Sick Days

Don't you just love it when you go in to check your sleeping beauties in the night and find that you stand in sick and then put your hand in it as you try to pick up your baby who is rolling around in it? No? Just me?

Honestly I am not weird, it is disgusting but as every mother knows it is the natural course of motherhood to be covered in this vile substance at various points, particularly when our children are so young. I've had my fair share now of vomit covered clothes. Mr Social started it off by having reflux as a baby and he could have entered a competition of projectile vomiters and would have had a good chance of winning not only distance but volume. That was a lovely introduction to motherhood. But milky sick, although smelly, is almost pleasant compared to what it turns into when you add solid food into the diet. This is where Mr Cheeky wins the prize for a truly horrible moment when he was 2 he came for a cuddle which I freely gave only to be rewarded by being covered head to foot with his dinner, lunch and breakfast. So bad was this the only option was to carry him up to the shower and stand in it with him fully clothed.

Now Mr Smiley has joined the club and spent this last week attempting to see how much sick he could get on me and eventually succeeded with a sneaky hit from behind.

It has been stomach bug central in our house now for 2 weeks. Mr Social was the first to be struck, which he politely passed on to me. I had a brief few days where I thought we had got off lightly if only 2 people in the house were only affected, but then Mr Smiley came down with it and the day after the back hit of vomit I was struck again...thank you my dear son. Again another few days has gone and Mr Faithful is now suffering so that leaves only Mr Cheeky in good health. I fear that this week Mr Cheeky may well be dealing with the effects of this particularly nasty strain of stomach virus but I do hope he remains unaffected.

Now as a mother we all know that we are not allowed to be sick. Extra sleep, feet up, no chores, fresh drinks delivered to order, extra cuddles, soothing words, all of which we prescribe for our poorly patients is not something we have available for ourselves. As hard as it is we have to drag ourselves from our beds and see to the needs of our family. When sick I go into survival mode, energy conservation for the most important tasks...mainly providing food for the hungry mob. I am in a fortunate position though that I have another mother close by who loves my children as much as I do...my mother-in-law. She was my super hero this last week. I had to call for reinforcements and she was here, but not wanting to infect her either I asked for her to take out the now healthy Mr Social and Mr Cheeky, which meant that I only had to take care of Mr Smiley who was still recovering so I was hoping to lull him into dreamy breastfeeding sleep whilst I got over the worst of it. My mother-in-law was a life-saver last week, but then she always is. She is kind and generous, helpful and loving, respectful and genuine. I am very blessed to have a mother-in-law like this and deserves a medal for her years of service to her own family and now for her grandchildren.

Life in our household has been topsy turvy now for 2 weeks and looks set to be still muddled this week as I am still waging war with a mop and bucket and plenty of bleach and disinfectant against a stomach bug that seems to enjoy the hospitality we are offering it, but this is one guest I do not want. This guest is not a guest and is trespassing in my home and it's high time it left without delay. War has been declared and we all know that when her family is under threat and peace has been disturbed in the home then the mother who declares war will surely see to it that peace is restored.

Celebrating Easter

See what a morning, gloriously bright

With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;

Folded the grave-clothes

Tomb filled with light,

As the angels announce Christ is risen!

See God's salvation plan, wrought in love,

Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,

Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives,

Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping: 'Where is He laid?

As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;

Hears a voice speaking, calling her name:

It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!

The voice that spans the years,

Speaking life, stirring hope,

Bringing peace to us,

Will sound till He appears,

For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,

Through the Spirit

Who clothes faith with certainty,

Honour and blessing, glory and praise

To the King crowned

With power and authority!

And we are raised with Him,

Death is dead, love has won

Christ has conquered;

And we shall reign with Him,

For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

I just love this resurrection hymn by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. When the music starts no matter what time of the year it is my heart jumps a little. It is rousing and pleasing to the ears and particularly at Easter it is a song of triumph as we celebrate our risen Saviour who conquered death.

This Easter weekend was a little different to the past years as for the first time Mr Faithful, being now self employed, had to work the bank holidays. It was a little sad to have him away from us at a time where we have normally all been together. On Good Friday I had a crafty morning with he boys as we made Easter cards for the grandparents.

They looked very cute and the boys had fun chalking the butterflies and with the help of my Sizzix machine all the shapes were easy to cut out.

We then made some Easter baskets and made a simnel cake (Mary Berry style). 

Saturday was spent with family as we visited relatives and Sunday like wise was spent with the other half's family. I had cooked a roast leg of lamb, lemon infused spring vegetables, roasted carrots and parsnips and a potato layer bake to serve along side. When I got back from Church on Sunday the house smelt delicious. I prepared the house with hidden plastic eggs and inside each one I placed a mini chocolate egg and a clue leading to the next one. There were 20 hidden eggs in all (10 each for Mr Social and Mr Cheeky). Afterwards Mr Social was to declare that he really enjoyed the egg hunt. My plastic eggs were a good purchase and have been used for many things but my favourite use would be as resurrection eggs.

Within these 12 eggs lie 11 emblems and verses that take us through the story of Jesus coming to Jerusalem and His death on the cross and His resurrection. 11 I hear you say...yes I typed that right. I know there are 12 eggs bit go on, have a guess what is in the 12th egg....do I have to tell you or have you clever people guessed already? Inside that last egg is...nothing! That's right...why...because Christ is Risen! I want to shout that from a rooftop right now, even if I would get strange looks but it is true. My faith isn't based on a story told long ago, it isn't based on a dead prophet or king. I do not worship idols of stone or gold or other mythical beings. My faith is based on Jesus Christ who was crucified for the sins of many, yet innocent He was, His blood was shed for me and my faith is based on Jesus Christ who on the third day rose again, left the tomb and walked amongst people again before ascending to heaven to prepare a seat in heaven for those who were to believe. That 12th egg is empty to show that the tomb was empty. 

Inside the other eggs are leaves (palm leaves), a donkey, bread (the last supper), money (the betrayal), a flower (garden of Gethsemane), rope (the arrest), crown of thorns, a cross, sponge soaked in vinegar, spices and cloth (burial), and a stone. Other options to put in include dice (casting lots on Jesus' robes), praying hands (Garden of Gethsemane), a little cup (last supper), and nails (crucifixion). I made my own set but I believe you can purchase them pre-filled with verses as well. These may just be for the American customers though as when I searched for them a few years ago they were not available here in the UK. They are relatively inexpensive to make your own set and I have found many uses for the plastic eggs for the boys education for other times of the year.

Easter this year was a joyful time of remembrance. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Oh sing hallelujah!