I'm an Unschooling mom in Las Vegas, NV. I have all boys! A 14 yr old, a 7 yr old, a 1 yr old and 2 teenage stepsons.
4 of the 5 have some special need or another, and the 5th would be termed "gifted" if he was in school. They all have their own interests and abilities.
Join me as I blog about our Christ-led learning approach...things that work, things that don't, and the antics of family life!
Well, in my last entry I thought the week was crazy, little did I know it was just picking up!
While the big boys got through the stomach bug relatively quickly, poor Sebastian did not. Add the fact that he has a metabolic disorder, and we ended up in the hospital.
It was very ugly. Poor guy wasn't hydrated enough for them to find a good vein, multiple pokes later they finally got one. He was becoming acidodic, a condition they need to keep on top of with kids with metabolic disorders, as it can rapidly spin out of control.
On top of all of this you've got me...previously when my kids were hospitalized, I'm right there, taking notes, doing research, advocating etc. This time...it was a throw up thing...when I say I have a throw up phobia, I don't just mean I don't like it..I mean full blown panic attacks, massive anxiety, heart racing, no eating, etc etc etc. I had dealt with Sebastian and Elias all weekend being sick, by the time we got to the hospital I was no good to anyone. It's rather embarrasing to even admit it, because it's sooo dang irrational. I ended up in the ER our 2nd night there, from so much stress that I ended up throwing up. A nice few drugs later, life looked a little better.
Sadly, now, the stomach bug is hitting just about every family we know...so I am constantly being bombarded with the topic, and some families who don't believe in staying home with sick kids (?!?!) I'm even getting to witness it! It's truly too much in my fragile emotional state. I'm about ready to stay indoors for the next few weeks. It's affecting every aspect of my life right now, all my kids are tired of hearing about it, and I'm tired of thinking about it. ACHHH!!! Frustration!!!!!
If I can get a couple of weeks without the topic, without seeing it, hearing about it, witnessing it, I should be able to tone down the anxiety...so, if you know me, and you have sick kids, keep them home! We don't want more germs and I can't handle the topic anymore!!
So, that's where we are..recovering nicely, but not wanting to get re-infected. I'll try to write more soon!
Really cool---I've been here before when you commented about your phobia, and here I am again when you are struggling! I stopped by at the right time. May I talk to you for a sec?
First, you did great if you were taking care of the kids. If it were my daughter, I'd more than likely would have locked myself in my bedroom for the entire duration. Yep. I'm totally serious.
I get this so bad that if she even mentions she isn't feeling well, off to the room I go. Even reading your post messed me up a little bit! This phobia is the main reason I started homeschooling. I obsess about this problem every single day. Honestly--every single day.
I'm telling you this so you know that you're doing great. You are!! You could totally give your life over to it, like I sometimes do, but you don't. You handled it!! Maybe not perfectly like 'normal' mom's do, but you were still a hero. A hero isn't unafraid, a hero acts despite their fear.
Oh, I know about not being able to eat and all that, I'm the same way. But you actually took care of those puking kids and for that you should be proud, not ashamed.
Also, the fact that you were throwing up to and you made it through?!? Wow. That is such a victory! Some psychiatrists believe that throwing up is actually a cure for this phobia (emetophobia) but its never worked for me. Maybe it will for you!
I have no idea if any of this helps you or not, but you aren't a freak and you're not a bad mom, you just suffer from a disorder that more people than you think suffer from as well. You aren't alone.
Glad everyone is feeling better!
Missy Olivo
www.molivo.wordpress.com
missyolivo@gmail.com
