Sick Boys

The last week has been rough for several reasons.  Most notable is the sickness that has overcome our two oldest boys.  Benjamin was first to succumb to the evil stomach virus that left him puking multiple times from 2:30am to the following afternoon.  Poor Lance had his sleep interrupted since he is assigned Benjamin and Evan duty at night while I am with Sawyer.  It was so sad to see Benjamin looking forlorn and just not his normal enthusiastic self.    We thought Evan might escape the virus, but he also fell ill just a couple of days later.  The poor guy was so sad, he made me cry in sympathy.  Lance stepped up and slept in his room, taking great care of Evan through the two nights that he was puking.  


Of course, the other reason that things have been rough relates to the recent arrival of our third boy child.  Lack of sleep is catching up with me, and I find that I have little time to care for my big boys or do other important tasks.  I think I have made it out of the house just a handfull of times in the last month.  Although he is a sweet baby, Sawyer has the typical fussiness that the other boys had.  Sometimes he seems to be unhappy for the duration of the time that he is awake.  I have coped better with this than the first two times because I know that it will end, it is just another of dozens of phases that are to come. You just have to "ride the wave" dude!  When trying to cope with the stress I like to imagine myself surfing the wave, as cool as a cucumber.


Today Evan is feeling better and Benjamin is again himself.  I am thankful that we navigated these days and have come out relatively unscathed.  Despite feeling stressed, tired, and lacking in self-care, I am feeling competent with Sawyer.  I am not stressing about his naps, keeping his fussiness in perspective, and patiently awaiting longer stretches of nighttime sleep.  The ability to take care of all three boys by myself is another task entirely, one that leaves me feeling as though I am drowning.  But for now I don't have to have it all figured out, I will just take it one step at a time.  At least that is what I will keep telling myself!