The two older children have "walking pnuemonia" and the baby has RSV. It's been--shall we say---interesting.  We've been hip deep in Snot, Vomit, and Poop---sounds like a bodily-functioned-themed 60s folk trio, doesn't it?  Now I have pneumonia as well. We are praying that the baby doesn't develop pnuemonia. She's been to the doctor's office every day but one since last Friday because the doctors are very concerned about her little lungs.  We think, though, that the worst is past.

We put off our regular school lessons for another week--maybe more-- to allow the children to recuperate.  We have settled them in the living room rather than their separate bedrooms because it's more convenient for me to care for them all together.

The end of the dining room table resembles a dispensary, complete with dosing schedules, medicines, and nebulizer tubing and masks in a ziploc bag for each child.  Thermometers, hand sanitizer, facial tissues, and cough drops are all on hand. Hubby picked up some disposable plates and cups which has been an enormous help. I made labels with each child's name that we use to keep track of who is drinking from which cup.

The kitchen counter looks like a lab. The nurse at our pediatrician's office said  the nebulizer equipment [ not the tubing] has to be washed after each use with soapy water and then soaked for 30 minutes in a water/vinegar solution to sterilize it. So, we have three large glass bowls labelled with each child's name to soak their stuff in.

We turned the whiteboard into a chore board. Daily chores are listed down the left side and the days of the week across the top. That way hubby and I can just check off what we've done. That's been such a help because by the time he gets home from work and asks what I need help with, I have sometimes forgotten what needs to be done.

We have managed to do some "educational" work. We have some good movies and LOTS of books and kids' magazines. My son read The Three Musketeers yesterday. All of it. I'd intended to assign that book later in the year but he picked it up, began to read, and then would call out, "Hey Mom! listen to this part!"  I guess that qualifies as narration!  Thelma Lou read Mouse Soup.  They both have been reading some Clubhouse magazines, Answers in Genesis for kids, and  My Big Backyard. My daughter is fascinated with numbers. She likes to try to stump me with problems she's made up.

I promised them that I would let them play some stuff on the computer today.  A few years back, I bought Cindy Prechtel's Using the Internet in your Homeschool.  It's going to come in handy over the next little bit. The children are still so tired--even though they are doing better--and some educational games or virtual tours might ease them back into learning and our regular schedule.  Mrs. Prechtel's book has saved me so much time over the years--I highly recommend it.

Well, that's life for now at the Doehill Homeschool,  er, Hospital. At the rate we're going we should have our medical deductible met by around 2 pm this Saturday! All joking aside, though, I am very thankful to the Lord Jesus for not letting this get as bad as it could of been. Once, Charlene Darling stopped breathing and my husband performed first aid. We got her to the emergency room and they were able to help her. It could have been very different, but God saw otherwise!  We thank and praise Him for His goodness.