By Stephanie
I type with heavy fingers that are more like thick thumbs attempting to translate my hazy mind into a comprehendable blog post. The last time I had a decent night’s sleep (my definition being at least four hours in a row during the night, in my own bed, like normal people sleep) was last Thursday, I think. Or it might be the Thursday before that. Thursday just sounds familiar right now.
Last night looked promising, with a quiet house and the last kid bedded at 10 pm. My eyes were wide open and I did laundry, read a book, then finally became sleepy by 2 am. Just as I cozy up to my pillow, there are sounds of a sick child in the other room (Mom radar says: Carter. Top Bunk. Vomit.)
I leap out of bed, like Elastigirl in fast forward, one hand reaches into the bathroom to swipe a washcloth as the other hand flips on the hall light, and I am at his side. Poor baby. Bathtime. Cleanup. Sheets, pillows, blankets folded up in one big wad down to the basement laundry. Start the load and basket up the clean clothes out of the dryer. Gray wakes and giggles at the middle-of-the-night excitement. All three of us have a party watching cartoons and folding laundry. 3 am passes us by.
At morning, all are miraculously sleeping and I assess that no one will be going to school. I make the necessary call and see hubby off to work in my car as his decided not to start today. As he pulls out of the garage I reach longingly and yearn… no Starbucks…
With all three boys home, there was no window for a Mommy nap. Instead, delirium kicked in and I caught up on all the laundry, made soup, read a book, played mom, and baked pumpkin seeds. All on maybe 4 hours of sleep in the past 24 hours. If that.
I remember the sad story of another mother and I wonder if she knows all too well the midnight steamy bathroom remedy for her baby’s barky cough. Or the sweet half-asleep chatter, as you kneel beside the bathtub in the middle of the night and your son says I love you Mommy and Thank you for taking care of me. The wrenching of your heart in the most tender corner, twisting with hurt for how much you’d do absolutely anything for your child to be ok. To know he’s loved. And that you will always be there to take care of him.
Or the feeling that a hundred days of no sleep is worth even just one moment of this marvelous thing called Motherhood.
Originally published October 1, 2007 at Adventures In Babywearing.
I remember the first time one of my kids made it to the toilet to throw up. I was so proud! And so happy I didn’t have to clean up.
Bunk beds and yacking. Not good together.
How are you feeling, Steph? Any day now, right?
I read this post with half closed eyes (due to lack of sleep), but still managed to smile. I, too, have dealt with vomit and bunk beds.
We use a throw-up bowl, a big plastic mixing bowl, so my little ones don’t have to run to the bathroom. Across the hall is a long way when you’ve got stuff spewing from your mouth.
I’ve had to do the whole sick child deal recently. It really warms my heart when she tells me, “Thank you, Mommy. I’m feeling much better now.”
Oh I do hope you’re able to get caught up on sleep and that this nasty bug makes it through the family and out of the house before little baby bean is born. Hugs!
Nell
This is the very first time I visit your web page and I’m really amazed with this article. 2 thumbs up for the wonderful content!
Excellent article. Thanks for sharing
Great website you have
Even in the worst of times, this vocation is a miracle. You’ve described that perfectly.
And now, this mama is going to bed, so she can enjoy her job tomorrow without needing a second cup of coffee.
I LOATHE vomit – literally cause me to fight back panic.
But WOW was I relieved to read that this was an old post. I just kept thinking NOOOO she is too pregnant to get the flu! She needs to rest, to sleep, to eat. Relief. No one is puking tonight. You are asleep – or at least trying to with that huge belly. 😉
Lovely post Stephanie. I feel you’ve captured the essence of motherhood very well. No matter how gross, or exhausting or smelly it gets, I wouldn’t trade being a mother for anything.
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