Not going to "Never" land..

  ~"All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure."~ Mark Twain

  I should have known...or at least suspected. If ever I wake up in the morning and I don't want coffee, something is wrong. Very wrong indeed.  The thing of it is...well, I didn't figure it out until I took the dogs  for their walk. When I was standing in the middle of my yard..in view of the entire neighborhood, in my oldest robe and a pair of Omar's pajama bottoms..then it hit me.. all of a sudden-I knew. I had caught the dreaded stomach bug from the kids....oh and it wasn't pretty.  There I was on hands and knees heaving the contents of my stomach for all the world looking like a lifetime alcoholic coming off of a bender..or a reality show star looking for publicity.  It was that bad. The dogs just stared at me. I don't know what the neighbors thought-but they haven't dropped off any brochures for rehab, so I should be o.k.


  I was in a bind.  Omar was gone for the next twelve hours, and I was on my own...alone with the herd.  Now, anyone who has kids KNOWS what that means. Parents don't get sick.  It is against the rules.  I even  think it's part of the Geneva convention-it just isn't allowed. Now I have been known from time to time for breaking rules...and they say that "necessity is the mother of invention" and it was necessary...I threw myself on my children's mercy. I was that sick-and there was no way I was going to be making snacks and lunch and more snacks and dinner.  It just wasn't happening. "Mama! Your Sick? "Yes..I have to lie down.." "Mama's sick..her belly is going bleeech" "Is your belly sick Mama?"..".....yes.."  "Mama,,are you going to get sick..are you going to throw up..Mama?..".."...I..havetoliedown...now.." "MAMA's BELLY IS GOING BLEEECH!!!" 
"Oh No Mama's going to throw up!!" "Mama's belly is sick!"  and on and on they went...I snuck upstairs sometime during this fascinating conversation and passed out. Oh, it isn't like I wasn't aware of them..they came upstairs every thirty two seconds or so to check on me..to make sure that I was o.k....to find out how long you put a "hot pocket" in the microwave.to see if they could have a snack..to ask me if I was still sick..sigh..  No,I didn't abandon them...It is more like I left them to their own devices. Which can be a dangerous thing. But in this case- It wasn't.


  The next morning..I was feeling half way to normal as I made my way downstairs. There, I was met with four happy kids and a  kitchen that looked as if a tsunami had hit...there were dishes everywhere..wet towels and washcloths (Zoe had decided to clean every surface of the house-including windows and computer screens)  buckets and papers...a mess of epic proportions...AND  It was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.
 "Mama! you're better!"  "We did your jobs for you Mama!" "I cleaned the table.."  "I made lunch for everyone!"  "I helped too!"   They were euphoric. So proud of themselves.  They had done it-gotten through a day without me. Made choices and decisions...they stood on their own...and while it might have made one of the biggest messes I have ever in my life cleaned up-it was also one of my greatest pleasures to clean it.  My kids took care of themselves and of me..and no one was maimed in the process!.  How cool is that?


  You know, I think back to the early days...especially with my boys.  How far they have come. . I am so thankful for the people involved in the diagnosis. Particularly Oscar's.  His early years were the toughest. We seemed to have more questions than answers...We didn't know if he would ever talk..or laugh..play..SLEEP!  We didn't know.  We were given a lot of "maybe's" and for that I am very thankful.  Even though at the time it was frustrating-I wanted answers!  But "maybe" is hopeful(even if I didn't think so at the time).   I can't imagine being told "never"..what would that have done to us as parents?  More importantly-what would that have done to Oscar?  No, one of the most important lessons I have learned is to never say never. I don't know what the future holds for him..I try not to worry too much...sigh.. Worrying seems to be an essential part of parenting doesn't it?...My boy is only nine years old, and I see how very far he has come.. the past three years alone have been full of leaps and bounds..How could I possibly predict what he will or won't be able to do?  He counts on me. If I don't believe in him-how can he believe in himself?  Whatever happens-whatever the future holds..it won't be because we lived in "never" land.   Although I will say That I never will ignore my body again if it tells me it doesn't want coffee...and at the same time, I'll make sure I am wearing more than my pajamas to walk the dogs when it does...