Tiny Ugly Germs (sing it, Yo Gabba Gabba)

Our family has been struck by the plague. As soon as one child finishes a course of antibiotics I'm dragging the other one into the pediatrician's office. I had been warned that this was what happens when you have a child in school. The constant sniffles and coughs and fevers never end. Apparently the only way to deal with it is to wait it out until their immune systems "catch up." (Nevermind that I keep getting sick too. Where's my immune system??)

Waiting is all well and good, but I deal with things differently. I complain make witty observations. Shocking, right? But then I realized that even I was getting tired of listening to all my whining. So in the interest of a challenge, I've decided to present the silver lining to the never-ending-parade-of-germs in my household:

1. Thanks to the great-stomach-bug-of-Christmas-2008 I have lost 15 lbs.

2. The other night Glitter Fairy Princess woke up vomiting and couldn't go back to sleep. After sitting up with her for an hour she turned to me, very seriously, and asked "Mommy, is we havin' a conversation?" Yes we were. It was uninterrupted by TV or Daddy or Little Man and it was wonderful.

3. Little Man is almost 11 months old and has the happiest and most easy-going personality I've ever seen in a baby. (Apologies to GFP, but "easy-going" was never an adjective I could use for her. "High-energy" and "high-spirited" were more her style.) While running fevers of almost 103 he still beamed his huge smile every time I'd pick him up. He'd even high-five before slumping his little head on my shoulder. It made the stress of caring for two sick children seem to melt.

4. I've had to cook a lot less since the kids have been too sick to leave the house 3 out of 7 days a week. (It makes grocery shopping kinda difficult. I'm pretty sure CPS would frown upon me leaving them home while they're napping.) Pizza helps build the immune system doesn't it?

5. GFP starts Pre-K (or "real school") next year. I've realized that I enjoy the freedom of keeping her home with me whenever I want. Modern Daddy might be right that I'm gonna miss her next year during the day. But I'd never admit that to him.

6. Being sick has meant that I have a bona-fide excuse for not working out. Which means reading blogs while drinking coffee can be done sans guilt.

7. I really like the kid's pediatrician, so at least there's that.

8. There's a McDonald's right beside said pediatrician's office. No matter how sick I may be feeling somehow I can't resist a Big Mac and fries. Mmmm.

9. Children's TV is MUCH better than it used to be. Putting on cartoons for the sick girl is actually enjoyable. (Yes, I've been known to gladly sit and watch The Backyardigans or Yo Gabba Gabba with her.) (And yes, I totally switch off of the shows that teach "life lessons." Sorry Franklin, but isn't that what I'm here for?)

10. I have a valid excuse for changing out of PJs and right into clean NEW PJs.

11. GFP has decided she's a "big girl" and has started calling me "Mom." But when she's not feeling good it's all "Mommy" and cuddles. I'll take the cuddles any way I can.

In fact, I'm going to snuggle now. In my PJs. Maybe we'll have a conversation, too.