In Sickness and In Health

It isn’t often that Jeremy or I come down with a flu or the cold. We are both fairly healthy and aren’t around kids enough to catch anything big. There have been only a handful of times since we’ve been married that something has really been able to knock us out. And in those handful of times, we quickly learned our different preferences for when either of us get sick.

Growing up with a nurse for a mom, I was used to being coddled and babied until I started to feel better. Head scratches, massages, ginger ale, my favorite movies, and having a mom that never left my side made me a bit spoiled in the sick department.

Jeremy on the hand doesn’t want to be touched, looked at or even talked to when he isn’t feeling well. I learned the hard way during our first year of marriage when Jeremy came down with a minor form of the flu and basically shut the door in my face when I went in to help him.

However, this was all before the virus from hell came to visit our house Sunday night and tore our bodies apart.

You guys… I am not  joking when I say this was the worst virus either of us have ever been through.

It was the kind that makes you wonder if you will ever feel healthy or happy again.

The kind that makes you lose almost 3 pounds in less than 36 hours and just the mere thought of food makes you run to the bathroom to empty out whatever is somehow left in your stomach.

The kind that actually hurts your body and causes aches and pains from the constant shaking and shivering from trying to get warm.

The kind that causes your normally strong husband to call your cell phone from the downstairs bathroom at 3 in the morning because he’s too weak to stand on his own and get to the couch.

The kind of virus that makes you google nearby hospitals in the middle of the night because said husband is starting to mumble incoherent things and declare that he thinks he’s dying so could I please just hold his hand so he’s not alone while he passes?

I learned my husband is slightly dramatic when he doesn’t feel well.

It was a scary night that only got worse when I started feeling nauseous around 7 a.m. after I was finally able to get Jeremy to sleep on the couch after giving up on the hope that he would even be able to keep water down.

But even through all of the pain and sickness, yesterday also showed me how selfless you can be when the person you care about most is suffering.

Because even though I have a weak stomach and can’t handle throw up or dirty diapers, all of that goes out the window when you’re caring for someone you love. You’re able to clean out the throw up bucket without gagging, rub your husband’s back as he is leaned over the toilet, deal with the smells and discomforts and put your normal queasy stomach to rest because someone needs you.

And same goes for him, when he is shaky and cold but still refuses to leave my side when it’s my turn to start throwing up. You know he loves you when he holds back your hair long enough for you to finish emptying your stomach before he has to run to the other bathroom to do the same.

Yes, we were quite a sight yesterday as the two sicklings tried to take care of each other while each battling our own personal hell.

Seriously, I wouldn’t have wished this virus on my worst enemy.

We are both feeling much better this morning albeit still a little weak from lack of nutrients or food in our systems. But if one good thing came from all of this, it showed me that I actually will be able to change a diaper or clean up my kid’s throw up someday.

Score one for motherhood.

And even though this virus originated from Jennifer's littles, all is forgiven when she still manages to amaze me with her new designs. Thanks again sister!