I took my oldest son to his first Pre-Kindergarten Christmas concert in 2012. It went as normal as any other occasion I get excited for. My stroller was to big to push around in the crowd of people, and of course my eight month old was sound asleep. So I left him in the stroller while I watched the cute musical presentation they provided us with. My video camera that I wanted "so bad" to capture moments such as these wouldn't work. And when I say wouldn't work I mean when I press the "take a photo button" I obviously meant record. So now I have these fuzzy terrible looking photos of him standing there with his mouth open.
That's when I started feeling sick, and honestly, just wanted to go home. I wasnt in the best of mood so the thought of having a bunch of 4 year old children making a Christmas tree out of icing, sprinkles, candies and an ice cream cone wasn't exactly what I wanted to participate in. My son was to excited to pass up that opportunity, and I couldn't bare to tell him we were going home. We stayed, and frosted each portion of that cone, and placed a variety of candy so that it covered the entire tree, and then came the words "Now...I get to eat it." A mothers worst nightmare. I thought to myself, why would they torture us parents like that? Have our kids make a super sugary treat then say "Adios, oh and have a Merry Christmas." Terrible to say, but at this point in my soon to be death torture, I didn't care. Did I mention while we were making our awesome tree, a random person walked up to me and said "Is that your baby?" "Yes" I embarrassingly responded. "He is screaming." I rushed over there and sure enough it was my child who was purple faced crying strapped in a huge stroller, and I was the mother that was oblivious to it. Oops!
On the drive home I phoned my husband and told him how I was feeling sick, and I needed him to come home. I had a hope inside of me that he would rush to my rescue, but then reality struck and all he had was a short apology and in four hours he would be home.
Finally my husband got home, the kids were still up, unfed and I was lying on the couch feeling as if I was dying. My entire body hurt, and my stomach was in excruciating pain. Because my husband is so awesome, he took care of the kids. Unfortunately it was only a Tuesday and he didn't have any days off until Saturday.
Have you ever nursed while sick with the flu? I never have until this death sickness struck me and let me tell you. It. Is. Awful. There are no words for me to explain the intensity of how badly I hated this flu, and having to take care of two children was so difficult.
It was more like a twelve hour flu then a twenty four hour recovery. I still did not want to eat the next two or so days but forced down a couple crackers every few hours.
So in ending, the flu literally! Almost killed me, or so it felt that way, but I did loose that ten pounds..in twelve hours...shockingly, it never came back. To me, it was almost like sympathy gift. Here is a nasty unspeakable, dreadful stomach flu, but don't you worry! That ten pounds will never return.
At first I glorified in the simple fact I didn't have to work out daily. Then realized, I still do... So I began to start a routine, then came Christmas 2013 and I stopped but here we are entering 2014 and I'm back at it. I'm not sure if it will ever feel enjoyable, but I know that my future self will appreciate it. I can already see my metabolism slow down and if I want any more kids in the future years I know I need to keep working toward having a regular exercise routine.
It only took me one entire year after my horrific experience with my photos, and a nasty flu to get me going.
So I welcome 2014 with open arms. I am excited to see where our family goes, how I grow into becoming a better wife and mother and just simply enjoy this little messy, chaotic life we have here in Canada.
As promised here are the two pictures.
Before
After
