B is for…

Update 1/29: once again, I anticipate the buzz.

Barf. No pictures, though.

I had the strangest fantasy last night about getting the boys to bed early so I could spend some quality time with Mt. Washmore and, eventually, my knitting. I was able to get some knitting done, but not under any circumstances I would have chosen.

By some miracle, I had gotten the boys settled down and into bed by a quarter of eight (a whole hour earlier than normal) and, as I lay nursing EZ-E to sleep I entertained myself by making a mental list of all the things I hoped to accomplish once they were both asleep. E2 was just about to drift off to sleep when I heard that sound–mothers of small children know that sound well–from Isaac up in the top bunk. Before I could react, Isaac leaned over the side of the top bunk and vomited over the edge– like a cabin boy without his sea legs. I was able to duck under the far side of the bed with E2 while Isaac vomited again. And again. And… Well, you get the idea.

We were finally able to get him out of bed and into the bathroom where he stayed for the next two hours, vomiting endlessly while I stripped the beds and Mr. Interrupted got them into the washer. By 11:30, Isaac had started vomiting blood, so I bundled him up and handed him the plastic wastebasket from the bathroom, and we headed out the door to the ER where he was poked and prodded and pumped full of fluids and anti-nausea meds. The poor little guy was so dehydrated and exhausted that he fell asleep as soon as the meds took effect. I was able to knit while he slept. At 1:30-ish, he was deemed suitably hydrated and had stopped puking his guts out, so we were discharged.

When we got home, I was rather tired myself and snuggled down with EZ-E in the only clean bed to sleep, while Mr. Interrupted and Isaac slept in the living room. It was just about 2 am when I drifted off to sleep.

Then, I heard that sound again. Only this time it was E2. According to the clock, it was 2:30 am. E2 threw up every ten minutes for the next two and a half hours. By that time I was so delirious with exhaustion that I decided to take E2 to the ER just in case. It was 4:30 am. Luckily, E2 was not as sick as Isaac and was still hydrated enough that the PA recommended we just go home and try to get some sleep. Great idea, only while she was explaining this to me, I started throwing up, too.

*sigh*

I got some rest and am feeling much better now. I guess there is a severe norovirus going around–the worst since 2002–which has actually closed hospitals in the UK. I hope you don’t get this bug. It’s a meanie.

B also happens to be for Boys, of which I have two. E2 is feeling lots better today, but I-6 is still sick. Here’s a photo of them from happier times. :-)