Ok, so I think this is the worst Valentine's Day ever at our house. Here is the whole story:

Our 9 year old has been home sick from school for a week and a half.

Saturday night Adam and I were supposed to go out to celebrate Valentine's Day at a prepaid event. Our daughter wasn't feeling well, but we hoped to go anyway. An hour and a half before the dinner, she comes down from a nap, has 103.3 fever. Ok, that dinner is off. Stay home with sick kids.

Monday I took my 9 and 11 year old to the doctor, 9 year old has pneumonia (which he didn't have a week ago when he went in, developed in spite of the antibiotics he had been on for a week). They think our 11 year old is headed toward pneumonia, so they treat her for it as well.

Tuesday, major snow and ice storm. Schools closed (both of our kids are still sick, so it doesn't really matter much, at least they aren't missing more school).

Today, there is about two inches of ice on our driveway on top of a couple inches of snow. Adam tries to shovel it, he has had a cough for a month, just about dies coughing after a few minutes and gives up. At some point, I will need to tackle it later today.

Kids seem to be feeling better, so we'll at least have a fun Valentine's meal tonight with our family, right? 9 year old eats part of his lunch, goes in the bathroom and throws up all over the place. At the same time our 11 year old starts complaining of dizziness so I make her lay down.

In the middle of Adam cleaning up the really disgusting bathroom, phone rings. Businessman wondering if there is any chance we can fit him into our schedule today for a headshot and get it processed right away. We need the money right now, so I say yes, if you are able to get here we can do it late this afternoon. I explain that our street has not yet been plowed at all and our driveway is a mess. He says, that's ok, I have a great 4 wheel drive. I really appreciate it, see you at 4:00.

I get off the phone and look around my house/studio. We have had no clients here in two weeks. Stuff from an event we worked Friday is till all over our living room/studio. My kids aren't even dressed. Your can't see the kitchen counter. Adam is cleaning the bathroom that we use for clients. Every item is pulled out of my front hall closet because Adam couldn't find his gloves this morning. Pretty much my house looks like a tornado went through it.

I have three hours to get this place cleaned up and set up as a studio again. So of course I am sitting on the computer posting on OSP.

The fun dinner is cancelled, don't want to make it for a vomiting kid, wouldn't be pretty to clean up. Pretty lousy day!

So, if your Valentine doesn't get you quite what you wanted today, just think of Adam and I and give your sweety a big kiss and be thankful that you aren't at our house today!

Poor thing ( and I mean that, not being sarcastic) I hope everyone feels better soon!

Bright side? At least your power is still on!

Wow, just focus on living through this week and reschedule Vday for next week! Having a romantic night or even just a romantic moment doesn't have to be on any particular day... ;-)

Good luck with your client and your kids!

Exactly!

Ha ha...I can relate to that line.

But man, sorry to hear your day is so bummy. I'm sorry to hear things aren't going well, I know it always helps to vent, but I hope you'll choose to see the good in the situation as well. You have a wonderful husband and wonderful kids to celebrate your Valentine's with, and you have some income coming in today. That's reason enough to celebrate! You will get through this storm. Keep the faith!

No matter what, you will have a check in your hand by the end of the day. Call a maid (for tomorrow) and find a hot tub (hotel) and soak tonight!

I am not really all that bummed, we don't do much for Valentine's Day anyway. I am more amused at how it has all progressed. I was really hopeful that if we didn't have a snow day again tomorrow, I would be able to send all three kids back to school and at least get a break from them. Oh, well, at least Robbie will be here, if not Molly too.

My mom felt so bad for us that we had to cancel on Saturday that she gave us a nice check and told us to go out to a nice dinner when the kids are all better. We have actually been toying with going on a short cruise without the kids. I think I will put her check and part of our tax refund toward that and have that be our celebration, in April or May.

Better get back to cleaning. One room down, the rest to go.

Actually, I got a great Valentine's gift from Adam, he cleaned up the barf .

Glad to hear you looking at the amusing side. I know exactly how you feel about the absurdity of life and how it progresses. There have been times that I've actually said outloud, "If one more person pukes on me, I'm going to lose my mind." My three year old's response - "Well, we'll just have to look for it together, mommy."

Isn't motherhood such a glamorous job sometimes?

I feel for you!

Sending good thoughts and "health" vibes your way!

-janelle :-)

Oh my! I can't imagine. I hate when my kid is sick!! I hope your session goes well!! And your babies are feeling better sooner!!

and to think, Lynn, that I was just thinking about you about an hour ago, while i was out shopping for a fun gift for my sweetie- i was thinking about you happily making your "cake" for tonight, and the joy that your kids must have when they get such a special treat on valentine's day. i was thinking that it was such a good idea, and you are so resourceful about how to make it fun for the whole family! i guess your kids have other plans, barf included... but you're right... Adam cleaning up the puke has got to be the BEST valentine's present ever! Nothin' says "i love you" like cleaning up the vomit for you!!

big hugs your way! and i agree with everyone (your mom included)- go out for a nice dinner sans-kids, or treat yourselves to a cruise later. you both deserve it!!!

The funny thing was, when I heard him in the bathroom and figured out what was happening, I was just about to start preparing some of the stuff for dinner. I had also just asked the kids if they wanted to help me make the cake as soon as they were done with lunch. Oh, well, at least I hadn't already made anything.

We are getting a pizza tonight for those of us that aren't sick (if we can get our car out, I only got about a 1/4 of the ice chipped off the driveway).

Can relate, at least a little bit. Our little kiddos got over croup, but now my daughter has a bad sinus infection that has her coughing just as much as she did with the croup she just got over. Makes it tough to sleep at night when you hear all that coughing. She's eating a little bit...but the one thing that seems to make her pukey is the medicine! Great...how do you get cough or fever under control when the medicine ends up on the pillows / sheets? We'll make it though...

We'll say a little prayer tonight for the Squier kiddos to get better. And for mom and dad to get some rest.

Just sounds like another day in paradise.
Its these moments that make memories.


I feel for you and Adam. Hopefully in a week, you can look back and laugh. Then again, the horrible virus will have incubated in YOUR system and you will get horribly sick and still have to take care of everyone else. (Thats usually how it goes).

Your in my thoughts. Good luck on the shoot.

Oh Man!!! I wish I lived within driving distance! I'd come over and clean your house, take care of your kids while you do the photoshoot and shovel the driveway! I hope the day gets better - and like someone else said - at least you'll remember this one!

Best wishes!

Not that this helps... but....

Thanks everyone. The headshot went fine. He never even went beyond our living room, which was completely clean and a studio. The rest was mostly cleaned up, but he didn't even go in there, so that was good.

I am off to try to chip some more ice off the driveway.

lynn,

i think you need a title of superwoman...wow...i am amazed.. props to you.. livin out here in cali, you got me beat...

id take some of that ice and add some flavored syrup to make some snow cones...

good for you for hanging in there...

ill be doing the heat dance for you...

-john