Sickness, Potty Time & Bathing

Ben started it! Yes, he brought home some germs that have spread to my entire family but me. So I've been the nurse and I'm exhausted. But so far I've avoided this nasty cold. Ben had it for over a week, then Jill had it for two days, then Miranda got it, then Natalie, and now Miranda and Natalie are both pretty much over it and I am SO GLAD! I worry so much when my kiddos are sick and the more kids I have, the more worried I get! I woke up at 5 a.m. hearing Natalie coughing pretty hard and then making this gagging sound. I freaked out, jumped out of bed, and ran to her room only to hear her doing her really cute growl sound that she just started doing. She was totally happy, kicking around in her crib, and growling up at her mobile. I had to smile even though it was 5 a.m.

My life seems to revolve around the bathroom lately. I'm either emptying out cloth diapers for Natalie or Miranda, or helping Miranda get on the potty (yes, she is potty training herself and she's not even 2!), or keeping Jill company (don't ask me why she needs that in there!). I feel like I'm in there a lot, yet I don't get to actually "rest" in the restroom at all by myself. The other day I finally had the baby down for a nap and the older girls were playing nicely and I ran to the master bathroom to have my own turn! Not one minute later, my dear Jillian comes in to the bathroom and says, "Mom! Why are you always on the potty?" I didn't take kindly to that. I said, "YES, I'm always in the bathroom with YOU guys but NEVER for myself and when I finally get a chance to come in here, you FOLLOW ME!" She just shrugged her shoulders and went back to playing. Pretty sad when you have to get your kid's permission to go to the bathroom.

Baths are another thing that keep me in that wonderful room for extended periods of time. I actually enjoy bathtime because the girls love it and get all excited like we have our own swimming pool! But the best part of bathtime last night was getting the older two to bed and then giving Natalie my full attention. The poor thing has been very subdued and sad-looking while she's been sick. Not at all like my normally smiley and cooing baby. But last night she had a blast in the tub! She was smiling and kicking like crazy! I got some pics but you can't really capture the funny kicking in a picture and her smile would disappear the minute the camera came into view but the pics still came out great.

The last two weeks have been pretty hard getting rid of all the germs but now that everyone is almost back to normal, I appreciate their good health so much more!!! It reminds me of one of my favorite kids songs from my past.

"You can never know the good, if you've never known the bad.
You can never be happy, if you've never been sad.
If you've been out playing all morning in the snow,
a jump into a nice warm tub's the nicest thing you know.
You have to be sick to appreciate your health,
you have to need money to appreciate wealth,
you have to have some problems to rise above,
you have to be lonely so that you can know love.
It's called opposition my friend, opposition, a necessary condition in this world of ours."

I may have jumbled the lyrics a bit but you get the point. :) Have a great day!!!