Bryan stay healthy! The thing is, as yucky as the stomach flu is, I know how blessed we are. This too shall pass and we will be stronger for it in the long run. And, maybe the house will be spotless by tonight :). And maybe, just maybe, they will take a nap and I will sneak out and get those mums planted! You know, I really believe sick days are God's way of MAKING us slow down. I can almost hear Him saying, "If you aren't going to take the hint, here's a 'clue-by-four'" as a friend calls it!