The Bathroom Floor

I rarely get a stomach bug. In fact, the last time I threw up was Christmas of 2008 (when I had another stomach bug.) Even though I'm around teenagers every day (whose parents send them to school with everything under the sun) I'm pretty healthy.

Not this week.

A strange stomach flu has circled the Las Vegas area over the past two months or so. I'd heard rumors and whispers of its vile consequences at church, school, and through the family grape vine. My sisters, brother AJ, and their kids have all had it in one degree or another. I assumed my little family and I were immune.


Alas, I was wrong.

I have never spent an entire night on a bathroom floor before. As a kid I stayed in bed and barfed into a yellow bucket my mom put next to my bed. (She knew I'd never make it to the toilet.) Well, I spent the night next to a toilet this week, not once, but twice.

Like all stomach bugs, it hits you in the middle of the night when everyone is asleep and there is no one to comfort you. We're in Duck Creek, Utah, at the family cabin for a reunion this week. My hubby returned to Vegas for work the afternoon of my sickness. The family cabin was full of my siblings and their kids, but I couldn't bear to wake anyone.

So I sat on the carpeted floor of what we call the "new" bathroom (my parents added on a much needed wing to the cabin several years back) where no one could hear me cry or vomit. But strangely enough, I didn't feel alone.

I prayed for help---for my Heavenly Father to comfort me. I know it sounds strange and I'm a faithful person and all, but even I was amazed to feel His arm around me, holding me up, telling me I could get through this. I felt like I was going to die, but I knew I was going to be okay. So while I heaved more times than I dared to count and was left feeling weak and tired physically, my spirit was strengthened.

Then the bug struck again.

Last night I spent most of the night on the bathroom floor with my little man, J. No child should have to go through that kind of thing alone. He was a trooper. I shared him my experience of being alone and sick earlier in the week and praying for help. He was sad I didn't wake him up for help. (Going through this himself, I think he was horrified I didn't have anyone to help me.)

I told J that someday he and I would look back on this night and laugh about it; that it was a bonding moment for us to go through the same thing and spend time together talking in the middle of the night on the bathroom floor. He gave me a strange look. Maybe someday he'll understand.

Copyright 2011 Corrina L. Terry

Photo credit: http://www.porcelainpoetry.faketrix.com/funny-toilet-signs-washroom-humor-toilets-signs.htm

Turning 41 & Father's Day All in One!

Every few years my birthday falls on Father's Day. Growing up, my dad told me that was his special gift from Heavenly Father after he and my mom struggled to have kids for 5 years.  It was fun to share my special day with him and now with my hubby, Steve.

Above is the "musical" card my boys bought me. (They love those 2 cartoon characters and have to be pried away from them in the card aisle.) 

Some of my other presents. I have an old mountain bike from college I refuse to part with. It's had 2 flat tires for 6 months. The hubby has promised to replace them for me.  :o)  I also talk on my cell phone a LOT when driving. Nevada just passed a law forbidding this (don't ask me why, I'm a careful driver), so the hubs also picked up a cool bluetooth thingy for my cell phone. I was scared to try it out (old age and new technology don't mix well), but it was very easy to set up and use! I'm going to get a lot of use out of it, I think.

My son J knows how much I love music and downloading from Itunes.

My eyes look sleepy and gross, but I couldn't leave out my yummy box of chocolate from D.

Now for Father's Day @ our house . . .

Remember last year when I didn't check Steve's pockets and washed his Ipod and ruined it? Well, I saved my pennies this year and bought him a sleek silver one!  The boys gave him a picture (D) and an Itunes gift card (J).

It was a fun, fun day. Love my hubby, boys, family, and friends for making it so great!!!!

One Week

I wish this pic were a bit clearer. If you haven't already guessed where it's located, I'll give you a hint: The Happiest Place on Earth.

Yes, Disneyland. 

As I leave the 2010-2011 school year behind this week, I release my worries over students' lives and choices, my fears about being laid off or having amazing lesson plans in place, and the stresses of this crazy year. I enter the world of summertime. Like Disneyland, summertime always blends for me yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.

You need to understand, I have the perfect job for this world. My summers are off. I dream, read, and play. Dropping like chains, the former school year falls around me, and I'm a lighter version of me again.

In the world of yesterday, I'm a child once more, swimming all summer long with my sisters, brothers, and our friends at my parents' house. Even better now, we have children and spouses to splash and swim with.

Tomorrow is always before us and stands as hope for me. Hope for a relaxing, fun summer. Hope for better things, such as getting my house renovation completed before I'm 50. ;o)

My fantasies in the summertime are days spent at the cabin or afternoons on a beach. I'll at least get the cabin fantasy to come true this summer. I dream all year long of sitting on the front porch with my feet up, reading a book and taking long walks with my dogs.

Copyright 2011 Corrina L. Terry

Not very good picture courtesy of me!