Since November, we have had about 2 (non-consecutive) weeks when there was not some cold, flu or other virus ravaging our house. Just as I was hoping Clara’s “smoker’s hack” was going to be the last of the sickness around here due to an early rise in temperatures outside, Eva got sick. She woke up with a fever yesterday, and had it all day long. At bedtime, she was sitting on our bed with her Daddy and started coughing. That coughing led to puking.

Now this is where my laundry comes in. We have sooo much laundry in this household! I have a sign in the laundry room that I often read and just sigh. It says: This Home is Full of Endless Love & Laundry. I have to make a planned effort to get extra loads done. Like my bedding for example. Just this Thursday, I was able to get my comforter washed. And yesterday, I got my sheets and all the rest of the laundry done, too. Although, “all the rest” lasted about 15 minutes, because four kids went in the hot tub and threw their wet towels on their clothes that had only been worn for 3 hours. Yes, those are the same clothes they should have put back on instead of getting new outfits out. Then they played with sidewalk chalk, and J’onn had to change again since it looked like he rolled around in it. So between 12 and 3, a whole load of dirty laundry was made by 4 kids. That is why when Eva started puking on my bed last night, I was panicking inside.

I suppose a truly selfless, loving mother would instantly think “Oh baby, I’m so sorry you are sick! Here, let me catch it in my hands.” But that was definitely not my reaction. I grabbed a baby blanket and threw it at Adrian (obviously to protect my fresh, clean linens), and ran for a wet towel. The thoughts tumbling in my mind mainly had to do with laundry- sheets, blankets, comforters, towels, and pukey pajamas. It is true, other thoughts popped in, like, “Oh, this might be a long night” (it was), and please don’t let anyone else catch this. And there was a “poor baby” thought or two that tumbled around as well, but in all honesty, my bedding worries were louder than the rest.

As I ran back into my bedroom, I saw Adrian with puke all over him. It was spewed across his shirt and dripping down his arm, but thankfully he was protecting my bed with the baby blanket. I expected a reaction of exasperation from him, but what I heard was, “Baby, you’ve got to start chewing your food. These noodles are too long!”

Eva finished getting rid of her spaghetti dinner, and I took the blanket from Adrian’s hand. When I did, my eyes took in the true horror of the situation: there was puke everywhere. It was on the sheets, on the down comforter’s duvet, on the top comforter- it was on every layer of bedding. In fact, about 90% of the puke was on my bedding! I don’t even know how that happened! When I threw the baby blanket to Adrian, it was like making a three-pointer! Right on target!

I just don’t get how this happened. My only guess is that because his thoughts were “selfless,” and his focus on Eva alone, he let the bedding slide. This was even more surprising to me because it was his side of the bed that got hit! On top of that, he probably has no idea about the laundry or bedding situation in our home. What a good daddy. (Notice I didn’t say husband- a good husband would’ve been concerned with his wife’s laundry!) Priorities, I guess. In the end, he had them in order.

I could write for a while about laundry, pukey kids and being up all night, but unfortunately, I have a lot of dirty laundry to wash today so I need to get started.

P.S. Eva is doing much better this morning, but I need a nap.