A Toddler Trifecta

in Giggles on May 21, 2024

I’ve been back home for five days from my excursion out to Northern California.

I’m still tired.

I knew full-well before I headed out West that my days would be crammed full of household chores, an abundance of diapers and the preparation of meals that would not even scratch the surface of acceptable for two pocket-sized budding food critics. All of these were most assuredly bound to happen during my two-week stay at Lusk Lodge…aka…my sister’s house.

What I had NOT prepared for, anticipated, or even allowed the shadows of this concept to cross the outer-fringes of my mind was the very real possibility that one or both of my nieces would fall victim to a stomach bug.

On Day Five of my trip, we were awakened not to the smell of coffee happily brewing, but rather the distinct and unmistakable aroma of a diaper that had gone terribly wrong.

Thus began a week-long journey down a road that I had not traveled in more than twenty years.

Not only was the lower half of both girls having SIGNIFICANT issues, but the top half as well. Everyone in the house was either miserable because they WERE the injured party or because they were AUDITIONING for a coveted spot on the household hazmat team. For one full week, we were all held captive by some sort of wicked little bacteria with a Napoleon complex.

I couldn’t keep towels and blankets rotating fast enough throughout the wash cycles. I’m fairly certain I heard the washing machine mutter something like, “Lady. I did not sign up for this” on one of my many visits to the basement laundry room. You and me both, brother. You and me both.

I will say, my sister has trained the girls well. After Kourtney’s initial projectile explosion in the middle of the night, she was cognizant enough to ask for a “spit bowl” before she threw up again. That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for a three-year-old. It didn’t take Charlotte long to ask ahead of time for her own bowl. Considering the rest of the circumstances, I’ll take a spit bowl as a definite WIN.

Between my sister’s countless trips to the bathroom and my nieces’ unpredictable orifice expulsions, I didn’t actually know what day it was.

The biggest problem with a tummy bug of this magnitude, is hydration. How do you keep babies hydrated when they can’t keep anything down…and secondly…they don’t want anything. The answer: Very carefully.

Three or four days in, I reached a point that I didn’t actually CARE what they drank, as long as they drank something. I tried juice, popsicles, Sprite. Anything.

The thing about toddlers, even sick toddlers, is that they are still TODDLERS. They still have a mind of their own and they want to do things their own way. They could not care less about you or your plans. And sick toddlers are even more volatile. Remember my last post? Charlotte and I squared off in an eerie rendition of the Shootout at the OK Corral over PB&J. Can you even imagine the battle of wills going on over water, juice and saltine crackers?

Have you been there?

Maybe you are like me, and you’re an old pro at this. But maybe, just maybe, you are the new momma in this group. Maybe this is your first rodeo and you feel like you’re flying blind. Hang in there, Momma. I’ve got you.

As with all of the stages of parenting, when dealing with sick kiddos, the most valuable and useful weapon in your arsenal, is PATIENCE. I know you are tired. I know the diapers seem like they are never-ending. I know the laundry keeps multiplying every time you turn around. I know the baby isn’t sleeping. I know the baby is crying—screaming—then crying again. Trust me when I tell you, she is JUST as frustrated as you are; the difference is that she does not have the ability to voice her frustrations in any other manner besides inconsolable crying.

Now, what to do:

Take a few really, really deep breaths. Find a rocker or a glider and make that your new home base for the duration of the illness. Stock up on wipes, diapers and any type of container that will hold copious amounts of liquid (think mixing bowls and trash cans). Get familiar with Bluey, and Miss Rachel. Try and have essentials delivered or make a curbside order (have someone ELSE pick it up); include crackers, Pedialyte, Pedialyte popsicles, liquid IV and Gatorade. Above all: FORGET THE REST OF THE HOUSE.

The dust that we chase around from surface to surface, will still be there when everyone is recovered. The non-emergency laundry? Yup. Still there. The dishes from the night before the chaos broke out…also, still there.

Focus on comforting Baby, and resting while you can. Most of these tummy bugs are not a sprint. They are the Ironman Marathon Event of the parenting season.

Thankfully, the girls were fully recovered before I had to head back to Houston. I wish I could say the same thing for my sister! Unfortunately, her particular situation probably won’t be rectified until late November.

Today, I’m back at home…doing my own non-emergency laundry. It was, in fact, STILL here…waiting patiently for my return. Hang in there, Mommas! You can do this!

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