And speaking of being sick...

I have a wonderful husband. He truly is the most amazing, wonderful man in the entire world. He puts up with me like no one else would. Trust me, I KNOW I'm a handful and then some!

As I mentioned in my Chicago post, I brought back a lovely stomach virus with me from my brief vacation. Yes, there is truly nothing in the world like losing ten pounds in two days via dual exit. I'll spare you any further details... you get the idea.

Anyway, back to my point. My wonderful, amazing, fantastic husband was able to work at home while I was sick. He tried to go out on sales calls the second day of my illness and was quickly paged back home. I just could not do it. My head was spinning, I couldn't stand up. I literally thought that death was knocking on my door. And quite frankly, I was okay with it considering that I had just spent the weekend in the midst of clergy and soon-to-be clergy. I figured my soul was okay if it was my time to go.

It was not my time to go, however. No matter how much I had convinced myself that I had contracted Cholera or Swine Flu, I am back on my feet and back at the mercy of my three spirited children and three equally insane dogs today. And as I'm getting back into the swing of things, I'm realizing why mom's don't get to be sick.

As I look around, I'm seeing the aftermath of The Mama being out of commission and on vacation for the last week. Groceries aren't stocked, laundry isn't where I like it to be, the kids are hanging on me like monkeys, and the dogs are acting as if I have been gone for seven years and then some. Our newest stray and oldest mutt keeps turning his head and looking at me as if to ask why I was gone for so long. The only one who isn't showing any signs of mama withdraw is L who has been with me 24/7 since the day she was born. Fearing that she might have gotten the same virus as I had, we were both quarantined to the bed for the better part of this week.

I guess my point in all of this is to say that to anyone who thinks that being a Stay At Home Mom is not as demanding or important as a job outside of the home clearly has never tried to take a sick day (or three) from being the President and CEO of the house. There's a reason that mom's don't get sick days: there isn't anyone who can cover a mom's work quite the way that mom herself would do it. My husband is wonderful and he did an amazing job. The kids were happy and fed, and I was able to get much needed rest. He's just not ME.

My point is best illustrated by sharing a moment from this morning that happened after breakfast. Picture it: I'm simultaneously yelling at the dogs to stop fighting, changing a diaper, correcting my oldest two children's confusion over hugging and suffocating, and talking through the upcoming events of the day. My husband came out of the bathroom and gave me a hug and said, "It's so good to have you back."

Love, hugs, and blessings,
The Mama