sadness, puking and accidents

The parental units had finished their conversation and moved to the kitchen to prepare the evenings meal. Emily was on food prep duty with a knife and red pepper.

Emily: (tears in her eyes) I don't want you to go.
Darren: Why?
Emily: I don't know.
Jenn: Are you worried we won't come back?
Emily: no
Darren: You'll have grandma Lite and Poppa Bill...
Jenn: and no mean mommy or daddy to tell them no.
Darren: You'll have lots of fun with them.
Emily: (crying)But why do you have to go?
Darren: Because we want to. But we'll call you every day. And then you'll say you don't have time to talk to us, because you are too busy having fun.
Emily: But what if you don't come back.
Darren: We will. We will miss you. We will come back. We are just going away for a few days.

In comes Becca, crying (having been on the potty in the back of the house)...
Jenn: What's wrong?
Becca: I was calling for you and no one was answering me.
Jenn: Are you ok?
Becca: Yes, but I was calling for you and no on came.
Jenn: Darren, Claire just threw up.
Jenn: Oh no, she did it again. I need another towel. I'm sure we're going for the rule of three here.
Jenn: yep, here we go....

* it might get a little yucky here*
Claire threw up all over herself and her tray. I removed tray and placed it gently on the table...so the throw up wouldn't spill. I tried to undress her without touching her. Or breathing in her direction.

Emily starts the bath for Claire. Darren holds Becca. I am ever so careful to take Claire to the bath. She plays happily while Becca and Emily tell me their stomach woes.

Darren enters bathroom: Jammies and bed for everyone.
Emily and Becca : WITHOUT DINNER???!!!!???
Jenn: I thought your stomach hurt?
Becca: Well, I want something to eat.
Jenn: (I know she wants applesauce). What do you want?
Becca: Something not crunchy.
Jenn: Like what?
Becca: Something cold that I don't have to chew.
Jenn: Like?
Becca: Applesauce
Jenn: (that's what I thought. I've been hearing about an upset stomach for 2 days. But no signs of stomach ache when she's in the backyard playing dress-up with Emily tonight. No stomach ache during snack time. But now, it hurts. Maybe it does... but not enough to stay home from school tomorrow.)

Darren feeds kids, I dress Claire, girls are on their bed - waiting for a book.

Finally, I begin reading Emily's nite-nite book ... "Emily's 100 Days of School"... LONGEST picture book ever. Cute book... but not a quick read.

Day 20 - In comes Darren and Amanda...with no panties.
Accident?
Yes.
Where?
Cozy room.
:(

Daddy cleans Amanda up and sends her my way.
Now we are all on the bed - Emily, Becca, Amanda, Claire and mom.
Day 85 - Claire coughs.
Yep. More throw-up.
Luckily it was on Becca's jammie pants that she was not wearing and not all over the bed.
I get Claire off the bed and she continues to puke on the floor.

*Messes happen. Kids get sick or have accidents - you just have to keep your wits about you and aim those messes to facilitate fast clean up. And the floor is easier to spray and wipe than removing all contaminated bedding and finding clean alternatives while you start washing the messy bedding. The non-carpeted floor is just easier. I might change my mind in the new house.

Resume reading at day 85. Almost there. Almost time for all the kids to be in their containers for the night. Only 15 more days.
ooops. Mistakenly think that Emily's book was sufficient for Becca and Amanda.
Nope.
Read 12 Dancing Princesses easy reader (Becca's book choice)

Katy, will you find us two puke buckets. Emily and Becca both want one.
Thanks big sister.

Read Lilly's Big Day (Amanda's book choice)
Lights off and music on.
Goodnight.

"Aren't you going to hold us?"
No, not tonight. (You see, although you two claim an upset stomach...Claire is the only one who has thrown up.... so I need to hold her and put her to bed.)

As I make my way to the cozy room, turn off all the lights and just hold my sweet little Claire...
I see 3 short figures make their way into the kitchen, looking for their mom.
I say nothing.
They find me anyway.

Becca: My tongue hurts. I told Daddy and he said to come ask you if I could put an ice pack on it.
Jenn: (WHAT? GO TO BED!) No sweetie, I don't think that's a good idea. Have a drink of water. All of you. Then get in bed.

They are all in bed now... but even as I began writing this, I could hear Emily coughing.

Jenn: Emily, come to the kitchen. You need a drink of water and some cough medicine.
Emily: What? Are you talking to me?
Jenn: Yes. Amanda - get back in bed.

(And unless anyone has a fever in the morning... you are all going to school.)