The plague...at least it seems that way.

I would imagine that anyone, with more than one child, has had the pleasure of dealing with sickness after sickness after sickness.  One child gets sick and it spreads like wildfire through the whole family.  It's tough when there are four or five members in the family.  It's tougher still when your household consists of seven people! 

You see, a 48hr. stomach bug can take up to two weeks to make the rounds!  Yes, you read that right...two weeks!  Actually, that is a conservative estimate.  I am not sure whether it would be better for everyone to contract an illness at once, therefore, ending it's length sooner or if it is better to only have to deal with one sick individual at a time.  If you are only dealing with one sick person at a time and it takes the next person a few days to contract the illness....well it can drag on for weeks! 

My husband came down with a stomach bug two weeks ago.  He was down and out for a day or two.  It began spreading from person to person, taking each one out for an average of two to three days.  It was brutal...not just the unmentionable yuck but also fever, chills and awful body aches.  After a week of dealing with nasty, I was beginning to feel as if I were living in a real life movie about a pandemic!  I had been cleaning up messes, wiping bums, changing gross diapers, filling up cups/sippy cups/bottles, taking temperatures and doling out Tylenol/Motrin for over a week.  I was on my last leg.  I had yet to come down with said virus and I knew my days were numbered.  The worst part was that my husband had a busy week at work that would allow him no wiggle room and no time to stay home and take care of me.  I KNEW I was going to get sick.  I KNEW there was no escape for me.  It was like a serial killer was stalking me, but instead of hacking me up and ending things quickly, he was going to make me suffer.

It began with a small headache when I went to bed.  I woke in the middle of the night to a sick baby and the headache had grown worse.  I downed some Motrin and fell into bed praying that somehow I would be spared.  I woke up to a queasy stomach to accompany my headache.  I knew I had lost.  I curled up on the couch and prayed I would be able to make it until 5 o'clock when relief would arrive.  The baby began getting sick all over the house and my body aches became awful.  I crawled as I carried the baby upstairs for a bath to clean all the yuck off of her.  I cried as I wrapped in her a clean towel and I tried not to let my teeth chatter from the chills I was feeling.  This went on and on for the entire day.  It was a long day.  It was a bad day.  I went to bed as soon as hubby walked in the door and I didn't stir until the next day.

Miracle of all miracles, I woke up feeling slightly more human.  I had hope.  I made it through the worst of it.  It took the baby another three days before she was back to her normal healthy self.  I was so thrilled that we were all healthy!  I had visions of a great Memorial Day weekend full of BBQs, swimming, yard work, baking, cleaning, etc....  Yes, I did notice that the baby's nose was a little runny yesterday.  I chose to ignore it.  Yes, she did seem a bit cranky.  I closed my eyes. 

Today....the baby has a head cold.  Here we go again.  I imagine it will take a head cold about three to four weeks to make the rounds.  God help me.

Summer

Once again it is that time of year.  The time of year when school ends and summer begins.  As a homeschooling family, we don't really ever stop schooling.  We simply lighten the load a bit and fly by the seat of our pants.  We like the idea of schooling year round but we also like to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.  So, what will our summer look like?

1.  We will be working on math.  Annie and Megan will do math drills each day just to keep things fresh in their minds.  I have learned from past experiences that taking weeks at a time off from math doesn't do anyone any favors.  So, we will continue to practice what we have learned.  These drills may or may not involve driveway games with chalk and paint.  :) 

2.  Reading, reading and more reading!  We will participate in various summer reading programs through our local library, Barnes and Noble and Half-Price Books.  We will also be doing some unit studies on specific books...Dr. Doolittle, Black Beauty, etc...  We will continue to read together nightly as a family.  I am looking forward to starting Peter and the Starcatchers with the kids. 

3.  We are going to be learning about new places!  I am ashamed to admit that we didn't spend very much time on geography this last year.  So, we are going to work on that this summer.  I have signed the kids up for the Little Passport program and that should give us a good jumping off point.  My plan is to try and make/taste foods from all the countries we study about...should be interesting.

4.  Dance!  We have the opportunity to enroll the three oldest girls in dance class this summer at a very reasonable rate.  So, Lily and Megan will be taking ballet while Annie takes an introductory hip-hop class!  I think it will be something they will really enjoy.

5.  Bible study...myself and the kids!  I have been fortunate enough to have a friend (thanks Keri!) who is graciously hosting a Bible study in her home at a time that works for me.  So, I am looking forward to getting out of the house and spending a bit of time each week with other Godly women.  I also plan to continue the Bible work I have been doing with the kids at home.  The kids will also do VBS, which I know they are looking forward to.

6.  Holiday World, canoeing, camping, etc....  We aren't taking any big family vacation this year.  Instead, we are planning a bunch of smaller activities to do with the kids.  I am looking forward to the memories we will make.

7.  Noah's speech therapy.  We have sessions twice a week.  I am excited about how Noah will be at the end of the summer!  I am looking forward to being able to understand what my little boy is saying!  :)

So, those are our big plans.  Throw in a few zoo visits, local pool days, picnics at the park, hiking at Bernheim and other random things and you have a busy summer.  I think it will be fun though and I am excited about it! 

What are you big summer plans?