Disclaimer: the story below is NOT for the faint of heart {read: please don't leave me some anony comment complaining about how gross this story is. I really don't care.}

We ventured to the zoo on Friday, per Aiden's request, as being the zoo members that we are, we hadn't been in a while. It's funny, watching your children, and the subtle ways in which they can change in just a matter of weeks. I can pinpoint what he has picked up from his friends at school, vs. what I have taught him. (He is such a little sponge. A DANGEROUS little sponge.) 

This was our best trip yet. Aiden was having a wonderful time. He only made us ride the train ONCE which is major for him, and was thrilled to see all the animals. He would choose which direction we would walk, and he was genuinely interested in each exhibit. Jamin and I were having a blast, just watching him enjoy himself. The zoo was really crowded with a couple of field trips from local schools, but it was the perfect weather and the perfect trip. 

We had just stopped by the Bengal Tigers when Aiden said he was hungry. I whipped out two of his faves: rice cakes and goldfish and told him to pick. He waved it away, clutching at his tummy, and said he only wanted juice. Suddenly, after walking all morning, he wanted to ride in the stroller. I just assumed he was tired, as he had literally been running in between each stop. I sat him beside Emerson, and off we were headed to see his favorite animal, the "ribbets." We were halfway there when Aiden proclaimed, "My tummy hurts." 

We halted the stroller where we were standing: in front of a pavillion full of about a hundred or so picknic-ers currently enjoying their lunches. 

Aiden suddenly gagged, and the rest was history, while I desperately tried to lift him out of our brand new double wide and into the grass. But it was too late. His feet were caught. In one exorcist-style heave, I was covered as was he, by the time the public display of sickness had ended. Aiden was completely soaked. I had to strip him down in the grass and wrap him in a blanket to carry him to the car. 

I must hand it to the kid: if you're gonna go down, do so in a blaze of glory... being the one who ruins about 200 or so innocent bystander's lunches, while currently exposing a crowd full of people. I mean there has to be a bit of fun in the idea of being THAT kid

I still feel bad about it. 

I really didn't care at the time, though looking back it was awesomely embarrassing.

At the doctor, they told us Aiden had a gastrointestinal virus, (which basically means he caught the latest thing going around all over the south east.)  

Aiden was fine for a while, throw ups subsided, and then he started up again after the doctor squeezed his tummy in the exam. It was all downhill from there. On the way home, I was playing catcher, and two hours later, Aiden was completely helpless, on the couch. He literally had it coming out both ends. Gross, yes, I know-though it is essential to illustrate the brevity of the situation. It's so hard to feel so completely helpless watching your children suffer. At one point, I was crying with him, while I waited for his current convulsions to subside.

By Saturday night, despite our best efforts, Emerson woke with the throw ups as well. My worst fear. I was able to keep Emerson hydrated as her condition was probably the scariest. I'll spare you the details, but watching your small baby with an illness is even harder than an older child. Communication isn't possible. All I could do was place her on a giant pile of blankets and towels, waiting for the next erruption.

And then, Sunday morning, Jamin wasn't feeling so hot. In the nearly ten years we have been together, I have never seen Jamin throw up. He hadn't been nauseous since he was six years old and had Chemo. Well, we have a new record he can start counting down from, because he is still on his deathbed this morning. He had the worst case of everyone. 

I am so tired from cleaning and taking care of my entire fam, I can barely write this morning. Twenty six loads of laundry, an entire can of lysol, bottle of Purel, and container of Clorox wipes easily obliverated later, I'm about to go sterilize the house and with what little energy I have left...

I have been exposed over and over and over again, in the worst of ways, and am counting my blessings I haven't caught it, (I think I'm in the clear after three days of no symptoms). Thank goodness for my parents who dropped some much needed supplies at the house-pedialyte, bananas, chicken noodle, and rest inducing videos included. 

We need a biohazard sign over our door. 

I'm here to tell you not to go out. Heed my warnings. It's not worth it. Stay indoors for the next month. Innocent people like us are walking around oblivious to the fact they have it until it's too late and all have been exposed... I'm going to boil all of our belongings, deep clean the carpets, and scrub the baseboards. UGH.

In the meantime, I'm off to purchase that pair of riding boots online I've been eyeing. I SOOOOO earned them.

Despite the carnage we left behind, here are some pics before the great sickness hit!