The Cassidy Family: Parenthood 201...The Midnight Vomit Course

Two weeks ago, I looked at how much laundry soap we had left. Lifting the bottle and knowing what on the list, I thought to myself, "I can make this stretch." At that moment in my life, I didn't know the amount of laundry we would do in one day.

We have always heard about those parenting stories about people having five children, and one catching flu in the middle of the night, and and then having the bug t

ravel on through the family. Well, we have officially been inducted into the midnight vomit club.

It was a long Monday. Joseph had started vomiting the night before, and he and I had hardly any sleep. The poor thing so little, shouldn't have to experience sickness like that. He finally stopped getting sick around 4AM, but then it started coming from the other end. The exciting thing about the day was that Jeremy was going to give a talk to the Cadets down in Colorado Springs at the Air force Academy. The bummer was that Mama was going to be stuck at home with a sick little one who wasn't improving much.

Well the night went along, and I began to truly stew over Joseph. Simeon was never sick like this with the flu (RSV was a horrible experience with Simeon; however he got so sick so quickly that before we knew it we were at the hospital, not by our own choice). With Joe, the decision was in our hands. Take him in because he is getting closer and closer to the stages of being truly dehydrated, or try and make it through the night? I call my husband and try not to sound panicked but ask him to come home as soon as his talk has finished. He must have understood my tone, becuase he was here by 9PM.

Well, God never gives you more than you can handle, however, he can test the limit. Finally we got Joe satisfied that night at about 11:30. That's when the fun began. Simeon woke up. I got him back down. Simeon woke again. I got him back down again. A third time the little guy was up, and I looked at Jeremy and said "just let him cry for a bit." 12:15. Enter Mom. Vomit hit my nostrils and my heart sank for the little guy. Vomit. All over. The crib, the walls, his bedding, himself, the carpet, you name it had a nice layer on it. I turned around and walked out of the room tagged my husband's hand, and said your it! Dad quickly bathed Simeon, and then brings him to me. Simeon puts his face into Jeremy's pillow and let's just say after that our sheets were toast as well!

In the mean time, Joe has woken up, and was getting upset again. The poor guy...we could hardly keep up with his thirst, and the lethargic behavior was starting to set in. Thank goodness for modern medicine and emergency phone lines to call Pediatricians. At about 2AM we call to see if the Dr. thinks we need to bring him in. After much hemming and hawing, he assures us that he thinks Joseph can make it through the night, and lets us know the immediate signs of whether we should take him in to the emergency room, but asks us to come in to the Dr. first thing in the morning.

2:30 creeps around and I am able to get Joe to go back to sleep. 3:30...Simeon wants to come and sleep with me as well, but I know I can manage them both and Joe was my primary concern. So we decide to make it an adventure for Daddy and Little Man, and get out the air mattress and have a snuggle party. Just as I am crawling back into bed and think that everyone is situated, my little one arouses and needs yet so much more liquid. No rest for the wicked...

Well, the long of it is that we were able to make it through the night, and get Joe into the Dr. first thing morning. Parenthood is so sanctifying. I think it took me all week to unwind from how anxious I felt from worrying about Joseph and wondering if Jeremy and I were making the right decision. I guess that is what is so hard about having free will, and trusting that day in an day out we are making the right choices for those who we love dearly.