Our family has been sick since my last update. (Yes, over Thanksgiving, but we didn't plan a feast anyway this year - too hard with 5 toddlers!) The kids have had mostly a mild case, all but Will, but Gavin has been the sickest I've ever seen him. He's got shigellosis, sick since last week but conclusively diagnosed only Monday. Shigellosis is a bacterial infection characterized by gastrointestinal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and passing blood. The weirdest part was Gavin's high fever leading to delirium and hallucinations. Sunday was a HARD day with Gavin so violently ill and no one around to help with the babies. This week has been better, thank God for house and babysitting help! Also, Gavin is getting better after less than 24 hours in antibiotics. Thank you Lord Jesus!! It's wonderful not to be a "single parent" of quints anymore. He was sooooo incapacitated he almost fainted a couple of times when he tried to get up and help, poor guy.
Will was also miserable, crying and lying on the carpet. :( He spent one night vomiting multiple times. I'm so grateful it hasn't been bad in the other babies - some diarrhea only. We'd appreciate prayer it stays that way! A bad tummy bug is going around our whole mission center and valley, so I am praying for everyone infected and affected.
I have cute pictures I'll post later. :)
We've managed to decorate for Christmas, all but the tree. We'll see how that goes with five 2-year-olds. . . Will it survive their depredations?
The kids love the lights on our garlands especially, plus some of the more toy-like ornaments. One bell is already missing its ringer. Oh well; we can fix it after Christmas.
The kids are speaking in 4-5 word sentences now sometimes. It always surprises me when they say a full sentence like that!
Marcie is in full mothering mode towards all the quints but most especially Gracie. I looked down the other day to see her spreading the changing pad from our diaper bag (which she was carrying, as she loves any and all bags), on which Gracie then laid down, but when Marcie started trying to untape her diaper Gracie yelled no and jumped up. Last night Marcie tried to put a fresh diaper on naked Gracie. She couldn't quite manage it. She also loves to police the babies' use of pacifiers. She'll take away any that have made it out of the cribs, yanking them right out of mouths and hands even, smilingly saying "Nigh-night binky!" and running them back to the cribs despite the wails of her siblings. The kids all love to be my "enforcers." Will told Seth "No, no Seth, no sit on table!" last night.
I'd better run for now.
Love and gratitude!
Carrie
The picture is one of the kids' games, called "nigh-night!" and invented by Will. They lie down on the couch (while still standing) in response to the orders and light push of whoever is the game leader. They've played this one a couple of times with varying leaders. Seth was helping Will push the kids down.
Gavin on a recent trip. He sees gorgeous places! He bathed in this waterfall.
Marcie loves any and every kind of hat. She's convinced that Gavin's knee pads are hats and gets so frustrated that the Velcro won't stretch to fasten under her neck. (She's also obsessed with play dough and says all of it is "Marcie's play dough.")
Yikes and yuck! Poor woman....tough enough with sick kiddos but when your "back up" is "back down" it has to be near impossible. Those are the days you pray you just get through the day let alone get anything done! Sending healing energy toward your side of the world and lots of healing prayers to help you along! Hoping everyone gets to feeling back up to par quickly. Good heavens, don't YOU get sick....Prayers continue.....and continue.....and CONTINUE!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAll is well now, thank God. Gracie and I had a very brief brush with it after our last post, but it hasn't been bad at all. Thanks for praying!!! :)
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