Those Fateful Words

"He's been so good today." I'm not even kidding when I tell you that every single time these words are uttered about my son, he turns up sick the next day. When he starts feeling bad it just dials his strong will down a few notches and makes him a bit more compliant.

Last night when Curt got home from Wednesday night church, he said those fateful words to me. I thought it was strange because Jackson had really been a handful all day. I'd told Curtis that morning that he'd probably need to have me committed by the day's end. So I was quite surprised and, honestly, a little dismayed that he'd been so good for his dad. Why, WHY, does he have to be so ornery with his loving mother who birthed him from her very own body three short years ago?

So this morning after I fed Annabeth, I went into Jackson's room because I could hear him talking. When I walked in I saw him covered in something gross. It took me a minute to figure out whether I was looking at poop all over his legs and sheets or puke. When I saw his face, crusted over with vomit, my heart sank. He had gotten sick in the night and somehow it did not wake him up. I have no idea how that happened.

Thankfully, that one episode was all it was. In the morning he had plenty of energy and wouldn't stop asking me for food and juice. I felt so bad, but all I gave him was crackers and a little water. By nap time he really did seem sick, but there was no more throwing up. Then he slept three hours. Bless his heart.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't spend a good part of the day obsessing about how much I hope this doesn't spread to Curtis, Annabeth and me. But I realized that the last time the stomach virus visited our family was exactly one year ago, right before Melissa's wedding. That is something to be thankful for. Granted, I did pay some major dues with all my morning sickness last summer.

Annabeth is having her first fussy evening, right as we sit down to watch The Office. So I must go. But before I do, I have to acknowledge that today is/was my due date. I'm so thankful not to still be pregnant on this day. And I'm so, so, so thankful to have that little sprite already here in her swing in my living room, even if she does fuss all through our favorite show.