First Dates and Throw-up

(And no, I’m not talking about an ill-timed onset of the stomach bug, the response to which made me know my hubby was The One…)

We were bee-bopping along this week during Hubby’s Spring Break. The week was flying as we were jamming as many appointments and errands and as much family time into it as we could.

Thursday morning, things changed abruptly, though, as Baby B had the monster of all throw-ups. She seemed to feel fine, and at first I dismissed it as her having eaten too many strawberries that morning.

By lunch, though, she had a fever, followed by more vomiting. I called the pediatrician’s office (as I thankfully have little experience in this department), and the nurse told me they’ve seen a lot of kiddos with a stomach virus in the past couple of weeks. Baby B fit the description.

Baby B definitely wasn’t feeling well. She was crumply and pitiful and just wanted to snuggle.

On Thursday, Baby A was very understanding. I was so proud of her for playing more independently, content to chill out on the couch with a book, or play with her blocks, while I tended to her sister.

By Friday, though, I think Baby A had had enough of the Second Fiddle routine. The scene escalated mid-morning, as Baby B was SCREAMING, “I don’t feel well!” (over and over and over). I was holding her in my lap, and Baby A started SCREAMING (no words) and trying to climb between her sister and me.

When Baby A wasn’t SCREAMING, she was pulling her diaper off and telling me she had to go potty. Once, while I was in the bathroom with A, Baby B threw up. Baby B was asking to go upstairs and nap with Mommy, but of course I couldn’t leave Baby A downstairs by herself.

I called Hubby, who was carrying on the errand list, and told him I needed him to come home. No matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to get the girls settled down again. What they needed was some time apart from each other.

I suggested to Hubby that he take Baby A somewhere so that she could exercise some energy, and so that I could concentrate on Baby B. To my great surprise (and perhaps encouraged by the great deal of SCREAMING and his probably-wild-eyed wife), Hubby agreed.

Hubby has never taken one of the girls somewhere by himself before. As much as I’ve wanted to encourage some one-on-one time with the girls, it’s never happened…outside of one going on a rare doctor appointment with me…which isn’t exactly date-night material.

I was so proud of Hubby for taking Baby A to the park!!! That gave Baby B some time to relax, and when Baby A got home an hour later, all was well with the world (excepting the stomach virus thing).

Later that afternoon, Baby B was feeling better, and Hubby suggested I take her with me for a quick run to the grocery store. Wow!!!

It may have only taken us 27 months and the contraction of a stomach bug, but we finally had our first “dates” with the girls. Even if it is just a quick trip to the grocery, I hope this is something we can begin to do more often, minus the throw-up and SCREAMING, of course.