Merry Christmas from the Scotts
Tuesday, Dec 25, 2007
The whole house is down for the count. Greg flew to D.C. on business last week and brought home a great gift–a nice flu bug. I’m singing, All I Want For Christmas Is a Good Night’s Sleep… I’ll be back to checking email and blogging badly after this passes.
Before I go, a quick story. There was this family who used to live behind us with 10 kids. Greg never wondered aloud about how they “did it.” Instead, Greg kept saying, “Can you imagine what it’s like when they all get sick?” Ha. Throw in a newborn who doesn’t sleep, and I totally know now.
Am I complaining? Wah. Oh, and my girls got dolls that cry. I told them to not push those buttons on the babies until things get better around here.
How do folks distinguish big kids from little kids? What is the line of demarcation? Ours is not potty training. It’s not moving up to a big bed. It’s not kindergarten. Here’s what it is: when you’re old enough to make it to the bathroom without throwing up on yourself. That’s when you’re a big kid.
Merry Christmas to all our family and friends. I hope it is a good one for you. Drop us a line, a link, an email or whatever and let us know what’s going on.
44 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment
« Previous: What makes a good Christmas?
Next: The plague has (almost) left the building …and other farmhouse news »
Return Home
I am SO sorry!
My son’s 2nd Christmas was spent throwing up, then he passed it on to Mom, me, and grandma.
But that PALES in comparison to your plight. Praying this all gets better and SOON!
Comment by Rob (December 25, 2007 @ 4:39 pm )
You poor thing. I hope it gets better soon! My hubby just declared a few minutes ago that he had chills and a fever (Christmas night at 6:00 p.m.). Yuck! I’m hoping it goes away real soon. I’ll be praying for you tonight!
Hugs,
Carmen
Comment by Carmen (December 25, 2007 @ 6:19 pm )
Amy, I totally understand. We have had everything icky for about 3 weeks now. I haven’t been sick, but that’s almost worse because I’m exhausted and nobody feels sorry for me :-(. As for big kids, I think it’s only marginally better when they do you-know-what, especially if they are the whiny type. I have one who wanted me by her side every moment, and I’m afraid I wasn’t too sympathetic!
I’ll be praying for you today. The good thing is this too shall pass and you will celebrate the wonderful joy of good health even more heartily.
Hugs,
Carmon (funny to have two “Carmens” in a row!)
Comment by Carmon (December 25, 2007 @ 6:55 pm )
Yes, yes, yes! You know you’re a big kid when you can make it to the toilet to throw up all by yourself. This is the true measure of development; ask me how I know.
Seriously, as the mom to 9 children with just one bathroom between us all (and it’s upstairs!), I feel your pain. I hope you all heal right quick!
Comment by Alison (in OH) (December 25, 2007 @ 7:18 pm )
My eldest child and I started Friday night and my husband joined in on Sunday night… So far the younger children are good, but I think they’re just waiting until we’re in the car on our road trip to the cousins on Thursday. I totally agree with your big/little distinction! I hope you’re all feeling better very soon if not NOW!
Comment by Marian (December 25, 2007 @ 8:06 pm )
(((HUGS))) Amy and Family…that was us last year
This year it is sinus infections and hacky coughs…we had a quiet day together (ok not that quiet..but you get what I mean)
Comment by Christy (December 25, 2007 @ 8:26 pm )
Ugh. Double ugh. I’m so sorry, Amy.
Comment by Holly (December 25, 2007 @ 9:00 pm )
Merry Christmas! We will pray that things get better soon. I am with you on the whole throwing up in the potty thing… that is a HUGE milestone!
Comment by Shelley (December 25, 2007 @ 9:01 pm )
I’ve heard from many folks who are sick this Christmas. I’m so sorry it hit y’all, too.
Lisa
The Correspondent
Comment by The Correspondent (December 25, 2007 @ 10:05 pm )
Yes, this is when you feel your large family all the more. Hang in there Amy. I will pray for you!
I sincerely hope no one threw up off a top bunk. That really stinks when that happens.
Merry Christmas to the Scotts.
Comment by Janet (December 25, 2007 @ 10:09 pm )
Oh, I’m SO sorry to hear that you are all sick… and the worst kind of sick on Christmas. I’ll be praying heartily for a speedy recovery and for some good rest for Mommy!!
Comment by Lady Why (December 25, 2007 @ 10:29 pm )
You know in your last post titled “What Makes a Good Christmas”…I think you found the answer…no vomit.
P.S. I have noticed quite a trend in the “blogosphere” of ill families over major holidays. I wonder if there is a real trend or if it just gets written about more over holidays? The world may never know…
P.P.S. Hope everyone feels better soon and Merry Christmas
Comment by Mrs Marcos (December 26, 2007 @ 3:36 am )
May God bless you and give you strength.
peace,
amy
Comment by amy (December 26, 2007 @ 6:37 am )
I am feeling you as I am sick as well as my 5 otheres. Still there is work for mom to do and boy will I need a break after all of this
Comment by angie (December 26, 2007 @ 10:24 am )
“Here’s what it is: when you’re old enough to make it to the bathroom without throwing up on yourself. That’s when you’re a big kid.”
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! Need I say more. LOL. I can totally relate on that one. My oldest two can finally hold their own bucket and most of the time make it in. The toddler can’t but if you ask her what to do with the bucket she’ll fake throw up and make a “aaagh” sound as she dips her head toward the bucket. Oh well, I guess it’s a learning process.
I am so sorry. We just had our sickies a few weeks ago, but our baby is 7 months old and not a newborn anymore, so I got a little more sleep than you are. I’ll pray it will pass quickly.
Well, I guess this is one Christmas you will probably remember in years to come.
~ann
Comment by ann c. (December 26, 2007 @ 11:06 am )
We’ll be praying for you - we’ve got chicken pox at our house, but i think that throwing up with littles is quite a bit more difficult! Hang in there. The best part about the sick times is that superhappy feeling you get when your realize no one is sick anymore. I hope that day comes soon for your household!
Blessings to you.
Comment by Jen (December 26, 2007 @ 11:16 am )
That is the true mark of big kidness for our home, as well. But my ‘old enough’ daughter makes me go to the bathroom with her, so that doesn’t really help
Feel better soon!
Comment by Valerie@Consider It Done (December 26, 2007 @ 12:00 pm )
My 6yob can’t even use a bucket next to his head. So how old IS old enough? My 14yo can make it but still insists on keeping a bucket. I dunno. My nearly 9yo has been sick 2 days but, thankfully, has not needed either the bucket or bathroom. Still doesn’t make a great holiday.
I’m really glad we planned to do gifts New Year’s Eve..now if everyone could be healthy then…
Merry Christmas, Scotts! Feel better and God bless!
Comment by Lyn (December 26, 2007 @ 12:34 pm )
I pay my kids. $1 for getting it in the bucket, $2 for getting it in the toilet. Once my younger daughter made $40 on the flu. It is a very worthy investment.
Comment by ruth (December 26, 2007 @ 1:09 pm )
Oh, Amy, wow. Wah, indeed.
The day before we brought the twins home, my eldest got the tummy flu. I prayed hard that it wouldn’t spread. It didn’t. Instead one son got a contagious ear infection and a sinus infection.
Ain’t that the way it goes?
Sending a good night’s sleep your way….
Comment by Elizabeth (December 26, 2007 @ 1:49 pm )
On the good side, you may have a newborn and be sleep deprived, but at least you are no longer pregnant and vomiting yourself, right?!?! Stomach flu and pregnancy do not mix. The worste was when all three bathrooms and the hallway rug were in use at the same time… I was not sick (only pregnant) and had to sympathy vomit in the kitchen sink. That was last pregnancy. This one, thankfully, Eric was using the upstairs bathroom so I was able to run downstairs and use one of those…
Ahhh the joys of motherhood.
Happy birthday to your Christmas girl.
Comment by Petersonclan (December 26, 2007 @ 2:07 pm )
Wow - I guess that bug is really going around!
We had it a few weeks ago up here in NY and it was horrid. Pretty soon you’ll all be through, though, and all will seem oh so much better than right now. You will survive.
Comment by Carole (December 26, 2007 @ 9:12 pm )
ACK! I’m so sorry that y’all are sick! That last of our family members just left… we had almost 20 in this house and everyone stayed for almost a full week. We also had 3 sick, fevery pukers and one all-night trip to the ER. Fortunately, *I* was not one of the sicklies or things really would’ve been terrible! Who else could possibly wash 10 loads of icky towels and rinse out the appropriate trashcans?
I love your big/little kid line. That is so true. Much truer than the whole singe digit/double digit philosophy.
Merry Christmas and I’ll be praying for all of y’all!
Love,
Marsha
Comment by Marsha (December 26, 2007 @ 10:02 pm )
So sad! At least this time it won’t last 9 whole months though? Could you imagine if they were all sick as sick while you were pregnant?! I hope you all are on the mend soon!
Comment by Lisa (December 27, 2007 @ 8:28 am )
My 3 yos took one look at the picture of your daughter and said “She throw up.”
Then he told me about the times he’s thrown up. We don’t have here, yet. Oh, please let this one pass us by! You have all my sympathy. And this too, shall pass. Hang in there.
Comment by Anonymous (December 27, 2007 @ 12:47 pm )
My 3 yos took one look at the picture of your daughter and said,”She throw up.”
You have all of my sympathy. We don’t have it here, yet. Please let this one pass us by! This too shall pass. Hang in there.
Comment by Another Heather (December 27, 2007 @ 12:50 pm )
Oh yuck!
So sorry. We went through this about 10 days before Christmas and it is NOT fun. I recognized the little clear “bucket” on the couch immediately, as it looked exactly like the one that stayed inches from my 4 year old’s face for about 12 hours. Bless your hearts! I hope “merrier” days are ahead.
Comment by Amy (December 27, 2007 @ 1:52 pm )
How horrible! I hope you are all feeling better…there is nothing worse than a stomach bug. Ugh.
Comment by Leigh (December 27, 2007 @ 5:23 pm )
Oh dear… quite an exciting Christmas for you. I hope it’s getting better.
I came by through Laura’s blog at latte-with-love.blogspot.com.
Comment by Anna (December 27, 2007 @ 6:59 pm )
I heard an idea of paying your children each time they reach the toilet.
My kids love it. Even the 3yo does it.
Sorry you have to have this for Christmas!
Comment by brooke (December 27, 2007 @ 9:20 pm )
Ugh…I can so relate. Back in 2000, I had a 6 month old, and 6 other kiddos. My husband was on a business trip and ALL of us were VERY ill~~both ends. It was AWFUL. I BEGGED him to come home. He did, but not until his meeting was over, sigh…
I saw the bowl on the sofa and knew right away what was going on. Hope things are better now.
Comment by Robin in New Jersey (December 28, 2007 @ 7:58 am )
Oh goodness! What a yucky time for you! I hope it passes REALLY QUICK!
Comment by Hyperactive Lu (December 28, 2007 @ 1:58 pm )
All sick here in NJ as well. Four little ones, one the noturious non sleeper. Of course mom has it now. Oh, well this too shall pass!
Maryanne
Comment by Maryanne (December 28, 2007 @ 4:01 pm )
Trust you will all be on the mend soon. Oh for the days of little ones . . . sick or not. What wonderful memories. Mine are now 26, 24, and 20. While they all make it to the bathroom by themselves, they still need Mom when they’re sick. Now it’s long distance . . . somehow just the voice over the phone is necessary. Bless you and happy new year!
Comment by Phoebe (December 29, 2007 @ 10:46 pm )
Wow! I hope all is better for you. As a mother of 10 (I’m not the one who lived behind you
)I know that if we can get through Christmas with no one sick that is gift enough for me. A 24 hr bug will last for a month! I have spent plenty holidays cleaning up after little ones and serving the big ones in bed because of a virus. And you are definitley right in that when they can hit the toliet & clean up after themselves they have arrived as big kids!
Comment by Dana B (December 30, 2007 @ 9:55 pm )
I think your “bug” has made its way to Texas! Happy New Year. Hope everyone is on the mend!
Comment by Shelley (December 30, 2007 @ 10:11 pm )
Hope you are all doing well now, Amy. We had that nasty stomach virus going around, too.
Comment by Kelly (December 31, 2007 @ 11:39 am )
Life is so much sweeter when they are able to make it to the bathroom before vomitting on the carpet. There is nothing like cleaning vomit off of a carpet. YUCK!
I hope you all feel better.
Comment by Hadias (December 31, 2007 @ 2:12 pm )
In reference to your sidebar links- The Andrew Peterson song is also on his website, and when you call it up the words come up right next to it. Makes it much easier to memorize I think if you have a songs lyrics in front of you a time or two. He actually has the whole Behold theLamb album online. We got to see him in concert a few weeks ago and it was really fantastic. If anyone out there is looking for an amazing Christmas album that also has incredible depth I highly recommend that one.
Comment by tiffany (January 1, 2008 @ 3:33 am )
We’ve had a bug also. Though we only have 3 kids. Of course they feel better now and I feel terrible and my hubby had oral surgery yesterday. All that to say, I’ve been whining and complaining just like you. = ) I don’t have an infant but I have a 16 month old with 4 teeth coming in! Anyways… Hope sleep finds you soon.
Comment by Stephanie (January 1, 2008 @ 11:48 am )
Since you haven’t posted in awhile I am hoping this didn’t run through the entire family! I know you are busy with new baby and such. Happy New Year to you, Amy!
Comment by Nancy P. (January 1, 2008 @ 4:20 pm )
The flu has run through the entire family. We’ve been down and I’ve been offline. Thanks so much for asking about us. We’re on the mend, though, just struggling with coughing now. Will be back to blogging when I’m able. I’ll post links in the sidebar as they’re sent in though.
Comment by Amy Scott (January 1, 2008 @ 10:01 pm )
I’m so with you on what makes a big kid!! I love that commercial that has several kids speaking their mind. One kid says, “I’m big enough now that I will no longer randomly throw up.” Love it. Don’t know what the commercial is for, but I can’t wait to get totally beyond the random vomiting!!
Comment by Katy (January 5, 2008 @ 1:20 pm )
First time I laughed out loud on a pretty hard day.
Husband just walked in the door. NOW I get to go take a shower. (7:15 pm)
BTW, my daughter did not make it to the bathroom today either.
Comment by lindsaythemom (January 5, 2008 @ 8:15 pm )