The Swine Flu - Readers Beware!

Yes, you read it correctly!  But go ahead and read it again - it's true. I can hardly believe it myself - I think mostly it's because H1N1 has been so blown out of proportion, in my opinion, by the media.

First, let me preface this recollection by saying that it may be hard for some to stomach. :) I'm not writing this to gross anyone out, but as a Mom, I know other Moms may appreciate knowing a little more about this virus.

Last night around midnight, Mia began crying hard, and it was the sort of cry that I knew needed immediate attention. I ran into the kids room, and she had already thrown up in her crib. She was choking and panicking and coughing. I swooped her up as quickly as possible and carried her down the hall to the bathroom. (She made a trail the whole way.) I called for Ron and he got to the scene right away.

Now, a very important fact about this story is that almost exactly four years into Motherhood, this is truly the first time where I have experienced a vomiting child.  I thought my first time would be a little more alarming, but nope, instinct kicked in and all I could do was care about Mia, and comforting her. I wasn't focused at all on being thrown-up on.... :)

So, Ron cleaned up the whole mess. Mia was VERY hot. I tried to take her temp. by mouth as she was on my lap. I started and very quickly, the digital reading went to over 102, but then she gagged and got sick one more time. Right after that, we gave her a dose of Motrin and over 30 minutes later, we checked her temperature rectally, and it was still 103 AFTER she had had Motrin in her system for over 30 minutes!!!

After clean-up time, clothes changing, and rocking and sweet-talking, Mia finally fell asleep in our bed. The whole ordeal took about three hours.  She woke up at 7am with the exact same fever of 103!! I gave her Motrin right away, which is supposed to cover 7-8 hours, and only 5 hours later, she had the same fever again! I called the Dr. because I was concerned that I couldn't give her another dose of Motrin since it hadn't been 7-8 hrs. yet! The Dr. reminded me of something I did know, that I could give her Tylenol, and alternate between Motrin and Tylenol when I thought it was necessary. The Dr. did say that they would need to see her right away though. She needed a nap. While I changed her diaper, she was shaking like crazy - I couldn't keep her still. I gave her a dose of tylenol and rocked her and she took about an hour nap. (I had to wake her to go to the Dr's at 2:00) Ron came home from work which was great. Originally, my Mom was going to come on her dinner hour and watch Matthew and Kayla, but Ron didn't see the point of subjecting Mom to our germs.  A good idea for sure. Especially now that I know it's the swine flu.

The Doctor said that it was 99% sure that it was the swine flu. He said there is no seasonal flu going around in this area at all. Every instance that has been tested has been the H1N1.  I asked: "So, is everyone under my roof going to get it?" And he, and the medical student with him half-chuckled and said "Yes." He expects that we'll all get it. Of course, the seasonal flu shots that the kids and Ron got mean absolutely nothing against this bad-boy virus. Fabulous. This virus has a general footprint. It usually lasts about 4 days, the first two and a half or three days with a high fever. Mia has kind of hazy eyes, and has had 2 diapers that seemed to be diarrhea. The Dr. said that what's different with everyone is that not everyone gets diarrhea with this virus, and not everyone gets the vomiting. In fact, some get the fever and nothing else.

I also asked, since we are anticipating our Florida trip, how long a person will be contagious after the symptoms are gone? He said 2-3 days after the symptoms are gone you're no longer contagious. Wow.

Now, by my thinking I say to the Dr.: "So, basically I might as well have Mia go home and open mouth kiss Matthew and Kayla, and Ron and I too since we're all going to get it." He laughed, but he said he didn't think I'd need to - that it was pretty much inevitable that it will hit everybody in our family. I know it sounds a little crazy - but I'd rather get it over with and keep our Florida plans! At the same time though, we may postpone our trip for one week later to give everyone some more time to be completely well and refreshed. It depends on who gets sick and when.

This is just the beginning though. Tomorrow is only day two for Mia. Kayla had a fever when we put them all to bed. (They were all sleeping at 6pm)

Anyway, as far as H1N1, it's not so bad - but having all of us get it, and three of us being kids 4 and under, it will be no fun. We'd appreciate your prayers in this matter! We try to keep a good attitude and joke about all of this. We have to I guess.

Has anybody reading this experienced the swine flu or one of your family members? Share if you feel like it. I know that knowledge is power sometimes in all this craziness of sickness!

Florida Trip 2009

On November 12th, we'll be leaving around dinner time to head to Florida! We plan to drive straight through and arrive November 13th, late afternoon.  It will be ~ 16-day trip. We'll be leaving to come back home the day after Thanksgiving. We are all so excited! I've been so busy finding clothes for the kids to wear there and digging out their bathing suits all over again. I've been going crazy trying to keep up with housework and laundry too so that we'll be all set to leave and not have to come back to any messes. Things are going very smoothly. All the kids "stuff" is already packed and that is a huge task out of the way!  I have made lists upon lists upon lists - the only thing that helps me. 

This weekend, I will head to the library and pick up about 20 new books for the trip so the kids will have brand new books to check out to pass some time. Other plans to pass the time are: Listening to/Singing Christmas music and so many other kinds of music including Veggie Tales, Michael Buble, Psalms, and tons of others, drawing on magnetic boards, working on learning flash cards, acting goofy, (that one is very crucial to staying happy), watching a movie or two on the portable DVD player, napping, and probably snacking too. It will be a lot of work keep an almost 4-yr old, a 2-yr old and a 10 month old happy on what could be a ~24hr. trip, but it will be worth all the work if we get there still sane! Right!?  I am so thankful that we can go on this trip. It will be a nice treat! We'll be celebrating Matthew Thomas's fourth birthday while we're there too! AND we'll be seeing some family that we haven't seen in a long time! 

Well, I'm off to bed now. I plan to blog at least once while in Florida. We'll see how that turns out! 

The first ever real Tumbry blog entry!

No one can be more excited about this than me...I have been meaning to start a blog for the longest time and I'm so glad that it's finally happening!!! I have always kept a journal, which is more of a private thing. I will always continue to journal, but I think it's so good for the human spirit to share our lives with others. Especially loved ones. I am a believer in the very simple and although this isn't quite as simple as pen and paper, I will "simply" imagine that I am writing with a fountain pen and ink as I reveal the happenings in the Tumbry family.

The Tumbry household was established on June 1st, 2002, in Oswego, where Ron and I said our marriage vows.  Three and a half years later, the Lord blessed us with the birth of our first child, Matthew Thomas, and since then, two more children: Mia Grace, and Kayla Evangeline. We are so thankful for those additions!  The Lord is persevering us and teaching us daily. Our life is not easy, but is truly very simple!  We rely on our Savior to get us thru each day, each week, each year.  Some days are not much fun, but so far there have been many more good days than not-so-good days!  We have much to be thankful for. Another reason that I feel it important to share, and to give God the glory for His providences in the life of our family.


Speaking from the Mom's point of view, looking after three little ones is a task that I am so thankful to be able to perform. Staying home with them is both an amazing responsibility and an immeasurable blessing! I also watch another four-yr old, Emily, four days a week. The kids love her and her presence here blesses us additionally! These children teach me daily and I am happy to say that I am delighted to be teaching them daily as well. Motherhood, though it's true, "A Mother's work is never done", is so fulfilling that I couldn't possibly ask to have it one bit better.   And then there's that perk of having a loving, hard-working partner with me every step of the way. God has truly blessed me with a man with "a heart of gold." Ron's Mom told me this while we were dating. What a blessing being the wife of a man that fits that description. 

So!


I hope to share our joys and hard times that are inevitable in all families and I look forward also to hearing feedback as you are led!  I look so forward to using this blog!  Oh wait! I AM using it right now! Thank you in advance to our readers!