While we were expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny last weekend, we were also host to a very unwelcome guest: the stomach bug. It hit Sam first — fast and hard. And three days later it got to me — just hours after Nick left for Chicago, of course.
How does a momma, who lives hundreds of miles away from family, cope with the stomach bug while simultaneously caring for an active toddler and a wild puppy? With Goldfish crackers and rawhide bones and far too much TV. That’s how. Also, neighbors who graciously take the toddler for two hours so momma can sleep and then send him home with slices of homemade pizza. TGFGN. (Thank goodness for good neighbors.)
By the time Nick returned from his trip, our laundry hampers were overflowing, stacks of dirty dishes still sat in the sink, and at least ten different varieties of crumbs could be found scattered across the living room floor and in the creases of the couch. But we survived. Whew.
I spent the next two days in bed or in the bathroom, very very sad to miss time with my sister and her boyfriend, but also grateful they were here to bring Easter cheer.
Fortunately, I had the foresight to purchase a few plastic eggs at Target the week before, so we filled them with M&Ms and hid them in the backyard. It wasn’t the big egg hunt we had planned to do at our local farm on Saturday morning. And Sam wasn’t carrying a basket or wearing his cute checkered button-up shirt. But he still had a big smile on his face.
I’m also glad we had the opportunity to dye eggs with friends at a playdate earlier in the week because we didn’t have a chance to do any of our own.
And on Easter eve, still laying on the couch, I realized I didn’t have an Easter basket for Sam. Thanks to Amazon Prime, I had a few gifts to give him, but there was no festive basket to fill with fake grass and colorful eggs. And so I chose the next best thing: a toolbox. Which, really, for our boy, was far better than a frilly basket anyway.
And so ends the story of our Easter 2013. Typically, details and sentiments are so very important to me. But in this case, they were not. I had my boy back in my lap, and that is what mattered most.
Hi Emily! I’ve followed your blog for quite some time now and tried some of your tasty recipes too! A sidenote, I graduated from JMU in 2003. I didn’t personally know Nick, but I definitely recognize him. I’m so sorry to hear about your Easter stomach bug! I have a 16-month old daughter and our Easter was very much like yours. She is in daycare and they had a Roseola outbreak. She was sick with it all week last week. And my husband and I both got a nasty cold. Out the window went our Easter egg hunt and egg dyeing plans. And I also barely got her Easter basket together. I just wanted my girl back. Easter Sunday was the first day that we were all feeling like ourselves. Like you, I’m bummed we missed the details but so very thankful we are all healthy again. I know this is a long comment, but I’ve found that sometimes it’s nice to know that there are other moms out there that are going through similar things. I’m hopeful that the Spring weather means no more bugs and sickness in our house and in yours! Come on Spring!
ugh seriously i think as soon as you become a parent you should be exempt from getting sick. ever.
Ugh, so sorry to hear you were so sick. Hope things have returned to normal in the Wiley house!
I hope you’re feeling better at this point. I love the idea of a tool box for his Easter basket. That will be hard to top next year 🙂