Lesson for mom with 3 sick kids

Youngest Lauren, right, who introduced the stomach virus to the family contemplates a treatment plan for her sisters, Ann, center, and Ellen. Playing hospital feels a whole lot different when the kids are sick in real life. / Courtesy of Jane Han

By Jane Han

I remember reading somewhere that having three kids meant the chance of parents losing sleep due to someone being up at night goes up by 33.3 percent. Well, that scary statistic also applies to sickness.

The past week, my house has been hit by a nasty stomach virus that’s turned this place pretty much into a warzone.

Norovirus or rotavirus, we’re still not exactly sure what bug is getting every single person in this house sick except me. But whatever it is, it’s been brutal.

The household epidemic first began with my youngest Lauren one week ago at precisely 2 a.m.

Ever wonder why kids get sicker ― or in my case, sick all of a sudden ― at night?

Experts suggest all kinds of elaborate reasons.

But when you’re bone tired and not exactly in a state of mind to think clearly, it’s straight up impossible to pinpoint why on earth your child’s bodily fluids are emerging from both ends at the same time.

You’re lucky if you don’t end up getting puke or poop all over yourself while trying to change bed sheets, blankets and pillow cases ― for the fifth time.

So after surviving that first night, I took Lauren to the pediatrician and, after a brief exam, was told that it’s probably just a small stomach bug and was sent home with a prescription for Zofran, an anti-nausea drug.

We ended up not needing the medicine for Lauren, so I didn’t bother picking it up from the pharmacy.

Oh how much did I regret that decision just one night later.

The small bug that Lauren had picked up from somewhere somehow went on steroids, quadrupled in its severity and took down both Ellen and Ann, along with dad.

So now we had all three running to the bathroom. All. Night. Long.

Ann’s case was the worst so she was pretty much lying down on the bathroom floor as it was too much work to go in and out so often.

No one slept that night.

Boy did I wish I had Zofran handy.

As soon as the pharmacy opened at 7 a.m., I picked up the prescription and distributed to everyone in need.

I know there are parents who make an issue out of the excessive use of medication. I’m not one of them.

I am an advocate of taking advantage of any and all resources available. And yes, Zofran did its magic almost immediately.

So for a day and a half, we had an almost normally functioning household _ until Ann slipped right back into vomit mode for another two whole days after apparently rushing into eating before her body was ready.

Soon, Ellen and dad were doing much better.

Now that we’re almost at the end of this ugly virus, I am finding myself so thankful that I don’t have to do at least six loads of laundry soiled with vomit and diarrhea every day and that I don’t have to cook three different menus for dinner.

Rice porridge was a given since Ann couldn’t tolerate anything else, if even that, and a regular meal for all the non-sick people and some additional light options such as warmed tofu and steamed potatoes for the in-between people who were on the way to getting well.

While cooking, I kept having to remind myself that only five people were living in this house.

So yes, there really is something to be thankful for in the midst of any situation.

And if there is one thing I realized over the past week, it’s that perspective is everything.

I have three children at home who are sick, but I know they are going to get better in a few days.

That is something truly to be thankful for when there are heartbroken parents with children struggling from terminal illnesses.

I was also thankful that I have the luxury of being able to stay home to take care of the girls.

OK, I lied.

A part of me hated being housebound for more than 72 hours with all these kids that needed extra care.

But then again, who would know their needs the best? Of course, mom.

I caught myself looking in the mirror this morning and realized that I haven’t done so for the past week.

I looked beat. I felt beat.

No one said raising kids was going to be all fun, but this past week was definitely one of those trying moments.

As I look back to all the big and small episodes, I can certainly say that this week was a special one to give mommy a special lesson, more like boot camp.

Just one more experience to add to the books to become a seasoned parent.