Catching Up...Not Throwing Up

Whew! What a week! Well, we are finally all better. Round two of the stomach flu went through all of us in one way or another. We survived to tell about it and we are taking more precautions to hopefully avoid other viruses this winter! And of course now that we are all over the latest virus, life is back in full swing! Here is what we have been up to:

Still not sure how this.....

Can go to this......

so quickly! He woke up last Sunday morning and he had thrown up and gone back to sleep. I thought it was something he had eaten the night before so I put him in the bath and gave him breakfast as usual. I sent Stephen and Jesstine onto church just in case it was something. Good thing because he was sick through Thursday!!! Poor guy! Tuesday we took him to the doctor because we were worried that he had stopped throwing up for a full day and then started again! That same day, I also got sick! I didn't have the vomiting or fever, but felt SUPER tired and had a LOT of nausea. Stephen stayed home for a couple of days and went back to work Thursday. We thought we were all on the mend. Stephen had some abdominal discomfort, but nothing like me or especially Emmitt. Friday morning Stephen sprung out of bed at about 4 AM and said, "Jesstine just threw up!" Sure enough she had! She spent the day on the couch. Had another upchuck episode a few hours later. After that just fatigue and low fever. She got to watch movies all day, so she was happy!

(I looked over and saw her like this. I thought she looked like she was praying! Aunt Sandra, this was shortly after I returned her princess blanket to her after going through the wash! She was VERY glad to have it back!)

Thursday when Emmitt was feeling better, I was holding him and he was very cuddly! I had to capture how he was holding my hand.

Chipper enough by Friday to play peek-a-boo in his tent. Top: "Where is Emmitt???" Bottom: HERE I AM!!!

So today it was back to routine for us! Jesstine got to go to school for the first time in a week. A good day to go back too! It is Kansas Day here (152 years ago Kansas became a state). To celebrate, her teacher thought it would be neat to show them how to turn wheat into bread. Even better, Moms and/or Dads could join! Afterward, we had an early snack of homemade whole wheat bread with homemade jam and jelly! It was so much fun! I am glad I got to experience it with her. Thank you Sandra for watching Joy Boy Jr.

The sat on benches and faced the little work station where their teacher told them about wheat and using it to make bread. Here they are passing a shock of wheat down the row and looking at it. (Jesstine's teacher had a sign on her workstation that said, "From Wheat to Bread." When she brought the kids in she pointed to it and read them what it said. Jesstine was reading out loud with her as she pointed to the words (she was the only one)!

When she ground the wheat in the coffee grinder, it was a bit loud.

Kneading the dough.

They passed a piece of dough around so they could feel the texture (don't worry, they washed their hands afterward).

I didn't get any pictures of the us eating the bread, but Jesstine was the prayer leader this week, so she got to start the class prayer before snack. We enjoyed the bread. Her teacher made it herself as well as the jams/jellies that she offered us to put on it. Jesstine didn't want any part of the jam until I gave her a little of mine and then she had to have some!

To top a good Monday off, the weather was FANTASTIC today! It was nearly 70 and it is the end of January in KANSAS! So, we took the opportunity to try out a few new toys. First was Jesstine's new bike. She is still getting the hang of it. It wobbles from training wheel to training wheel and she has a little trouble pressing the pedals hard enough. Dumpty sure enjoyed the ride.

During the kids' naps, I put Emmitt's new seat on my bike. When the kids were up, they enjoyed a little snack and then we headed out to the park. Jesstine rode in her chariot (the bike trailer) and Emmitt rode on his throne.

Today I was reminded that God is good all of the time. When we are sick, he is good to us. He provides us with people to care for us and comfort us. When we are well, he gives us the blessing of sunshine and warmth in the middle of winter!

In Him,

The Hutchins Family