The FLU Chronicles

Okay, you probably don't want to hear about "The FLU Chronicles", but that has been my life this week. So of course, I feel the need to blog about it.

First off, let me just say that I HATE the Flu! Yucky yuck yuck! I think the flu (and nausea in general) is pretty much the worst form of torture...

About a month ago I told Kev, "Ya know, we have all been pretty healthy lately." "No one has thrown up in a long time...it's kind of nice." Word of warning...NEVER SAY THAT...

Well, on Sunday Derek woke up saying his stomach hurt. Within an hour, he had thrown up. Kev and I played tag team at church so we could both be there when we had to be (that's when I'm grateful to have the church down the street as opposed to 30 minutes away as it was in New England)!

After church, Derek had really perked up--running around and eating. We thought we might be out of the woods! Yay!

The next morning I woke up and thought, "What in the world is wrong with me!?" I felt terrible and it didn't take me too long to realize the horror...I was the next victim!!!! Auggghhh!

I barely got the kids ready and off to school and then I just crashed on the couch. At first I was in denial...I think I really followed the 5 step process (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). I had a hard time accepting the fact that I was sick. I was particularly "in denial" because I had a fun day planned. My good friends from New Hampshire (one was visiting and one lives in Utah now) were going to come to my house to "play". I was really looking forward to it, but because I literally couldn't pick myself off the couch, we had to postpone our play date. I was so sad.

So, I spent the rest of the day trying to recover. Derek took pretty good care of me--got me blankets, drinks, snacks for Ben, etc. I was proud of him. Thankfully, Ben took two decent naps, so I was able to rest.

Well, I started to feel better that night and I was hoping there would be no more victims.

About 3:00 AM poor poor little 10 1/2 month old Ben threw up!!!! That is about the saddest thing ever to witness. I didn't think HE would get sick! Thankfully, he was able to go back to sleep and never threw up again.

Well, on Tuesday we were all starting to feel decent and yesterday we all felt great, so I was once again, hoping the flu bug was gone.

Last night around 2:00 AM, I sat straight up in bed because I heard someone throwing up!!! I went to go check it out and it was....DEREK!!!??? What!?? That poor poor little boy! I thought there was a "flu rule" that once you had the flu, you couldn't get it again for at least a year. Well, I cleaned him up, made him a bed on our floor, and told him to try to go back to sleep.

As I was trying to go back to sleep, I heard him whispering. I asked him what he was saying. He said, "I'm just trying to think about all the good happy things, like my birthday and Christmas, so I can fall asleep."

What a sweetie.

Well, he is now starting to perk up (once again) and I hope (once again) that this is the end of the flu at the Banner home. I hope Tyler, Brooklyn, and Kevin will be spared. It has been a rough few days.

However, I must say the ONLY good thing about the flu is that it always makes me really appreciate my health! As I lay on the couch, sick as a dog, I could barely remember what it ever felt like to be healthy. I realize I am so fortunate to feel so healthy most of the time! I guess it's true; you don't appreciate the sweet until you've tasted the bitter. So, I hope we have many many healthy days ahead of us!