Monday, December 15, 2008

TravelDaddy's Law of Illness

Never fails. My husband can bless me with his presence for two weeks straight, and nary a germ dares to light on any of the little people in this house. But the minute he gets on an airplane, the noses start running, the puking begins, or out comes the liquid Immodium.

Everyone was in high spirits this morning as we waved good-bye to Daddy from the window. There may have even been a boy or two using the couch as a trampoline. Right after lunch, however, Jacob came to me complaining of a headache. I gave him some Motrin and snuggled down with him in my bed. It wasn't long until everything--and I mean EVERYTHING--came up, Lunchables and all.

The vomit settled it. All other activities canceled: errands, library run, Alex and Michael's first basketball practice. When I broke the news to Michael, he said, "Well, just tell my coach it's OK if I miss practice. I played basketball last year." I think maybe we need to emphasize the Practice makes perfect adage around here. He thinks he's about to be drafted by the NBA because he played last year...remember the Michael Dimension?

Anyway, we got cleaned up, and Jacob fell asleep. He slept until dinnertime. When he woke up, I asked him if he felt like eating anything. Maybe some pasta? Some toast? Soup? He shook his head at all of my suggestions. "Well, what would you like?" I asked him.

"I want breakfast."

Poor guy. He thought he had slept the whole night through! He ended up not eating anything and fell back asleep. He woke up briefly for more Motrin and is now sound asleep again on his Daddy's side of the bed.

Here's hoping his internal clock is not expecting sunrise at 3AM!

7 comments:

@nnie said...

As a member of MSMs, I have to tell you that I couldn't have said it better if I'd written it myself. It is a strange law, but a law that manifests its truth over and over relentlessly again. As if to let us know of it's presence. As an addition to that law, I must say that it often (though not always) occurs on a Friday, just as doctor's offices are closing up for the weekend. Then how about the law that goes like this: "TravelDaddy's law that anything that can go wrong will go wrong as soon as I step foot out of the door." Does that one apply in your situation?

Kathleen said...

Yes, yes...that law applies here too! When he leaves, everything breaks, burns out, leaks, or crawls out of the woodwork (I'm referring here, of course, to the bugs that I must then have my 7yo take care of!). What would we do without our men here at least part-time?!

CrossView said...

It must have been bad if he let go of that Lunchable!

Howlong till Daddy gets back so everyone can be in full health??!!

Kathleen said...

Tomorrow! And, yes, here's hoping he brings full health and sunshine with him! Hopefully, the virus won't be on Kid #2 or 3 by then, although if it's going to cycle, it needs to do so quickly. I don't fancy a 12-hour trip to the North Pole next week with the virus in the back seat!!

Anonymous said...

oh no! Stomach yuck is the worst! Last year when husband was gone for a week for his "graduation" into stock brokering, one of the littles turned on the upstairs sink which overflowed. It was literally raining through the ceiling. I opted not to mention it til he came back!

Kathleen said...

Courtney, you're so much better than I am. I make sure hubby knows! In fact, two years ago this January, our sunken family room flooded with freezing cold water. He was in CT. I FREAKED OUT on him. He got the next flight home. Poor guy; I'm a freaker-outer, and he pays for it.

Anonymous said...

You're a freaker-outer? No way! I never would have thunk it. I'm a freaker-outer too, and always when I have my head back on my shoulders realize how ridiculously I overreacted.

May the leukocytes unite in your family!