Things never to say as a mother: my child never gets sick. Never, never say that. You’ll pay miserably for it in the near future, possible within the next 24 hours. My lesson has been learned. But honestly, Elijah doesn’t get sick that often….honestly, sick….no, he doesn’t. He’s never had an ear infection. He had the flu his first Christmas. About a year later, I received a frantic phone at work from Jason, “this kid is puking and it stinks sooooo bad.” Within 24 hours, Elijah was all better. He had a urinary tract infection one time, brought on by himself and a water gun. Needless to say, to this day, he is no longer allowed to play in the bathtub. Last year, he missed 4 days of school for what the doctor originally thought was H1N1 but after the test came back negative, she did a chest x-ray. Bronchitis. Elijah has had bronchitis a few times in his life. I catch it early. I don’t waste time trying to treat illnesses at home. When Elijah spikes a fever overnight, you can bet we will be at the doctor by 8 the next morning. Chest x-rays are usually ordered, and upon being read, the doctor always says, “Bronchitis. It just started at the tip of one lung.” This momma doesn’t mess around with it. I want the illness to be over and done with quickly. I want our lives to return to normal. I want the funk out of my house. I want the germs gone.
Last night, Elijah probably had one of his best basketball practices yet. He was excited…on cloud 9. He was thrilled with the way things went. One mother told me that Cedarville had made the news for 50 kids being sick at the elementary school in one day. With what, I asked.
“Vomiting, diarrhea. Usually just lasting 24 hours.”
Another mom told me about her kids run-in with this “bug.” I looked at another mom and asked if her son had it yet. She said no but she’s waiting…he gets sick easily.
This is where I weaved the web. “Elijah doesn’t really catch any bugs that go around.” I explained. “He gets bronchitis. But he’s only had the flu once or twice. He has his daddy’s immune system. ”
I had no idea what I had just done.
Not. A. Clue.
I found out 5:19 this morning when I woke to hop on my treadmill. Before I do, I always walk down the hallway to check on Elijah, make sure he still has the cover on him, pillows, breathing, etc. All the mundane things a neurotic mother will do. Things were different this morning.
Elijah met me in the hallway.
“My belly hurts, momma.”
“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” He nods and runs into his bathroom.
“Momma, I have diarrhea!” He yells. As little as Elijah is sick, he panics at the first sign of illness.
Great, I think. But my thought is interrupted by the sound of liquid hitting in the bathroom floor. I sprint in there to see what the heck he was doing.
Sitting on the toilet and throwing up in the floor. I pull the trash can in front of him and inhale the 2 scents a mother hates to smell: puke and poo.
“Just great. You have a bug.” I stated.
“Get it out of me, momma!” Elijah yelled in a panic.
