WE'VE BEEN HIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a tale. A sad and frightening tale. A tale from the trenches. A tale of germ "warfare" and it's effects on a family. This tale is not for the squeamish. Those of you with weak stomachs.....look away.....find another blog.

The good news is that Savannah is feeling better. The BAD news is that it was NOT food poisoning, but rather some nasty stomach virus. And we've been hit.

Race stayed home with Jack from martial arts, who went from feeling a little under the weather........to hugging the side of the toilet bowl in less than an hour. By the time that Austin and I arrived home from martial arts, Jack was in the bed, but was still having to run to the bathroom regularly. (BTW, he would like for me to write here, that, for the record, he threw up 7 times.) We got everyone tucked in bed for the night, and had settled in for ourselves, after calling Lynette and Gregg and having to cancel our dinner for tonight, (sigh). Savannah was feeling better, but wisely decided to stay in her room, hunkered down with her book. Jack was up at regular intervals, running to the bathroom and yelling "MOM!!! I NEED SOME WATER!!" Which, of course he could only have a few sips of, or the whole process starts all over. So I get to be the one who yanks the straw from his parched lips, continually saying, "Just small sips....small sips." It was about 30 minutes after Jacks last call, that I heard IT. That sound. The sound that makes a mother know that something isn't right. A sound that makes a mother rush from her warm bed up the stairs. You all know what I'm talking about.

I get to the top of the steps just in time to witness Austin sitting straight up in bed vomiting a projectile pattern that could have won an award easily, if awards were given for such things. My first thought.........or shout, if my memory serves.....was GET UP!!!!! GET UP!! ("Why didn't he get to the bathroom????!!!", I thought.) I then rush to grasp the bathroom door knob.......and......IT"S LOCKED! (Insert horriffic scream here). Jack is in the bathrom, and he has locked the door!!!! Hearing my paniced cries, he quickly comes out and Austin bowls him over on his way IN. I rush a weak and shakey Jackson down the steps and into our bed.

*******There is a hush, as my sleepy and confused brain realizes what just took place, and the job that must be done.*******

Race comes upstairs with me. He finds this all amusing as he surveys the situation. UNTIL the cleaning up commences. Yes, THAT was not funny. At all. IT.WAS.BAD. We threw everything out.

Austin slept on the floor in front of the bathroom all night. It was very tempting to have him sleep in the tub, as this is a child who, when he was little would run through the whole house to find me , just so he could throw up at my feet. The rest of the night was filled with more of the same. More hugging of the toilet bowl and more raspy cries for, "water....water..."

It is morning. Savannah isn't venturing from her room. Jack is able to keep Gatorade and water down, and Austin isn't up yet. Race and I wait like lambs to the slaughter for our turn.

Have a good day today, enjoy your good health, and.......DON'T GO OUT OF THE HOUSE! ICK!

Melissa