Dadmaster: May 2017

Well, it looks like we're finally near the end of our two-week disease extravaganza! Yet somehow, the person who got out of it the cleanest was Crash Boy. You know, the infant who puts everything in his mouth? Coughed for a few days, threw up once. That's it.

It started with the stomach, then made a smooth transition into a bad cold, then I'm sure if we hadn't all dutifully gotten our flu shots, that's what'd be striking us next.

And yet, even though I know it was horrible, all I'm left with are good memories. It's the worst reason to miss work, but it was nice for Jessi to stay home. I was overwhelmed and spent a day at Mom's house, and yet I had a great nap, and got to read a book while watching my boys have the time of their life with the grandparents.

I know that it hurt to swallow, and I know we did laundry in the middle of the night. I know we dealt with cleaning the carpet and making it smell somehow both like vomit and Febreze Spring Freshness or whatever. But I remember those things the same way I remember a telephone number. They don't make me feel anything. But looking back, what I remember is laughing with Jessi about how amazing ramen noodles were, a dish we hadn't eaten in years, and how proud I was of Daniel being brave even though he felt awful.

I smile thinking about our special way of showing we need help: laying on the couch with socks and a blanket, and complaining, "I have malai-h-h-haise..."

And I look through the pictures I took, and doggone it, even though I tried not to do anything, even though I could've sworn I'd decided to give up on parenting and let DanPar watch YouTube while I play videogames, it looks like we actually, you know, DID things!