Paybacks

Other friends who's husbands travel (even infrequently) for work and I have joked about how the kids never seem to get sick when the dad is in town. Geoff has changed jobs this past year, but for the seven years prior, he traveled, almost constantly, during the week. And truly, it did seem like the kids never got sick while he was home.

My favorite of all was the time when (there were only three kids at the time), one of the boys had thrown up at the side of his bed, then again outside my bedroom door where he came to tell me that he had thrown up beside his bed. I took care of the boy and cleaned up the bedroom floor. Then the baby woke up, so I took care of the baby and got her back to sleep. Then I tackled the floor outside my bedroom. This is all happened right around midnight. I had just gotten everyone settled, put the last towel in and started the washing machine, and climbed back in bed. Right at that moment (literally, perfect timing!), Geoff walks in the door home from his trip. No one was sick again that night or the next day. For all he knew, it could have been all a bad dream I had. It kind of was.

So, this past week I have been laid up with strep throat. (I've never had that before. It kicks butt!) At 11 0'clock last night, Logan knocks on our door to tell us that Eric was throwing up. Geoff didn't hear, so I nudged him and relayed the message. He sprang up and went into action! He ran up to Eric's room while I was downstairs getting cleaning supplies and such together. I kept hearing this loud gagging sound. Geoff came down and I asked if Eric was still at it or if it was him making all the noise. It was Geoff. I asked if he wanted me to go clean it (I am better with stuff coming out the top, he's better at taking care of what comes out of the bottom!), and he said no because I'm sick, so he'd do it. (What a pal!) So, he got a towel, folded it twice and sprayed it with cologne, and still had to keep running downstairs for fresh air. It must have been bad - I never ventured up - but my big, strong husband has a pretty weak constitution when it comes to that.

So around midnight, Eric was on a couch, asleep and well, and the washer was going. Geoff and I lay in bed for about a half hour giggling about his cologne towel and weak stomach and reminiscing about our childhood sicknesses, like the time I'm pretty sure I was shaking my head violently while throwing up. Sorry mom. Now I know. Now I know...

And now Geoff knows what it's like to do middle of the night vomit duty all by one's self. (although I did help quite a bit even being sick myself - I just can't stay in bed at a time like that!) Now my question is: Are you still glad you changed jobs so as to be home with the family every night, Geoff? (Although he did miss out on the 2:30 - 3 am date with Christian that I had!)

We're thinking that Eric having to clean his "mess" up himself will help him to get to the toilet better -- or even to the big giant throw up bowl that was sitting next to his bed...