Thank goodness

[siercia]

I have a child who is usually VERY healthy, because this afternoon's adventures are NOT ones I'd like to repeat.

So, it's about 12:30. I'm making lunch for me, Imagy and I are discussing what Widget's going to have for lunch, and Widget's playing on the floor in the kitchen. She's coughing a little, and we're speculating that perhaps she's caught a little cold, and that's why she's been a Whineocerous this morning.

When all of a sudden, there's little hurk noise, and a spreading puddle of pink (thanks, strawberries for breakfast) vomit on the floor. A few more hurks and a lot more vomit, and then some panic-y cries from Widget. Uh. YUCK. Have I mentioned that I hate vomit? I'd rather scrape dog poo off my shoe with my finger than deal with vomit.

I start breathing through my nose and run in to give her a hug. Double YUCK, she's got vomit all down the front of her. I'm trying to calm her down, she's burying her face in my hair, when, you guessed it, *HURK* all over me. In my hair, on my shirt, on my pants, on my shoes.

Poor thing didn't know WHAT was going on, she was all upset. Imagy, who's a saint, cleaned up the kitchen floor while I took Miss Widget upstairs and got her changed into her pajamas. Throw the clothes into the incinerator (I mean, the washing machine). Ick.

I'm still amazed at how calm I managed to be. You know that whole "inside, I'm screaming" schtick? That was me. Inside, all I could think was YUCKYUCKYUCKYUCKYUCK, and outside, all I was saying was "It's okay, honey. It's fine" while I calmed the babe down.

But I don't want to do it again anytime soon. BLEAH.

Comments

[reebert.livejournal.com]

Ewwwww!! I don't even have children yet, but I already have nightmares about that very thing. Give me blood, give me poo, I can handle it all! But give me puke and I'll run away screaming. hahaha

[siercia]

You'll be amazed at your ability to deal with it and not run away screaming, you really will. Now, if I'd had to clean up after Widget was calmed down and cleaned up herself, that might have been a different story. For that alone, Imagy is worth her weight in GOLD.

[dietbubba.livejournal.com]

Your reaction to vomit is my reaction to poo. Blood, guts, vomit...I can take it all. The tiniest bit of poo and I am ready to lose my lunch.

[siercia]

Well, you weren't wanting kids then, were you? 'Cause there's a WHOLE lot more poo than there is blood or puke, I assure you.

They do however ease you into it. Newborn poop hardly smells, and is easy to clean, for the most part. It doesn't get nasty until they start eating solid foods.

Re:

[dietbubba.livejournal.com]

If I ever have kids Bink gets to deal with the poo.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[siercia]

Oh my, I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. You realize that means that Bink wouldn't be able to leave you alone with the baby for at least its first 3 years of life?

Re: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[dietbubba.livejournal.com]

Yeah, pretty much.

[sarahparah.livejournal.com]

*mustn't laugh*

I'm only laughing because I understand, of course. I am there right with you with strawberry barf all over me, cuddling her too.

I don't know how people who have children with weak stomachs handle it.

Oh, god, my icon is feeling a little inappropriate right now. *blargh*

[siercia]

Heehee. I don't know that I'll be able to feed her strawberries for a while. Or eat them myself.

I feel like I passed some big final exam of motherhood today - I didn't flinch from the barf hug, even though I SURE wanted to. I wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to do it, and I'm pleased I was when the chips were down.

*shudder*

[rawrin.livejournal.com]

Motherhood has a way of making you able to deal with the ickiest of situations. It still doesn't make you like them! Poor Widget.

[siercia]

Poor thing indeed. SHe threw up again after I went to work, and apparently was hungry this evening, and upset that all she was getting was clear liquids instead of real food.

Amazingly, she was chipper for most of the afternoon, despite the fact that she's obviously got a bug.

Yay motherhood, eh?

[ignu2k.livejournal.com]

oy. ((hugs)) to both of you.

alex has done that to me twice- both times while i was pregnant. it was all i could do not to *ahem* return the favor.

[siercia]

oh god.

I'm trying to imagine having to deal with that while in the "Strong smells trigger nausea" stage of being pregnant, and it makes me want to curl up in a little ball.

One more reason to not have another.

[kaasirpent]

My mother was the same way--she'd comfort me, clean up, etc.

But years later, she told me that often, after I was safely over the whole hurking thing, she'd follow suit, just because it's so disgusting and nasty. Such is Mommies' Lot.

[siercia]

Oh yeah. Had this happened ten minutes later, just AFTER I'd eaten instead of just before, I bet I would've been right there hurking myself.

oy!

[pantsie.livejournal.com]

I know what you're talking about.

I had to work in what was considered the "nurse's office" at a small private daycare in Wellesley for four years. The teachers would bring the sick youngsters who were waiting for their parents to pick them up out to sit with me in the reception area. I would comfort these kids and read them stories, but I was playing roulette by doing this. Every so often I would have to deal with an upset stomach and I could say goodbye to my outfit and my desire to eat lunch for the day.

I would never want a child to feel badly about themselves because of their sickness (it's natural, and it's part of growing up), but it is tough to keep on a good poker face while dealing with a situation like this. I applaud moms who can make it through without flinching.

Re: oy!

[siercia]

Wow. I don't know if I could do that for someone else's child. Okay, I probably could, but I'd be even MORE unhappy. Yuck.

You're right though, you don't want them to feel bad about it, or be scared of it, or anything like that, even if it is gross.

I got used to it.

[pantsie.livejournal.com]

I guess in a similar way to the way teachers and parents got used to it. It didn't bother me terribly aside from the smell, and I did my darndest to make sure that I was still reading as comforting and nurturing in the midst of it all. After a while, it just became part of the territory for me.

I'd see teachers freak out over kids getting sick to their stomachs or dealing with goopy upper respiratory infections, and I felt like saying, "Get used to it. This is what you signed up for, along with the reading circles, the activity centers, and outdoor play time. It's all part of the package with kids."

[poopsmoothie.livejournal.com]

Nngh, i sympathize, vomit is the nasty. Kudos for holding it together for the sake of the Widget.

[siercia]

Thanks, babe.