This week BusyBoy had a stomach virus that was going around his class at school.  After school on Wednesday, the kids told me that someone threw up on the playground right before carpool line.  On Thursday morning, BusyBoy was complaining about his stomach hurting.  I hoped that it was simply because he was hungry.  When he did not eat his waffles and then asked for oatmeal, which he also did not eat, I knew we were in trouble.  BusyBoy is a picky eater, but he generally likes breakfast foods. 

Since GigglyGirl was feeling ok, I took her on to school and BusyBoy went along for the ride.  When we pulled into the garage, he started crying because he wanted to be at school also.  He said he was not sick anymore.  I persuaded him that we would have a fun morning if he was not sick.  He only felt like watch tv so I sat on the sofa and held him while he watched Little Bear. 

About 35 minutes into our fun morning, he was indeed sick.  Luckily, he made it to the bathroom before vomiting.  He repeated that episode a little later in the morning.  Then he slept off and on in the family room or the next several hours.  While was awake all he wanted was for me to hold him and maybe watch a little bit of tv. 

When GigglyGirl and BusyBoy were babies, we had so many problems with nursing, sleep schedules, and colic that I was relieved when they were sleeping so that I could get some rest as well.  I do not regret the feeling of relief.  I had to rest to survive.  For 8 weeks, I was literally getting a total of 2 hours a sleep a day in 10 – 20 minute increments. 

Now that they are older they do not fall asleep in my arms except for when they are really sick.  While I do not enjoy my children being sick with a minor virus, I am so glad that my presence and touch can make them feel better and I cherish the extra cuddle time I get with them when they are sick.  I know if they were sick with something serious I would not enjoy that cuddle time and would be hoping and praying for them to recover quickly.  Still, when it is a minor virus that I know will pass in a day or two, I stop everything else I am doing to make myself available to the sick child or children.  For me this is the best part about my children being sick, being able to give them comfort when they need it and being able to savor the feeling that gift brings me. 

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