Night Owl

The two men I love most in this world are sleeping. It was a rough night at our house last night. Brad is sick with a virus, he then shared it with Turner. They both ran very high fevers all night long. While sitting awake watching them last night I thought of a few things. Here's my list of advice that no one ever asked for:
-Trust your instinct. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. Never hurts to go check on your baby.
-Never feel silly/stupid for bringing your child to the doctor. It's what doctors are for. Turner has had several ER trips already, I do not regret a one of them. None were too serious but I felt better having him checked out by a unbiased trained professional.
-A mothers lips and hands are the most accurate thermometer. I can tell when Turner has a fever by kissing him or running a hand over his chest. I couldn't do this before having children. But I know every inch of him and I know what he feels like when he kisses me. I can tell when he or Brad have the slightest fever.
-Use your nose. Turner's room is across the hall from ours and I can smell when he pees, poops, or throws up even when I can't hear it. I can smell his breath and tell if he's congested or having sinus problems.
-In the night when your kids are sick and you lay awake, take that time to thank God for them. Holding a sick helpless baby brings me to my knees. I know that under no circumstances could I ever sacrifice my son, not even to save every last person on earth, the way God gave His son for me. So I talk to God and thank him for His sacrifices, I thank him repeatedly for the embarrassment of blessings he's given me, and I am quiet and try to he ear what He has to tell me.
-When all else fails, get them french fries. Turner will eat french fries when nothing else will do. No, they are not nutritionally balanced, but it's something in his stomach when he's sick.
-When you can't sleep, close your eyes anyway. Lay a hand on your baby, and close your eyes. You are no good if you are too tired to take care of them the next day and the day after that.
-The house can be dirty. Take care of your baby first. Whether that baby is two or thirty-three. No one cares about or will remember the toys on the floor and the dishes in the sink. They will remember you sitting in the recliner watching Curious George for the eighth time.
-When you are exhausted keep your patience. Dealing with sick people is tiring at best. You sleep less than they do, nothing makes them feel better, and you can't really do anything to change how they feel. Viruses just have to run their course. Your kids will whine and cry, your husband probably will too, but be loving. My switch gets turned off when my boys are sick. They can ask anything of me and I will do it. I can be puked on and never bat an eye. All I can think of is making them more comfortable, it's another one of those things that changes when you become a mom.
-Try your best not to get sick, but never withhold kisses or cuddles. Mom's don't get sick days. No matter how sick we all are I still have to clean the vomit, monitor the medicines, cook, and make sure we're all hydrated.

That's what I came up with. None of it too earth shattering, just what I think about from the hours of midnight to six am while I listen to my boys breathe and watch to make sure they are OK. Nothing is sweeter after a long sleepless night than hearing your tired child's breath fall into a slow steady rhythm. I can tell right when Brad or Turner fall asleep, their tempo changes. They are in rhythm now as they nap. Think I'll go listen to them and close my eyes.