November 24, 2007 | Mama Smith

stomach bug

You can always count on a cross-country flight to inflict you or your family members with an unwelcomed visit from a nasty illness traveling the country side. No matter how many times our hands were washed, how much Airborne we stuck in our water bottles…Levi and I still came down with the worst bug of all, the 24-hr stomach virus.

Awesome.

Of course this began the night Matthew was out with his buddies until 1am and I’m awoken at midnight to Levi’s cries. Finding him head-to-toe covered in his vomit. And the rest spewed throughout his crib. After a rinse in the kitchen sink and a quick change, he was back in bed…but Mom was beginning to feel pretty queasy herself.

I chalked it up to the fact that I was always the kid who would puke if she saw anyone else do it. My weak stomach being inherited from my own father. But the next morning, I realized that was an unlikely wish and instead I too was finding deep comfort in the cool tiles of our bathroom floor.

This all occurring the day after my youngest sister, Emily, arrived to spend her Thanksgiving with us. She instead became nanny, for two of the four days she was here, while I lay in bed recovering. Is there anything worse than laying nauseated in your bed alone on Thanksgiving day when your family is chowing down and living it up elsewhere?!

I guess I joined the ranks of the rest of my family. Callie, who spent Thanksgiving alone in Honduras, fighting off a dog in order to get back inside the house she’s staying at. John, who spent Thanksgiving alone in New York City, who thankfully found a Louisiana Mom to cook him a real Thanksgiving meal. My parents, who spent Thanksgiving alone together in London, English-style…meaning there was no celebration…well, until Friday, that is. Guess this was the year of bizarre Thanksgiving festivities.

I’m just now improving after spending most of the week in bed, sipping water and munching on crackers. No Colorado pictures have been downloaded to the computer yet unfortunately, but those will come. Until then, here are some Matthew’s folks sent. Hope you all had a more enjoyable, healthy Thanksgiving :)

Here are the boys at the airport after our 7+ hour trek from SC to CO…and after B threw-up on himself and wet through his diaper on flight leg #2. Traveling with kids…what a life.

Our “Thanksgiving” spread…mostly from Mary Lou’s amazing garden

Matthew grilling breakfast one morning

Through the kitchen window, towards the porch and barn. Such a beautiful home. You’ll see more once we get our pictures downloaded.

Brighton pestering the gracious host, Me Gusta the kitty

The grandparents with their first grandsons

Levi pondering whether he wants to be friends with Porter, the chocolate lab, or not