Home > Health > MOMania > Archives > 2006 > May > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWhat happens when momma’s sick?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve been sick for seven days. They have finally figured out I have the Norwalk virus (with an inflamed colon). (That thing you catch on cruise ships and apparently suburban fast food restaurants.) They sent me to the hospital for a CT scan on Tuesday, and I threw up on the machine. Not good! They put me on Cipro – the antibiotic for Anthrax — that doesn’t bode well either. Since Tuesday, I have been in a drugged-up sleep-a-thon, hoping to awake when it’s all over.
So my husband, my parents and some good friends have all coordinated to take care of the kids. The kids don’t seem to mind at all – they’re happy to see more of daddy and their grandparents. I have been phoning directions to the caregivers from my bedroom to their cell phones (Don’t forget the hot dogs for field day.) A few things have slipped through the cracks — a few bills are over due, money hasn’t been transferred over and my Sunday column probably won’t be written (I’m probably going to celebrate Mother’s Day one week late – sorry).
I just wanted you guys to know where I was — this took way too much energy and I’m dizzy. So chat amongst yourselves about what happens at your house when momma gets sick! I’m going back to bed.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: General Frustrations of Motherhood, Health
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By Dsmooth
May 11, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this
Oh Theresa, I hope you feel better soon.
By past50mom
May 11, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this
Theresa, Hope you feel better soon, and then when you feel better, you will still need help because you will probably be weak from being so ill. So continue to ask for help from family and friends. When my kids were small and I got sick, I would limp through the day with them, then collapse in the bed when dad got home. You can safely cancel all social occassions for your kids, everyone will understand.
By me1
May 11, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
Ditto on the feel better soon. That’s almost like a joke: How many people does it take to fill in for mom when she gets sick.
By Beccaann
May 11, 2006 12:41 PM | Link to this
I didn’t know that mommies were allowed to get sick. I am glad that you have help from the grandparents and your husband. Get better soon.
By Elane
May 11, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this
Theresa, I feel your pain. 11 years ago I caught the chicken pox (from my son’s little friend at church), and although I had some help from nearby friends, it was still rough. No matter how much of a support system you’ve got, there will still be gaps — things “only Mom” knows how to do. Kids never understand that Mom can get as sick as they do…or sicker, since adult c-pox is way rougher to deal with than the regular childhood kind. But hang in, this too shall, well, pass. I recall that my cat was instinctively very supportive during those sick-as-a-dog days, so if you have a pet, now’s the time to collect on all those unselfish favors you’ve done for him/her!
By Robin
May 11, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this
Oh Teresa! I hope you feel better soon!
By Marjorie
May 11, 2006 01:35 PM | Link to this
Sorry to hear about your inflamed butthole
By hot_mama
May 11, 2006 01:57 PM | Link to this
That sounds awful, sorry to hear you’ve been sick! I work through most colds/illness so I can be home when my daughter is out sick. She’s had three major illnesses this year alreday requiring 3-5 days at home. So, I’ve used all my alloted sick time already, so staying home sick means using up precious vacation days. In the extrememe case when I must stay home and my daughter is well someone (usually me) takes her to daycare so I get extra rest. Thankfully we have grandparents nearby that can help if I am down. Speaking of Grandparents, my mother in law just offered to pick my baby up tomorrow afternoon! I get the afternoon off! :)
By SNY
May 11, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
Get better soon. I know when my daughter was 5 1/2 years old, I was pregnant again in the first trimester and found out that I had blood clots that encompassed both of my lungs. It was horrible!! I was in ICU for 10 days not knowing if the baby and I were going to make it or not. My husband was great. It was during December and my daughter’s school was practicing for their Xmas play. My husband did such a great job that no one at the school really knew that I wasn’t around.
By Ga_Tech_92
May 11, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this
When single parents get sick it’s pretty rough, as I have no family or ex in state to help with my four year old. My son and I just make due and survive the best we can. :)
By Ga_Tech_92
May 11, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this
I forgot…HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON!! :)
By singlemomof1
May 11, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this
Feel better soon, many times over. I had surgery this past December. I was up sweeping the floor within 3 hours of my dis-charge, because my boyfriend allowed people to trek through the house with shoes on! It never ends. There is a law written somewhere that “Mommy will not get sick”, at least before the kids are 18. Nobody and I mean nobody will do it like mommy, that’s a fact!
By singlemomof1
May 11, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this
Feel better soon, many times over. I had surgery this past December. I was up sweeping the floor within 3 hours of my dis-charge, because my boyfriend allowed people to trek through the house with shoes on! It never ends. There is a law written somewhere that “Mommy will not get sick”, at least before the kids are 18. Nobody and I mean nobody will do it like mommy, that’s a fact!
By fk
May 11, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this
Feel better soon. I’ll save my stuff for when you write about what happens when Mom gets sick and is out of commission. Enjoy your Mother’s Day as best you can!
By pneal
May 11, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this
Feel better soon. I just recently had a hysterectomy and I have two small children. I have a GREAT support system. My mom came to my house for a week and cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner! My mother in law would take the kids off my hands. And my husband kept the laundry done and the house in order. He did, however let a few bills slip also! I was very spoiled.
By tamara
May 11, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this
Dont worry. Cipro works very fast. I had food poisoning from my last cruise and after 2 days of Cipro I felt 75% better. I just recently had a radical hysterectomy and for the most part the family was very understanding and helpful. That was the most horrible surgery. It’s been 8 weeks today & I’m still not back to the normal routine. Hoping by next week I can mop all the floors. Oh boy, can’t wait to get back to that :)
By tamara
May 11, 2006 03:29 PM | Link to this
pneal, I feel for you. Did you have the abdominal?
By Jesse's Girl
May 11, 2006 05:34 PM | Link to this
How horrible is it that it takes a sickness that actually has a NAME to get us mothers off our tuckus for a week?! I just can’t get sick..period! If Mr. Jesse gets sick…God love him….the world stops. Of course when the children get sick, my mommy turbo jets get kicked into high gear. But it would take an act of Congress to get my husband, parents, and friends together so I could reap the benefits of pharmaceuticals! I am very sorry to hear of your encounter with Norwalk….it sounds horrible! On the bright side Theresa…..this could make for one kick booty Mother’s DAy gift! Wishing you many happy drug induced dreams and a speedy recovery!
By Jan Houston
May 12, 2006 08:07 AM | Link to this
Whenever I get sick, My husband and two teenage boys, take over, take control and take care of me!!!! Whatever might get missed, we can catch up on later -
but when they were babies, I got an intestional blockage and had emergency surgery and was in intensive care for days. My baby was 5 weeks old and my oldest was 17 months - My parents and my inlaws and our siblings made sure everything and everyone was cared for!!!! It was scary and awful and I missed my babies so much. Had to stay with my parents for a few weeks, my mom canceled a cruise. How people make it without family, is beyond me!!! God Bless Them all!!! Hope YOU are better soon!!!
By AYoungMom
May 12, 2006 09:53 AM | Link to this
We…have…to…keep…going. I do at least. Divorced Mommy of a wonderful 3 year old. But truly the last time I was really sick, my ex-husband took our daughter for three whole days so I could rest. He tries, yes he does and I am truly thankful for that!