Dec 31 2008
Do We Know How To Celebrate, Or What?
by Kathleen Fellows
This year is ending a lot messier than the last. By New Years Eve 2007 everyone had already been sick and was feeling ready to celebrate. They all wanted to “stay up to see the ball drop” but only two of the six children succeeded and I, being nearly 40 weeks pregnant, had to drag my ever-expanding largess off the couch to join the festivities. Thank God they only lasted 15 minutes and then I was back to dreamland.
The end of 2008 hasn’t been so simple. It all began late Tuesday night when one child woke up after having “woopsed” all over the bed. She was whisked off to the bathtub while dad tried to clean up her bed. Number one was out of the tub and set up on the couch when 2 and 3 simultaneously “lost their lunches”. One load of laundry was already going so dad proceeded to gather up their bedding while I rinsed them off and filled the tub again. While the water was warming up number 4 decided she didn’t want to be left out. She joined her brothers in the tub and dad decided he must go to the laundromat to avoid the impending stench which was surely awaiting if the laundry didn’t get washed immediately. Before leaving he decided to peek in on the one child who wouldn’t say anything if he got sick. And he hadn’t. He had rolled up the blanket and shoved it in the corner overnight. We never knew. He’d changed his pajamas and washed himself off in the sink, we’re guessing.
We were hoping everyone would get this bug at once and be over it just as quickly. I prayed over the children for good health, and peaceful sleep. They proclaimed their faith in God to take the sickness from them. Only one child continued to be sick throughout the night and I was up with her, cleaning her off and making sure she was comfortable. In the wee hours one of the boys called out for help and I was up changing sheets again.
By this time everyone was up and wanted to know if they could eat. HA! I couldn’t let them starve but I only fed them little bits at a time, like throwing pieces of bread to the ducks in the park. And only one child was sick all day today! The one who hadn’t been sick at all was a little peeved that he couldn’t just eat a big meal but he also didn’t want a repeat of last night. Nobody wanted that. Dad didn’t leave for work until 10:00. He was very tired from staying up late washing pillows and sheets and blankets and comforters. Thank God for 24 hour laundromats.
This afternoon we got to have an early date before coming home to feed our little brood a bland dinner. Everyone is tucked in bed, except me. The plan is to wake up at 9:30 to watch a movie. Then we’ll have half an hour to wake up anyone who’s fallen back to sleep. I’ll pour the sparkling cider, hand them each a couple of confetti poppers and a sparkly horn, and we’ll turn on the TV to watch the ball drop. At midnight we’ll all rush to the front porch to join the neighbors ringing in the new year. Dad and I actually have a cowbell to ring! Someone on the hill will set off fireworks. Soon everyone will complain about how cold it is and how tired they are so we’ll move inside where we’ll pray for blessings in the new year. Then hopefully everyone will go back to bed until the sun comes up. HA! Wishful thinking on my part.
All of that is based on the assumption that no one else will get sick. ***please, oh please, oh please*** I am off to finish up the rest of the laundry that was waiting to be washed before last night’s fiasco began. I wish the rest of you a truly joyous New Years Eve celebration. May God bless all of you and your loved ones throughout 2009, and beyond!
