Sunday night... the sun is setting on a relaxing weekend.
Relaxing in spite of the flu bug my kids and I have pick up! Beginning on Thursday just in time for me to get home, drop off my bags... and get the phone call that my son had a 102 degree fever.
I am not annoyed, I am thankful that I was able to be there when he needed me. Friday was a sick day for the both of them... fevers, body aches, head aches, sniffling, sneezing... fun stuff.
Like many of my friends who have amazing careers and a passion for their chosen profession, this mom struggles with demands of job and home. It's a difficult balance.
When my kids were really little, about two I'd say, I had to go and work a conference around this same time in Las Vegas. On the first night of three days away my husband called with the news that our son was really sick. He needed to go to the doctor. Since they were premature, from the time he was born and even sometimes now he develops upper respiratory issues when he gets sick with a cold. This time was no different. My husband was able to take him to the doctor but he needed breathing treatments, he was on the cusp of hospitalization and we needed to monitor him closely.
We had to make a tough decision, do I fly home or trust that Daddy had it handled even though he was working during the day? We allowed a trusted person come in and take care of the kids, watching over my son. Each night I would receive reports that while he was comfortable, he wasn't getting much better. We decided to wait to take him to the doctor when I got back which was just the next day.
When I got home and saw my son laying on the couch completely lethargic I realized it was not a good situation. He had almost next to no interaction from the caregiver with him. The person we trusted paid more attention to our daughter who was healthy and well; she had not been giving our son baths or making sure his medicine was given in a timely manner. He needed mom... and a doctor visit.
My husband assumed he'd been care for, as I said this person was someone we both really trusted. When I got home this person was surprised to see me. Lesson, painfully learned for this mom. Would I come home sooner had I known the outcome? Maybe, I can't answer that. I probably would have done the same thing if faced with it again... I am not always going to be there, I am going to miss some moments but I would make some better choices pertaining to the person in charge. I digress...
I relieved this person, letting her know it was okay to go home... I scooped my son up and gave him a warm bath. Taking care of him, making sure he had his next dose of medicine, lots of hugs - I held him and rocked him. He was starting to feel better already. It's amazing what love does. Health crisis averted and again, big-old-lesson learned!
My mom also worked when my brother and I were growing up. I don't remember her job ever taking her away from the home. When did get sick, she was always there. That's just what moms do. Being home sick consisted of "making a bed" on the couch, I'd get to bring my pillow out and get to snuggle in with the TV and mom. She's let me have 7-Up to help my sick tummy and she'd make chicken noodle soup. She'd spoon feed me, cutting the noodles on the side of the cup so that each bite wouldn't be messy. Mom would rub my forehead and brush back my hair...
When my twins were born and I was really sick, in the hospital it was my mom who made sure I ate, who chased after the nurses and the doctors to make sure care was being given, she listened to the medical opinions and treatment options. She helped me get out of bed to use the restroom with all the wires and IV's plugged into me... She gave me my first shower in the hospital. She knew that childbearing had an ugly side that I was just not prepared for. She washed my hair and made sure I had what I needed to start the healing process. I couldn't have gotten through all of that without my mom... Women should have one person that can serve that purpose, always!
Even now, I am older with kids of my own, sometimes getting sick -still
finds me on my parents bed with a warm wash-cloth over my head, lights out and the "good-quilt".
Thankfully Thursday, I was able to take that phone call. As I was walking up the sidewalk to the office at my kids school, my son stepped outside with the principal. When he saw me he cried with a mixture of "mom I feel sick" and "I am so relieved to see you". He was happy to know I brought medicine for him, he wouldn't have to wait till we got home. He had fresh pajamas waiting, soup and Power-aide. Like my childhood, we made his bed on the couch and I stroked his back until he fell asleep.
Friday was my daughters turn... same prescription awaited her... couch bed, snuggles and rubs... TV time and lots of liquids. Trying to keep everyone as comfortable as possible while the virus works through their systems.
This weekend we've waited for the fevers to break, helped them get to the bathroom, changed sheets... new PJs'... lots of soup and fluids. Lots of snuggles and rubs... There have been some midnight calls to the crying children in the bedroom when the medicine had worn off... some kids in my bed till daddy gets home. Mommy has had to take the rest where I could get it. All the while I remember that my mom was always there... so important...
Doing the best that I can, I pray my children learn from me and can say the same thing when they have their own children...
We shall see... :)
Relaxing in spite of the flu bug my kids and I have pick up! Beginning on Thursday just in time for me to get home, drop off my bags... and get the phone call that my son had a 102 degree fever.
I am not annoyed, I am thankful that I was able to be there when he needed me. Friday was a sick day for the both of them... fevers, body aches, head aches, sniffling, sneezing... fun stuff.
Like many of my friends who have amazing careers and a passion for their chosen profession, this mom struggles with demands of job and home. It's a difficult balance.
When my kids were really little, about two I'd say, I had to go and work a conference around this same time in Las Vegas. On the first night of three days away my husband called with the news that our son was really sick. He needed to go to the doctor. Since they were premature, from the time he was born and even sometimes now he develops upper respiratory issues when he gets sick with a cold. This time was no different. My husband was able to take him to the doctor but he needed breathing treatments, he was on the cusp of hospitalization and we needed to monitor him closely.
We had to make a tough decision, do I fly home or trust that Daddy had it handled even though he was working during the day? We allowed a trusted person come in and take care of the kids, watching over my son. Each night I would receive reports that while he was comfortable, he wasn't getting much better. We decided to wait to take him to the doctor when I got back which was just the next day.
When I got home and saw my son laying on the couch completely lethargic I realized it was not a good situation. He had almost next to no interaction from the caregiver with him. The person we trusted paid more attention to our daughter who was healthy and well; she had not been giving our son baths or making sure his medicine was given in a timely manner. He needed mom... and a doctor visit.
My husband assumed he'd been care for, as I said this person was someone we both really trusted. When I got home this person was surprised to see me. Lesson, painfully learned for this mom. Would I come home sooner had I known the outcome? Maybe, I can't answer that. I probably would have done the same thing if faced with it again... I am not always going to be there, I am going to miss some moments but I would make some better choices pertaining to the person in charge. I digress...
I relieved this person, letting her know it was okay to go home... I scooped my son up and gave him a warm bath. Taking care of him, making sure he had his next dose of medicine, lots of hugs - I held him and rocked him. He was starting to feel better already. It's amazing what love does. Health crisis averted and again, big-old-lesson learned!
My mom also worked when my brother and I were growing up. I don't remember her job ever taking her away from the home. When did get sick, she was always there. That's just what moms do. Being home sick consisted of "making a bed" on the couch, I'd get to bring my pillow out and get to snuggle in with the TV and mom. She's let me have 7-Up to help my sick tummy and she'd make chicken noodle soup. She'd spoon feed me, cutting the noodles on the side of the cup so that each bite wouldn't be messy. Mom would rub my forehead and brush back my hair...
When my twins were born and I was really sick, in the hospital it was my mom who made sure I ate, who chased after the nurses and the doctors to make sure care was being given, she listened to the medical opinions and treatment options. She helped me get out of bed to use the restroom with all the wires and IV's plugged into me... She gave me my first shower in the hospital. She knew that childbearing had an ugly side that I was just not prepared for. She washed my hair and made sure I had what I needed to start the healing process. I couldn't have gotten through all of that without my mom... Women should have one person that can serve that purpose, always!
Even now, I am older with kids of my own, sometimes getting sick -still
finds me on my parents bed with a warm wash-cloth over my head, lights out and the "good-quilt".
Thankfully Thursday, I was able to take that phone call. As I was walking up the sidewalk to the office at my kids school, my son stepped outside with the principal. When he saw me he cried with a mixture of "mom I feel sick" and "I am so relieved to see you". He was happy to know I brought medicine for him, he wouldn't have to wait till we got home. He had fresh pajamas waiting, soup and Power-aide. Like my childhood, we made his bed on the couch and I stroked his back until he fell asleep.
Friday was my daughters turn... same prescription awaited her... couch bed, snuggles and rubs... TV time and lots of liquids. Trying to keep everyone as comfortable as possible while the virus works through their systems.
This weekend we've waited for the fevers to break, helped them get to the bathroom, changed sheets... new PJs'... lots of soup and fluids. Lots of snuggles and rubs... There have been some midnight calls to the crying children in the bedroom when the medicine had worn off... some kids in my bed till daddy gets home. Mommy has had to take the rest where I could get it. All the while I remember that my mom was always there... so important...
Doing the best that I can, I pray my children learn from me and can say the same thing when they have their own children...
We shall see... :)
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