dsc02478.JPGLast weekend, Andrej and I were navigating our way through new parental territory. Kaiya had the stomach flu. Last Saturday morning I should have known that something was going on when Kaiya didn't eat very much breakfast. It was also a busy morning in the Ciho household because the next day our house, which we rent and is also for sale, was scheduled for an open house. After breakfast all three of us got to work cleaning and readying the house for potential buyers to walk through. About an hour into our cleaning frenzy, we were all in the living room where Andrej and I had just finished giving our living room rug the best cleaning it has ever received in the year we've owned it. Andrej and Kaiya were sitting on the couch and I was in the recliner and we all were admiring how clean and fuzz free our rug was when Kaiya out of the blue started whining and rubbing her eyes as if she was ready for a nap. Andrej tried comforting her and then put her down so she could come over to me. Just as he was about to release her, I commented the she sure looked sick when "it" happened. 

Now when it comes to baby spit-up, Andrej and I are seasoned pros as Kaiya spent the first nine months of her life spitting up after each feeding. However what came out of Kaiya in that moment, and continued to come, was unbelievable. We both just watched in utter shock as the entire contents of her stomach were emptied right onto the rug we had just worked so hard to clean. She also managed to cover her beloved bear, blanket and herself before there was a break in the madness. After it was over poor Kaiya stood there shaking, crying and screaming "beh, meh-meh" (bear, blanket), while Andrej and I looked at each other not really sure what to do next.

Thankfully, my dear Andrej who tends to react a bit faster than myself rushed Kaiya into the bathroom to clean her up. After stripping her down to her diaper and washing her off, Andrej held her as I located a spare bear and blanket as she was still crying out for the two of them. Then Andrej and I were faced with the decision of who would clean up the mess in the living room. I was sure I wouldn't be able to do it without getting sick myself and quickly reminded Andrej of the bloody tooth incident a few months back when I almost passed out. Andrej, being the GREATEST husband and father ever, stepped up to the plate and cleaned up the entire mess. I just held my sick baby wondering what in the world to do next.

dsc02477.JPGThe rest of the day, Kaiya continued to vomit and by the evening was running a fever. I put in a call to out doctor's office where the nurse confirmed that the stomach flu is going around and gave me some guidelines for keeping Kaiya hydrated while allowing her stomach to rest and getting the fever down. I called our Realtor to cancel the open house because I wasn't sure how Kaiya would be the next day. It turned out to be the best decision as Sunday was much of the same. Kaiya continued to eject anything and everything we gave her from Pedialite to water to cherry popsciles and ran a fever most of the day.

We did however wise up and a bucket stayed within reach of Kaiya at all times. She even learned new words as she would exclaim with horror on her face, "Kaiya, sick! Buck (bucket)!" We quickly learned that she wasn't joking and would supply the bucket. She would also tell us periodically that she needed "mecine" (medicine) or that we should take her "temp" while pointing to her ear (we use an ear thermometer).

Many loads of laundry later, Kaiya started feeling better and better and was able to eat a little here and there and by Wednesday she had pretty much returned to normal. As sad as it was to watch her suffer, I loved having her snuggled up so close to me. We learned that my big ol' baby belly makes a nice pillow for a sick little girl. She didn't even mind her brother kicking and punching her as she tried to sleep. Thankfully neither Andrej nor I caught the virus and we are all glad that we survived our first bout with the stomach bug.