Lessons from a stomach bug
Just when we thought we'd turned the corner with Kaitlynn's teething and life might be getting back to normal again, Kathrynne came down with the stomach flu. And this wasn't just some simple stomach bug.
It started with her mentioning her stomach hurt yesterday afternoon and saying she needed ice cream. I thought nothing of it since she'll often come up with bizarre reasons why she "needs" chocolate or ice cream. But this time she was rather persistent about how much her stomach hurt.
Wondering whether it was something more than just an appeal for ice cream, I tried the distraction technique. I held her on my lap, talked to her about things very unrelated to ice cream and stomachs hurting and tried to get her involved in a conversation - something she usually loves. This time, though, she kept going back to how much her stomach hurt.
Her pain seemed to progress and within a short while, she was on the floor moaning and crying about her stomach pains. I began to realize this was about much more than ice cream. I called Jesse into the room and we tried coming up with more things to distract her. Kathrynne has a very high pain tolerance normally so when she refused food and drink - including some of her favorite juice - we knew something must be really wrong.
It was only moments later that we discovered why as she emptied the contents of her stomach all over the carpet. Having only thrown up a few times in her life, she was terrified.
Jesse pulled out the carpet cleaner, I whisked her into the bathtub, and we were both were hoping it was a one-time job.
Not so.
Just as Jesse got the soiled carpet area all cleaned up and I had gotten her into clean clothes, the next eruption hit - this time all over the kitchen floor, our living room sofa, and me. We had gotten prepared for this ahead of time so just-in-case we had a bowl handy and were keeping her off the carpet to ease the clean up. However, as soon as she started throwing up, she began shrieking and running around managing to create quite a wide perimeter of damage.
Poor little thing, not only was she now moaning over her stomach pain, she was petrified and completely shaken up. And besides comforting her, cleaning her up, praying for the Lord's healing, and trying to cheer her up, we were completely powerless to help her.
Half of the night was just repetition of the above. Every time Kathrynne would finally calm down and collapse into exhausted sleep, she'd wake up throwing up and screaming. And we'd begin the drill all over again.
I have to admit something: I've always been repulsed by throw up. It's one of my awful, avoid-at-all-costs things. You know, right up there with public speaking and the like. I've always wondered how I'd cope when it came down to my child having the stomach flu and I had to repeatedly clean up vomit.
Well, last night I learned that when it's my child, I forget the fact that it's throw up we're dealing with. All I cared about was making sure Kathrynne was okay. Making sure she was as comforted and comfortable as I could possibly make her. Loving her, holding her, trying to quiet her. I completely overlooked what once would have repulsed me, because I love this little girl so much. She's my child.
What a picture this was of God's love for me! When I was covered in filth and sin, He still loved me. When I fall down and make mistakes, He still loves me. His love is a much more perfect and complete than the deep love I have for my little daughter.
And even though I hope Kathrynne doesn't have to go through an ordeal like last night again, I'm thankful for things like stomach bugs to remind me just how much my Heavenly Father loves me.
It started with her mentioning her stomach hurt yesterday afternoon and saying she needed ice cream. I thought nothing of it since she'll often come up with bizarre reasons why she "needs" chocolate or ice cream. But this time she was rather persistent about how much her stomach hurt.
Wondering whether it was something more than just an appeal for ice cream, I tried the distraction technique. I held her on my lap, talked to her about things very unrelated to ice cream and stomachs hurting and tried to get her involved in a conversation - something she usually loves. This time, though, she kept going back to how much her stomach hurt.
Her pain seemed to progress and within a short while, she was on the floor moaning and crying about her stomach pains. I began to realize this was about much more than ice cream. I called Jesse into the room and we tried coming up with more things to distract her. Kathrynne has a very high pain tolerance normally so when she refused food and drink - including some of her favorite juice - we knew something must be really wrong.
It was only moments later that we discovered why as she emptied the contents of her stomach all over the carpet. Having only thrown up a few times in her life, she was terrified.
Jesse pulled out the carpet cleaner, I whisked her into the bathtub, and we were both were hoping it was a one-time job.
Not so.
Just as Jesse got the soiled carpet area all cleaned up and I had gotten her into clean clothes, the next eruption hit - this time all over the kitchen floor, our living room sofa, and me. We had gotten prepared for this ahead of time so just-in-case we had a bowl handy and were keeping her off the carpet to ease the clean up. However, as soon as she started throwing up, she began shrieking and running around managing to create quite a wide perimeter of damage.
Poor little thing, not only was she now moaning over her stomach pain, she was petrified and completely shaken up. And besides comforting her, cleaning her up, praying for the Lord's healing, and trying to cheer her up, we were completely powerless to help her.
Half of the night was just repetition of the above. Every time Kathrynne would finally calm down and collapse into exhausted sleep, she'd wake up throwing up and screaming. And we'd begin the drill all over again.
I have to admit something: I've always been repulsed by throw up. It's one of my awful, avoid-at-all-costs things. You know, right up there with public speaking and the like. I've always wondered how I'd cope when it came down to my child having the stomach flu and I had to repeatedly clean up vomit.
Well, last night I learned that when it's my child, I forget the fact that it's throw up we're dealing with. All I cared about was making sure Kathrynne was okay. Making sure she was as comforted and comfortable as I could possibly make her. Loving her, holding her, trying to quiet her. I completely overlooked what once would have repulsed me, because I love this little girl so much. She's my child.
What a picture this was of God's love for me! When I was covered in filth and sin, He still loved me. When I fall down and make mistakes, He still loves me. His love is a much more perfect and complete than the deep love I have for my little daughter.
And even though I hope Kathrynne doesn't have to go through an ordeal like last night again, I'm thankful for things like stomach bugs to remind me just how much my Heavenly Father loves me.
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Psalm 103:13-14
posted by Crystal Paine at 8:57 AM
39 Comments:
Oh Crystal, I will be praying for sweet little Kathrynne and look forward to hearing she is totally healed... we had a similar stomach flu happen with our 20 month old, Alisa, on the way to Texas, for Thanksgiving. I felt so terrible for her that I never noticed that I myself was covered in the throw-up too. We changed her little clothes 3 times on the way to my in-laws home and were incredibly relieved (that's an understatement!)when we could all get out of our mini-van.
And, yes, what a reminder of how our Heavenly Father loves us. What an honor to be his children and what priceless gifts he has entrusted to us in our little ones.
Oh, ugh! This is going around Wisconsin like a vengence. Liam caught a bit of it, somehow, and spent a day last week projectile vomiting as well - at least it was just breastmilk in our case. I can't imagine cleaning up 'chunky' puke....ick.
But you are right...it doesn't matter if it is puke; we want to make sure our precious baby is okay! Many prayers that no one else gets the bug - its bad this year!
Oh the poor darling. I hope she is feeling much, much better and that the rest of you stay healthy. I really thought you made a beautiful comparison lesson with it too!
I love how you've turned a hard thing into a truth thing....
It is the toughest to watch your children or your grandchildren have pain - whether physical or emotional and yet, for me, it fortifies my dependency on Him.
blessings on the rest of your day.
Crystal, I'm so sorry for poor darling Kathrynne, and hope she gets better soon. But what a great lesson you point out here!
So sorry that you all are going through that! Stomach viruses are never fun. Will be praying for you guys....
Poor girl! That's no fun for the whole household! Is she doing better now?
Thanks for sharing this! I, too, have always been EXTREMELY squeamish about vomit and have also wondered how I will handle it with my kids someday. It's encouraging to know that a mother's love can conquer even that!
--SarahMay
Crystal-
What a perfect and wonderful example of our Father's love!! Something we just can't comprehend. I'm sorry that Kathrynne isn't well but God has a way of putting things in our lives as a gentle reminder. Thanks for the encouragement!! (Even though it's not so encouraging to you!) Hang in there!
Kelli
Sorry to hear that Kathrynne's illness.
Long before I had children I about threw up the first time a child from the daycare got sick near me,when it became my own child I could clean it up no matter what!!
As an E.R. doctor, I see LOTS of kids with the stomach virus. Parents always seem to bring them in around 2:00 a.m., and want me to give the child something to "knock them out" (the child, not the parents!). I try to explain to them that in a baby or toddler, there is no completely safe medication to give. The parents usually become very angry and say, "So what do we do? We can't get any sleep!" To which I reply, "You do what my husband and I do - you stay up all night and try to catch the throw-up in a towel or bowl. You rock and cuddle your child all night long if you have to." No one likes to hear that. But no one ever said parenting was easy, did they? My prayers are with little Kathrynne (and her mama too!).
Valerie
Praise the Lord it was only one! Last year I had three doing the same thing--and my husband wasn't home! Vomit in the bedroom, vomit down the hall, I went from one room to another cleaning up! But at least they all got it over with at once. My stomach flu with little ones tip--take refuge in the tub. I finally just sat in the tub in my nightgown cradling the littlest one. Made it easy to clean up each time he overflowed!
Hope your little one's feeling better and the rest of you don't catch it!
Oh poor Kathrynne!! :( And poor Mommy and Daddy! The stomach flu is no fun! I sure hope she starts feeling better soon!
Thank you so much, Mrs. Paine, for that reminder of God's amazing love for us-the vile, wicked, wretched sinners that we are. You always take an occurance from day to day life and turn it into a really wonderful lesson from God's Word. Thank you so much for that!
Praying that you have a peaceful weekend.
In Him,
Rebekah
Sorry to hear about Kathrynne. I hope the rest of you don't get it. In our family if one person is sick the rest of seem to fall shortly after.
These past two weeks we have all been fighting the worlds worst cold/virus. I'm praying that the end is just around the corner. I think it is worse watching my babies be sick and not being able to really help them than actually having it myself but all of us at once has just about overwhelmed me.
Oh my, memories....of this past week for me! My 2 year old Lulu had it, then passed it on to my 6 year old Charlie. He cries while vomiting, "I don't LIKE this!" Blessings to your family, and thanks for the reminder of God's blessings upon us!
AmyR.
Crystal, so sorry for little kathrynne! One night around 10:00pm when I was away, my oldest son, then 3 years of age, started screaming over the monitor. My husband ran up two flights of stairs to find my son jumping in circles on his bed, vomit spraying out everywhere! My husband cannot stand throw up! After cleaning up Joshua, he cleaned up with two buckets, one for Joshua's throw up and one for his own!
I felt so guilty not being there, but we look back and laugh about it now (Joshua is 9 years old). So hopefully someday this experience may even bring a smile to your face!
I have enjoyed your blog many months. When my children were littles, it was often the ability to 'see' God in the midst that got me through in joy. I have just begun blogging, and put up a Frugal post a day late!! Have a blessed weekend.
I will be praying for her! I always fear dehydration for all children who cannot hold down food or liquids. If she acts listless or she cannot keep things down tomorrow either she should probably see a doctor. My daughter has had to get IVs for dehydration twice in her short life and it was just awful but necessary.
Last night my 20 month old spent his night the same way. We are very grateful that he is better tonight. God uses these times to remind me to be thankful for the little ones he has entrusted to our care. My little man has not yet learned the art of using a bucket, so I spent much of the night cleaning up both of us - and he wins the record of covering Mom with more throw up than all of his 5 older brothers and sisters. - Vt
I agree with you, vomit, is one thing I can't tolerate. I remember when the girls were little I would get them cleaned up and have to vomit as well. Blood, guts, open sores do problem. Vomit can't stand it.
I'm just like you when it comes to throw-up: it's my LEAST favorite part of being a mommy! Unfortunately when my son was born we were only home from the hospital two days when my husband and little girl caught the stomach bug (the worst my husband has ever had in his life) and instead of him being able to help me, who was supposed to be on bed rest from hemoragging, I was cleaning up throw-up and nursing them back to health! Somehow God got us through that dark and terrible week. Just recently my kids had the 24 hour stomach bug and the hardest thing for me was my son's constant fussing and wanting to be held all day and all night. My daughter is nearly 3 and was old enough to throw up in a bucket most of the time. She also enjoyed watching some children's movies on the couch. It's hard to see little tykes suffer so much!
The grossest thing I ever seen (don't read if you have a weak stomach....) my daughter had an unexpected eruption of vomit all over our freshly shampooed, cream-colored living room carpet and my son, quick as lightning, crawled across the floor into the throw-up, grabbed some chunks and headed for his mouth. I screamed at the top of my lungs and grabbed him about a 1/4 inch away from eating it! We had to bathe both kids and SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB our floor!
I pray she is soon feeling better and that you are protected from it too! Nothing like a stomach bug to remind one of being pregnant!
Thanks for the reminder on how God parents us with love even when we are covered in filth.
So, sorry.
My sister had this with her kdis a few years ago. They just spent the night in the bath tub with the child because he wouldn't stop throwing up.
Thankfully, none of my kids have ever had a stomach bug. I don't mind vomit, but it's not my favorite thing.
God bless.
-Zan
I'll be praying the bug leaves your house asap! When one of my two children get it, we usually all get it. If you've not had much experience with it before, one hopefully helpful piece of advice is not to give her too much liquid (and no food) at any time until at least 12 hours or so after her last vomiting, or it will make her keep vomiting again. A great thing a couple of different nurses told me is that the juice from canned fruit (halved peaches is easiest to drain the juice from) in HEAVY syrup will stay down better than anything else. Something about gravity, I guess. Hopefully you won't be needing this advice again anytime soon! Christina
We dealt with that at our house this week as well. Though I was blessed in that the kids did it mostly during the day so I only had to get up twice during the night.
I liked your comparing a mother's love to God's love for us (except His is far more than a mother's ). My husband questioned how I was able to deal with all the vomiting and though I also find it quite repulsive, when it is your child you just want them to be all right and to help them in every way possible.
Aw, I've got a sickie cuddled up against my chest right now. He's not puking, thank the Lord, but I've dealt with the vomit a lot since we moved to Mexico. (The worst was when my husband was gone for a week, and they all three started puking a half hour after he left. Hard.) It's so sad with the little little ones when they think the bucket is the enemy...However, I'll never get over how funny it was when I was pregnant, and would rush to the bathroom to relieve the morning sickness, and they would all come in and pat me on the back, and say, "It's OK mommy! You'll feel better when you're done!"
Yes it is amazing how much better we understand God's love for us with our children.
Crystal, I pray your little one is better now! And that no one else gets it!
Amy Jo
I totally understand! I am the same way with my little man when he gets sick. Hope she's feeling better!
Aww ... I'm SO sorry Kathrynne was so sick. Poor baby! I hope she's feeling MUCH better now. I hope the rest of you stay healthy too! And thanks for sharing what you learned.
I think that the most heart wrenching thing about my two year old being sick a few months back was when he'd be throwing up and tell me, "My tummy's not yucky, Momma!" Poor baby just didn't want to be sick.
My twins were 2 years old when they got the flu for the first time. One of them woke up screaming, "I spilled all over my bed!" They'd never thrown up and didn't know what it was or what was happening. We've stuck with the word "spill" as it sounds much more pleasant than puke or throw up! I too am squeamish, but with my precious children, it didn't bother me.
Here's a trick we learned and I try to pass it along to other mothers of young children. Purchase tshirts that are a few sizes too big and keep them handy for times when children are sick. Let them wear a big shirt - it's all they need - it's comfy and easy for parents to change. Also, make or buy bibs that are long - ones that go past their belly. Put this on them when they are sick. You can usually catch the 'spill' in the long bib making clean up even easier.
Praying for Kathrynne to get better and for the rest of you not to get it.
Barbara
Hi Crystal,
This is the first time I have posted, but been reading for quite some time.
My then 13 yo son didn't make it all the way in the bathroom door one night when sick. He came and got me and told me.
I walked in there, then walked back in the kitchen and stood against the counter for a while. Then I walked back in the bathroom.
Then I went BACK in the kitchen, stood against the counter and cried. I did this 3 or 4 times, praying that God would give me the strength to do what I had to do.
I finally went and woke my husband up, cause I just couldn't do it. I have done it a thousand times, but not that night. I really owed my husband BIG for that!!
Dawn
Mother to 10
Oh poor dear. She is in my prayers.
Ashley
I was in your same shoes last week. My son was terribly ill with a tummy virus and couldn't keep anything down. It was horrible watching him go through it and I felt so helpless. He's Kathrynne's age and also gets scared of throwing up so it was a hard thing to go through...especially with his little baby sister wanting to nurse all the time. Thankfully it soon passed and I eventuall caught up on all the laundry that this sickness generated. I'll keep you in my thoughts and hope that you will soon be able to report that your little sweetie is okay and back to her normal self.
When my son was sick, I just put a small wastebasket next to him that was lined in a bag. Whenever he started gagging, I would quickly help him lean over the trash can to vomit then simply tie the bag closed and toss away. Simple clean up..all I had to do once he was well was to soak the can in bleach water to sanitize it.
Hope Kathrynne is feeling better! This comment is mostly unrelated. I remember a time when I was little, visiting my aunt. She cooks the best hamburgers, and I love them. But one night I absolutely did not feel like eating anything that substantial, but when they served ice cream after I declined dinner, I desperately felt like I needed some. Maybe I had a cold, or my stomach needed something soft like ice cream. They ended up calling my parents, who graciously suggested I receive ice cream. I've felt that way since being grown up, a couple times, too. I heard if you crave ice chips you need iron. Maybe craving ice cream means your ph in your stomach is out of balance or something. Oh, and I know what a normal craving for ice cream is - get that all the time!
When I would get the stomach flu as a kid, I'd complain of being thirsty, and my parents would run for a bucket! Kathrynne was describing some new sensations. Keep this in mind as a key for future reference. = )
To God be all glory,
Lisa of Longbourn
I can so relate. My 3yo just had the stomach flu last week. I didn't know he was sick because he came in to see me in the middle of the night (DH works nights, so I'm home alone with my two under 3.) Anyway, he got in bed with me and BAM! Throw up all over himself, me, our down comforter, the sheets- everywhere.
The baby woke up, of course, and since I normally nurse her back to sleep, but couldn't at that time, I got her on my back in the Ergo. DS didn't want to take a bath but I eventually coaxed him in. It was so awful. Surprisingly, though, the other times he threw up, he managed to get it in the spilling bucket (HURRAH!) So take heart, maybe next time, Kathrynn will make it in the bucket. All I have to do with DS now is ask "Do you need the bucket" and he's able to tell me.
Praying for your family!!
Such a sweet post, Crystal. I'm glad you were able to relate an unhappy experience to something beautiful-- our Father's love for us.
I hope Kathrynne is all better and that no one else in the family caught the nasty bug!
Praying for yout little girl, Crystal!
Oh, this sounds so familiar! Emetophobia: fear of vomiting. I had it full-force all through high school and college. I think that's what kept me at 105 lbs. for so long :)! At the slightest tummy ache, I stopped eating. The cure: having a daughter with GERD and a propensity to throwing up. Seeing her in misery changed my heart from repulsion to compassion. I am delivered, thank the Lord! ...and my days of being 105 lbs. are long gone, unfortunately :).
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