Jack.
Enough time has passed that I can distance myself from the aftermath of Labor Day festivities and the week following and relate the story in all its toddler gore.
Go back with us to a Labor Day barbecue with friends, at which I realized too late that Jack Jack had downed four juice boxes and been fed a steady stream of Mike and Ikes candy by older children at the barbecue. Too, too late I tried to entice him with something more nutritious.
So I wasn't much surprised that he was acting sick. I was surprised when he woke up later crying and had thrown up all over his bed and himself and was completely disoriented.
I took him into the bathroom to strip him and bathe him, and when we went back to his room to put on new pj's, Daddy had already changed the sheets and was febreze-ing the carpet. Jack Jack immediately threw up again, had another bath while Daddy changed the sheets again, and then threw up one more time for good measure. We finally got him clean, in clean pajamas, in a clean bed, and asleep.
Thank you, Jack, for doing the dirty work.
Three days later we were finishing dinner and getting ready for bed. Ellen had been particularly helpful and requested a treat. She and Aunt Mary had picked out some Jordan almonds that we were saving for just such an occasion.
We were just discussing how nice Jordan almonds smell, which pastel color was our favorite, and who was sharing with whom, when Ellen threw up in the hall next to the bathroom. While I helped Ellen get cleaned up, Daddy cleaned up "the best smelling throw up I've ever had to clean up." Ellen threw up two more times and kept running to the bathroom, afraid she was going to lose it all again. Then she said the most sage words I've ever heard from a three-year-old.
"Mommy, don't give me no more candy. Don't let me have candy. Only stickers." Done.
While I took care of Ellen, Jack took care of the carpet. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
These are the first such episodes we've had with our kids, who have been pretty healthy with only mild illnesses (fevers, ear infections, sore throats). Of all the excellent qualities of the man I married, his adeptness at cleaning up throw up (so I don't have to) has made him so much more desirable.
Now Rose. She spent all day the following Tuesday vomiting everything I fed her immediately after nursing. I had to change her clothes and my own clothes several times. This did not keep her from continuing to roll and army crawl all over the place, attempt to eat any scrap of paper she could find, and look generally cute and excited about life, especially baths, at all times.
I'm happy to report that we have now all been stomach-bug-free for a week and are back to our normal routines.
I love you, honey. Thank you for being a great dad and husband.
