tuesday.
i slept an hour
and a half
the night before,
and i wanted to
get a little more rest
when maddy woke me
up with her
usual morning noises.
instead of going
to get her
as i usually do,
i let her talk
away and attempt
to entertain herself.
20 mins later,
the talking turned
to crying, so
i reluctantly got out
of bed and
into her room
to retrieve her
from her night prison.
the smell of vomit
damn near
knocked me over
as soon as
i opened her door.
now.
i know i’m
the adult in this
situation, but damn it.
i mean, i can’t handle
vomit, i’ve just never
been able to.
like the time my
brother threw up
pizza and orange soda
all over the
new white carpet
at my mom’s house
and i made
liz
clean it up.
or the time that
liz
threw up all over
the carpet in our first
apartment, and i had
to tie a towel around
my mouth and nose
in order to clean
it up.
she laughed at me
for being
like such a little bitch.
(i tried to get her to clean it up, but she claimed she was too sick).
back to tuesday.
i said, “holymotherfuckingshit”
under my breath
(she is repeating everything these days)
and stepped into her room.
i got her out
of her crib,
gave her
a bath and got
her dressed.
she wanted milk, but
i knew better and
gave her water instead.
i put her
in my bed while i
threw her bedding in
the washer.
as soon as i
got the thing started,
i heard the unmistakable
sound of my child vomiting.
yeah.
again.
bath #2.
outfit #2.
second set of
bedding replaced.
she seemed
way better after the
second puking
episode, so i figured
it was a good
time for us to
head out to
get some pedialyte
and other sick-child essentials.
she of course, fell
asleep on the
five minute drive
to the store,
so instead of waking
her up, i reclined my
seat and took
a nap with her.
eventually she woke me
up so we
went in and did
our shopping.
i spent the
rest of the afternoon
and into the night
holding madeline, because
she got super clingy.
it’s weird, she’s
usually too busy
running around
the house, coloring
on my important
paperwork or playing
with her toys
to spend any time
hanging out with me,
but when she
gets sick, she
ends up like this:
(aka, sweet as sugar).
wednesday.
she seemed better.
she was standing up
in her crib,
repeating, “milk, milk, milk, milk.”
it had been almost 24
hours since she
last puked, so
i figured that i could
give her what
she wanted.
she finished the
bottle, i waited
an hour…
no vomiting, so i
figured i’d take
her to daycare.
before leaving she
did a little decorating:
then we got a quick
photo shoot in
before heading out…
i got her dropped off
and headed home
to write…
i spent most of
my day watching
my phone, hoping that
i wouldn’t get
that dreaded phone call
from daycare.
she made it through
the entire day
with no vomiting.
we had a couple
of visitors
that evening…
our house sitter
during our time
in india, and her
friend who’s gonna
house-sit for
us while we’re gone
for the next month.
then michele stopped
by to talk
about our foundations
and everything else.
thursday.
madeline woke up whiny.
i got her out
of her crib,
got her dressed
and gave her some milk.
she usually heads
straight for her
piano in the morning,
but today she laid in bed
with me
that should
have been my first sign
that something was wrong.
she finished up
her milk and
then the whining
really kicked in…
she seemed so sad,
which led me to
wonder if i
could keep her
home from daycare
due to extreme sadness.
i comforted her
a bit before
deciding that she
should go hang out
with her friends
for the day.
she was still
whining when
i got her strapped
into her carseat.
and it struck
me that
she definitely whines
like her mom
used to when
she was sick.
that made me smile.
we made it less
than a mile
from home
before i heard
that sound again.
shit.
looked in the
rear-view mirror
just as she vomited
all over herself.
damn it.
this time
i wasn’t so
much freaked out
by the vomit as i
was worried about
my little girl.
i decided that
it would be best
to just drive
back to the house
to get her cleaned up.
i got her home,
got her out of the
car and
undressed her on
the porch, then
into the bath
she went…
she threw up
two more times
before noon,
but she seemed to
feel better afternoon,
thanks to
a continuous loop
of yo gabba gabba.
thankfully she hasn’t
been running a fever.
unfortunately she
wasn’t all that
interested in eating
and drinking most
of the day, but
she did have
(some) brown rice,
(a little) pedialyte,
and a ton of ice.
by evening, the whining
was (mostly) over,
and my rambunctious
little girl was back.
she threw two
framed photos
on the floor,
did 10-15 laps
through the house,
and pushed my
desk chair
around my office
for 20 minutes.
and while i finished
up this post,
maddy held her barbie up
up to the tv
and said,
“barbie this gabba”
so that was pretty
fucking cool.
and though it would
have been better
for my writing if
i had
had a quiet
day alone,
i really loved
hanging out with
my sick kid.
i just wish
i had some help
putting this car seat
back together.
139 Comments
Glad Maddy is better! Pedialyte can be a lifesaver and I agree dealing with vomit can be tough.
I just can’t get over how much she is growing up and her looks are changing. She’s more beautiful all the time….
I just can’t help but think of Liz when I read the barbie moment…
So, where are you heading to in January?
I hate the sick bug. I hope Maddy continues to feel better. Sometimes just hanging with Daddy is what is needed. It is difficult when they are little and sick, they dont give much warning and they cant aim for the bucket !!lots of love to you both from this side of the pond.tiny sprinkling of snow today yay
Vomit stories crack me up. My sister vomits anytime she smells or sees vomit and occasionally when she sees people gag. She blames me because I puked in the tub when she was 4 and I was 3 and she swears the vomit was grabbing her and pulling her under. She also swears it gave her a fear and lifelong disgust of regurge (as she puts it). She even gives me her kid to clean up if she pukes because she can’t stand to be around it. Anyhow I am glad Maddy is feeling better.
Awww good job Matt. Sicky babes can be a challenge but oh my gosh are they the sweetest ever.
No fun – poor Maddy. In October both my girls (4 & 2) had a stomach bug that seemed endless. I don’t handle puke well either – my husband was always much ‘better’ (?) at that than me – but at one point I had both the girls throwing up into bowls, simultaneously. Good times.
Glad to hear she’s doing better.
~C~
I’m glad she’s doing better. I hate putting car seats back together, too.
Vomit is my worst nightmare. We get the bug through our house once a year. Last year both kids were at it for 24 hours. They tag teamed, we ran out of towels & fresh sheets. Just as they were coming good, my husband & I decided to share some intimate spewing moments together. We called on my in-laws to come save us & take the children. They found my husband lying in the doorway breathing fresh air. Me hugging the toilet & the kids drawing with my lipstick in their bedrooms. Fire engine red lipstick goes really well with Antique White.
Vomit is evil! Glad your little girl is feeling better.
She gets more beautiful each day. I’m glad she is feeling better. I can relate to the puke ordeal and trying to put the car seat back together. Every single time we go further than 1 mile from home in the car, 2 year old daughter vomits. Been that way since birth. Dr says she’ll soon outgrow it but it isn’t looking hopeful. So, I’m a pro at that car seat thing by now…
I had a similar episode recently, my boy was sick so I kept him off school, we were having a great, albeit subdued day, but he seemed better. Thought lets pop and get my mobile phone fixed. However on the return journey he threw up his lunch, so I was trying to clean and comfort him and the chair, in a layby somewhere between my house and the nearest T-Mobile store – who incidentally didn’t have a loan phone for me. Chair/car still smells even though it doesn’t, if you get my drift.
Hope the Maddy is better now.
Poor Maddy hopeshe is better now
This was one of my fave posts ever. Maddy wrapping the house with TP is priceless. I hope she feels better ASAP. I was scarred for life when this kid, who shall remain nameless (Jason Boch), threw up clam chowder in the cafeteria in the 3rd grade. It was horrific. I’m still wondering why a third grader was sent to school with clam chowder…..
I’m no good with puke either but kids help you get better at it. My little girl puked right in my face once – in my nose everywhere !!! I learned eventually to not pick her up face on when she is pukey and whiney.
HATE the vomit. HATE.
Poor Maddy, poor daddy! Glad she’s feeling better. Nothing is worse than listening to your child vomiting, and of course being the one to clean it up!!! YUK! Cracked me up about you guys sleeping at the store! Don’t know what I would’ve thought if I walked past your car and saw you both sleeping LOL!
She’s like the Andrex puppy with that toilet paper.
She’s had a real growth spurt lately, a real little girl now.
I am like you and can’t handle vomit. It’s amazing what you can do after having a child. When a stomach bug hit my whole family, my husband became child number three. In between my own vomiting I was changing sheets and giving baths. Once again you did an amazing job with Maddy. She is lucky to have you. P.S. Her hair is getting sooo long! She’s a beauty!
My 21 year old son just had the same thing down here in Florida. It’s funny that even at that age you still worry like heck over them when they are sick and secretly love that they get all lovey because they are sick. Maybe the world could use a lot more upset tummies.
Wishing you both a wonderful ChristmaKwanzaKah.
Aw poor thing…poor Maddy too!
Vomit sucks. I remember babysitting once and the little girl coughed so hard she puked up black stuff all over the floor… I freaking puked when I had to clean it up. I should have charged double that night. Glad Maddy is back to feeling better!
Glad she is feeling better! Looking forward to hearing where you are headed next!
You are amazing. Being on your own with a sick child is one of the most horrible feelings ever. You did well, and got over the vomit hurdle and Liz would be proud of you. (And maybe laughing a little?)
Glad Maddy is feeling better. Keep up the good work -= you are a good Dad!
I read your blog all the time, but I don’t believe I’ve commented before.
This brought back so many memories…like the first time my son puked all over me and all I could do is close my eyes and hold him until my mother came to my rescue with a towel, then kicked my dad out of the house while I stripped in the kitchen. Praying the whole time that I wouldn’t puke as well.
Or the time I was driving on the Mass Turnpike in Boston Traffic with my childless male friend Joey in the passenger seat, with my son in the back…who suddenly puked all over the car, and car seat. Poor joey…I remember him calling the people we were following and screaming that we had to pull over and pretty much sticking his head out the window until we got to the next rest stop. Good times, good times. The car seat was never the same after that.
good job papa! i secretly love it too when my baby girl is sick too because she gets SUPER cuddly. you did great, and continue to wow me! keep up the good work. as far as the car seat, i use a wet soapy wash washcloth for the straps (which easily get muck on them, in your case, vomit) AND stain stick to get what is stained undone.
It’s so sweet when they cuddle with you, especially when they are at the age when they never have time too! I hope she is all better now, poor little
No fun being sick or being the one who cleans it all up!! But I totally get it when the only thing you care about is your little girl and the smell of the vomit seems to be your less worry. Things that were disgusting to me before seem like nothing to me!!
The “You” before Kids and the “You” After!!
Thanks for the updates and I hope all is well with your book!!
Oh and the pictures are priceless!!! Especially the one with the toilet paper!! Ugh…..Been there!!!
I am shocked that she drank Pedialyte! I don’t know how they are still in business, in my 5+ years as a nanny and now a mother myself, I have never known a child who could tolerate the taste.
Glad to hear Maddy is doing better. Sounds like you sucked it up and took great care of her.
awww, poor Maddy! Hope she’s back to her normal, happy self and has no more of those vomiting episodes.
Looking forward to reading about where your travels take the two of you next!
right there with you. Mine puked in the car seat and I ended up tossing it and using a backup. I got it clean, never got it back together. What did I do to unhook that strap??? Anyway, you handled her sickness like a champ. The only time my 2 year old has clung to me in 2 years was when she was puking on me. Glad she’s better. Glad you didn’t get whatever she got. She looks so much older in these “before daycare” pics.
Vomit is the worst. Although, I think as a parent you kinda get used to eat (not the smell, no, never the smell…I gag reflex every time). But, my son was a sick kid a lot of the time when he was little (and he even now gets motion sickness–he’s almost 11 years old–vomiting gets worse!). But I distinctly remember a time we were going out to breakfast, he was about 3 years old, he started telling me he felt sick, I took him into the restaurant and he threw up in the toilet (YAY!) and then he said he felt better—so we went and had breakfast.
Here’s hoping Maddy feels totally better soon!
Asalamu Alaykom,
That is hard to stomach. Sorry you both have to endure that yuckiness. You’ve gotten another fatherhoood badge! The moment you care more about your kid’s health than you do about the carpet, the carseat or your own sudden nausea is truly a hallmark moment.
Mr. Boo threw up a week ago. We got a quick doctor visit (which cost $8) and a prescription for medicine. We headed to the pharmacy. I opened the box to read the info (thankfully one side of the paper is always in English). Then I looked at the medicine itself. I couldn’t figure out what I was suppposed to do with the glass vial. Turns out that it wasn’t anything for me to do! The pharmacist grabbed a needle and shot my kid in the rump with an antibacterial med. Mr. Boo was shouting, “I WANNA DOCTOR! I WANNA DOCTOR!” I carried him down the street with him shouting it out. Sigh…
Aren’t you glad her sickness didn’t happen in India?!
Poor Maddy girl!! I hope she is feeling better and that you don’t have to smell vomit anymore!! Mike can’t handle vomit either!
We had the stomach bug too this week. Nothing like projectile vomitting to start your day off. It is amazing that the older your kids get you get a very distinct intuition about when it is coming…its like a radar goes off.
My husband is the same with vomit.
Our son is 6 now, but it neverfuckingfails that when he’s got to throw up, he comes and sits in my lap. He cuddles up to me, its hard to resist a sick and clingy child … at this point I know what is coming so I request a towel and bucket. I always get puked on. always.
After I get puked on, my husband runs away in an attempt NOT to add to the vomit. I have a giant 6 year old to clean, laundry to do, a shower to take and a floor to clean. And hopefully not a 30 year old guy to clean up after too.
Yuck.
Glad she’s feeling better. Sick kids suck.
carseats can be a real bitch to put back together sometimes. I have a little girl that gets carsick (AKA: “Pukebag”). Sometimes I have to wash the seat more than once a week. It’s frustrating. Also, I will tell my husband about wrapping a towel around his face, that’s a really good idea (for him)! I hope Maddy is feeling better now.
I’m so sorry Maddy was sick. Hopefully you don’t get it, too. My son came home from day care vomitting last Friday, so of course, by Sunday both my husband and I were sick. It was dreadful. FYI, orange pedialyte, not fun to throw up-in case you were wondering.
Poor Maddy! She really had a rough time the last few days. So glad to hear she is feeling better. Cleaning vomit really is the worst job. Sounds like you did an awesome job in keeping her happy and helping her feel better. I agree the snuggling that goes with being sick is the best. Hopefully the two of you can catch up on some sleep now! Can’t wait to hear where your newest travels will take you.
she has the sweetest face………sorry there was puke coming out of it………hope she’s better!! merry christmas to you both! <3
Sorry she was sick and you had to clean up vomit. My husband is the same way, it’s a double whammy, he usually vomits right on top of the vomit, yuck! So of course, I am the clean up crew.
I loved the “Barbie this Gabba”, so freaking adorable and priceless. We have Gabba in the house, in the car, it could be worse.
Vomit makes you gag, Car seats make you curse
so glad to hear she is better!!! i hope you don’t catch that bug, whatever it was!
i am the same way with vomit-it makes me gag!
i loved how madeline decorated your house with tolit paper!
are you guys going to be in the mn for a month?
happy holidays!
Matt – I read your blog every morning, when I get to work. Maddie kind of reminds me of my own little girl and she makes me smile too! I think you are such a fabulous dad!
Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that I took a picture of the front and back of Fin’s (my little girl) car seat. Whenever I have to wash it (we’ve had a few blow outs too) I can look at the picture and figure out how to put it back together. They are RIDICULOUS!
~Lindsey
I hope you do better with the car seat than I did the first time I had to put it together (what IS it with kids puking all over them?) It took me and a friend two hours to figure the darn thing out and get it reassembled.
Glad she’s on the mend!
wow, she is really starting to also look a lot like you. especially in that photo by the trash can. I secretly love sick kids, certainly not becuase they are miserable, because that really sucks, but for the cuddle time. Love it.
A sentence! Yea, Maddy! I’m sorry she was poorly. Glad to see she’s better.
Poor Maddy…It’s so hard to see them sick, but isn’t the cuddling wonderful?
The pictures of your morning are just beautiful…She’s so grown up and looks beautiful even in front of garbage cans!!
I’m slightly emetophobic. Having kids and being a stay at home mom cures that. Quick.
My older kids are pretty good about puking in some kind of contraption. When they miss it’s my worst nightmare.
My 20 month old has yet to board the barf train. :-\ I know her time is coming. It’s inevitable.
Glad to hear Maddy is doing much better. The first time they get the tummy flu is kind of a shock to their body and it seems to take a bit longer for them to get over it. Next time, hopefully, won’t be as horrendous.
Changing subject: Are you going to Paris!?
Awwww, poor Maddy and Daddy! So happy she’s feeling better. Hope you’re getting some (much deserved) rest.
OH and amazing…a guy with puke? Usually bad. But u effin ROCK puke Matt! lol 
I’m glad she’s better! That is a huge bummer…the beauty of it is as they get older they manage the puking by themselves, however they don’t particularly want to snuggle anymore at age 9 after puking. :0) The worst is my standard poodle. I can look at him sideways and he’ll puke…very disgusting. I see more travel…awesome for you both!
YAY FOR THE ICE!!!!!
My son was sick the other day. Almost the exact same thing (he even wanted his milk too). So sad when your little ones are sick.
I’m totally not a fan of vomit either. I about died when my husband got sick at the same time.
Vomit stinks! haha aren’t I funny.
When my kiddos were little, I always carried a coin bucket from Vegas (doesn’t matter which casino, just a wide short bucket, withOUT holes in the bottom). It fit on the floor easily and could catch puke if necessary. Otherwise it was a great entertainment device to take things out of and put things back in.
It gets easier when they know they are getting ready to throw up and can aim into a large bowl.
A tip for you: Vicks Vapor rub, applied liberally underneath your nose when cleaning up vomit. Reduces risk of gagging and breathing in noxious vomit odours.
Love the pic of Maddy in the sunbeam.
Take care!
Maddy and I must have had the same illness! Her story sounds like mine the past three days and I am on vacation. Double yucky! Glad she is feeling better!
Now about that trip!! Don’t tease us like that!!! Let the cat out of the bag already!!
That was a great post. Poor Madeleine…
Have you tried looking on YouTube for videos on how to put the car seat back together? I had the same issue (vomit + car seat) and was able to find some good instructions on YouTube. Good luck!
So glad Maddy is feeling better!
Aren’t they so pitiful when they are sick. I hate when my son gets sick, but oh do I soak up the extra cuddle time!!!
Oh,,,glad that she’s getting better,,,,,I know that it wasn’t pleasant for either one of you.
Oh my….she looks so big in the photos before daycare.
I’m glad to read that Maddy is feeling better. Your post brought back many memories of my son’s childhood when I was a single 22 year old parent. I can remember the late nights with a vomiting or feverish toddler and trying to run to the washer to clean sheets while comforting him at the same time. Matt you are doing a wonderful job. My son is 16 now and 6’5 but when he got the flu this fall he still wanted to crawl in my bed for comfort. Some things never change. Healthy and happy thoughts to you and Maddy.
Ahh! I still feel so bad….even if we are blaming it on daycare
I’m gald she’s feeling better. I can’t handle vomit either, when Bella was doing it, I gagged every time and tried to hold my breath as I cleaned her up, ick. But it is nice when they wanna snuggle cuz Bella is always too busy for me too.
Here’s hoping you don’t catch it either! For me, so far so good. (knock on wood).
xoxoxoxoxoxo
ps.I LOVE it that Maddy introduced Barbie to Gabba.
My partner, Holly, is a preschool teacher and has had 4 of her kids go home with the same bug. It’s a nasty-non-stop-vomiting kind of bug. I’m happy to hear that Maddy is feeling better. I just love how she decorated the house!
Glad Maddy is feeling better.
Where are you going for a month?
yeah, whenever you think they are ready for milk again, give it a few extra days! That has happened to me many times!
Ugh – I hear ya about the vomit – it’s my most dreaded of the illnesses – it’s just so unconrollable!
If you need some guidance on putting the car seat back together, don’t hesitate to holler in my direction.
aww, poor baby! I’m glad she’s feeling better but so sorry you had to go through all that-puking definately SUCKS.
last year my daughter was around the same age as Maddy and she started puking round the clock when we were across the state at my in-laws for Christmas…that was the most miserable trip ever, we were all taking turns throwing up before we finally made it home! after 6 hours driving with a car full of nauseated people I was so happy to be home that I cried in the driveway. =)
ps. where are you headed for a month? have you said yet, because I must have missed it. safe travels as always!
I honestly think one of the major reasons I don’t have kids is the vomit thing. I can’t deal in any way with it and in college my roommate could barf on command. I’m like Seinfeld – I haven’t thrown up since 2002 (and that was alcohol induced). Couldn’t even tell you went the last time I was actually sick and threw up.
Good job with all the barfing and cleaning. I always hear that the vomit is different when they are yours. Different, but still gross.
I cannot believe how big she is. Seeing her spread out across you like that, combined with my blog hiatus for a couple of months, holy hell she is HUGE. Poor thing, I hope she is feeling 100% again.
Stomach stuff is THE WORST! I can’t do vomit either, but as a parent, you gotta deal with it. No fun. I’m glad she’s feeling better and I hope she stays well! You took such good care of her!
A little tip (from this Mom of 4!) Get some Recharge (RW Knudsen makes it-in the same aisle where Gatorade is) It’s much better than Gatorade or Pedialyte because it doesn’t have all that nasty artificial sugar in it. Keep some on hand just in case. We always have one bottle in the pantry. I’m sure Whole Foods carries it, too. All of that companies juices/drinks are great and healthy, too!
Good Luck with the car seat!
I feel for you, all 3 of my kids were sick two weeks ago (the toddler & the 5 yo had the vomit. double ewwww).
Hope things are better now. Take care.
Ick! I totally understand about the vomit! I hate to vomit myself and think that is the worst possible feeling. I am dreading the day my daughter vomits because I know I will be dying while cleaning it up!! I’m glad she is feeling better though. I love the picture of Maddy smiling with her teeth showing. She looks just like you in that picture. It’s funny how their different expressions can make them look like a different person. Sorry to hear that you couldn’t get much work done but glad that you got to spend some quality time with your best girl.
A+ matt. seriously, mastering the vomit is like getting your girl/cub scout badge. wear it with pride. i hate it when my baby girl is sick, but i have to admit i love the attention. the worst is when you’re sick and your child is not. they want to play and dance on you and you want to cry. that’s another badge. i am so glad she’s feeling better and back to her awesome self. she is gorgeous and you have to know, she looks so much like her mom. there’s a little you in there too, but i think it’s a wonderful gift that she looks like liz.
Good luck with that car seat… I had to buy a new one the last time I took mine apart to wash it!
Puke sucks
Funny…I flinched when you mentioned that she disrobed on your porch. Then I remembered that you don’t reside in the frigid north of MN
That would have been a bit uncomfortable in 15 degree weather.
Hope Maddy feels better soon!
Will be sending good wishes your way!
Vomiting is Of The Devil. I cannot handle it. Seriously, I want to give you a medal for cleaning it up, but then again, don’t TOUCH me with the germy hands.
Oh yeah, I have vomit issues. I’m a nurse. Ha.
Ah, brought back memories.
Remember the BRAT diet:
Banana
Rica
Applesauce
Toast (dry)
I always forgot everything, but I remembered that. Oh, and 24 hours between the last puke before you get to go anywhere.
Good Daddy.
i am ‘one of those’. if anyone pukes – there is a 90% that i may puke too! (it gets interesting being a mom of two!) Growing up, my brother and i had an ‘episode’. He puked, i looked at him and puked, and he looked at me and puked. we went back and forth about five times, seriously. Until my mom screamed “STOP LOOKING AT EACHOTHER” – ha! good times.
glad miss maddeline is feeling better. and putting carseats back together is TORTURE!!
My 2 1/2 year old son has also had a bout of vomiting exactly like this. I thought it was over and he was back to his normal self, had a good 24 hrs of back to normal, only to have the vomiting rear its ugly head again in the middle of the night, all over his crib-YUCK!
Glad she’s better, those are the days that make Liz so proud I bet.
Awww Maddie! Hope she’s feeling a lot better today! I know what you mean about cleaning up all the barfing… makes me gag just thinking about it
But she is your baby girl/ your Princess so I know it’s a lil different… thanks for sharing the pictures. Love how long her hair is getting…and her picking at her barrett 
Vomit is the pits. When my daughter was 2, we were on a 6 hour drive, just the two of us. Midway through, she threw up. In a projectile fashion. After a rushed clean up at a gas station, I had to drive the rest of the way home in the vomit-mobile. So I feel your pain. Hope it’s all gone!
Poor Maddie & Poor Matt!! I hope you guys are feeling better, and HAPPY FRIDAY, sounds like you need it.
I hope that YOU don’t wind up with that crap now, and you can keep on keeping on.
Take advantage of those snuggles while you can, she is growing up TOO fast!
Give me poop any day no problem. Vomit…I get woozy just thinking about the two times my daughter has vomited. OY!
oh sweet baby! Good luck with the car seat…been there done that!!
Through two kids, I developed a ‘rule of thumb’ regarding when I give milk/dairy after vomiting. Wait until 48 hours after the last episode. Once I waited like 30+ hrs & then my kiddo puked it right up. Ever since then I have followed this rule & it has worked well
Your girl is precious!
Puke in carseats sucks even more!
It’s goin’ around. Up for most of the nt last nt w/ my 3 yo who was puking. I am sure the 18 mo is next. It always amazes me what one can find to catch puke in when needed… lovely thought.
And here’s a TMI… last yr the same kid puked on his lunch plate and as I was running over to help him he started eating again. Gross. Good stories for later.
Wish I lived a little closer so I could pop over and reassemble your car seat. I LOVE car seats–yeah, I know how weird that is.
Glad she’s doing better. Now both of you get some sleep.
What a beautiful child. Glad the eruptions have ceased. I am hooked now.
I remember the first time my daughter was sick. I walked in, took one look at her hair sticking straight up with crusted vomit and walked back out. Then I realized I was the mom and had to go back in there! Oh the memories!
FYI, if the smell doesn’t come off of the car seat, i found that using the ‘pet deoderizer’ stuff that you use when a pet pees on your carpet works great. You can get it at a pet store. We used Nature’s Miracle when I couldn’t get the smell out once. (It’s liquid).
I’d say you handled that quite well! Funny how when we HAVE to do something so unpleasant, we can deal
Glad she got it out of her system.
I love the little clip in her hair, she’s beyond cute!
Matt,
I have been reading you blog for awhile but have never posted, but couldn’t hold it in any longer.
THANK YOU for letting your kid watch YO GABBA GABBA! A lot of the other moms at my school are not big fans, but we just can’t get enough of them. So, guess we are the only 2 good (and slightly insane) parents on the planet.
Love your blog…
My pedi said if my kids didn’t like pedialite to just give them gatorade, or to do half pedialite half water. I second the 48 hours before milk thing, milk and stomach bug do NOT mix.
My kids all get car sick so I have been vomited on enough to have learned a few tricks.
Cut the top of a milk/water jug off, but leave the handle – good puke jug, easy get/make, use (you have a handle) and throw away. I keep one in my car at all times.
Ginger ale (with real ginger in it) is good for upset tummies, just a little at a time. Ginger snaps are a good snack.
You did a great job, sorry you had to make that right of passage, it sucks.
Glad you found the clippies I was trying to describe to you months ago. Such beautiful hair, such a beautiful girl!!
I remember one time when my husband and I caught the pukes from our son.
My mom came to get him so we could try to get some rest. About 2 blocks from the house he vomited and she brought him back. She said “what are we going to do about the carseat?” and I said “throw it away and buy a new one”
Thank God for her. She cleaned it all up like new. I agree with you. Putting tjm back together is a bitch!
Our girls are 24 and 26 and still get whiny and want me to make up the “sick couch” (sofa bed)when they don’t feel well. I usually sleep with them for the duration.
Worst vomit story: M. threw up in bed and we got her down the hallway to the bathroom only to have the toilet seat closed and we couldn’t get it raised in time. Splat doesn’t cover it…
You are terrific, Matt, and yes, she is starting to look like you in some photos.
Ugh, the vomit. So disgusting. I once washed the bedding (twice) only to find the cleanest pieces of vomit imaginable in the bottom of the washing machine.
We did the carseat vomit scene once 2 hours into what should have been a 5 hour, but turned into a 12 hour road trip. So, it could be more gross.
I hope she is better now!
Popsicles. Stops the vomiting cold. My dad is an old Family Practitioner who swears by them. they’ve always worked for me, and my oldest is 18 now.
OH.MY.GOD! Putting car seats back together sucks! My 2 1/2 year old peed in two seats in a matter of a few days (Damn You, faulty Pull Ups!). I nearly went out and bought a new one after the hassle of taking them apart, washing and trying to get them back together! Good Luck!
I hope Maddy is feeling better and the vomitting ends for a very long time!
~Liz
P.S. I really don’t know how you do the Yo Gabba Gabba thing! Wierdest show ever!
**Clean-up magic trick**
When my kiddos were small, I had one time in a rental car where my son threw up and one of my daughters instantly followed suit. My mom said she had learned a trick from a bartender once upon a time for cleaning up vomit. CLUB SODA! Absolutely a miracle cleaner and completely takes away the odor.
Just pour club soda immediately on the affected area and then soak it up with towels (paper towel or regular). From then on, I always kept a fresh bottle of club soda on hand. It saved many a bed, sofa, carpet, etc. Best of luck to you!
So glad she is feeling better! She is a little busy bee!
Take care,
Debbie
Sick kids are the best, and the worst! They are definitely more snuggly, and cuddly, and need lovin. They are also extremely whiny! My son had the flu when he was too young to really understand what is happening to him, and I felt so sorry for him, he would throw up and then just cry. I so wanted to make it go away for him! And cleaning up bedding and children after all that is the worst job ever. I actually pulled his sheets out of the washer, and clean chunks of food fell out. So gross.
I’m so glad she is doing better. Cleaning baby puke from everywhere truly sucks.
BTW, Maddy looks so incredibly grown up.
You thought about keeping her home from daycare due to extreme sadness. That is the sweetest thing I’ve heard in days and you may just be the most sensitive daddy, ever.
I am glad to hear Maddie is feeling better. I laughes as I read the story as I have been there many times myself with my kids. Get some sleep!
Poor girl and poor dada! I wish I was there to help with the car seat. Just got done putting ours back together after months of reflux spit up. Not quite like vomiting but sure smells bad after a while in the sun.
Maddie’s lucky to have such a great dad!
Carseat puke is THE worst. Glad she is on the mend!
I. don’t. do. vomit.
If I see it, hear it, or smell it, I vomit too. In fact, I almost vomited thinking about Maddy vomiting!
And vomiting after drinking milk is the absolute worst!
Glad she is feeling better!
You just earned one of the many Mommy Merit Badges that we all get during this time in our children’s lives. Sounds like you did a great job though and I hope that Maddy is feeling better. I’m in LA on the West side if you ever need a reprieve… not that it sounds like you don’t have enough support.
So glad she’s feeling better! Poor thing. And poor you for having to clean it up. Vomit is definitely something I can’t handle either. It might just be the only reason I decided not to become a nurse. Haha. The bugs going around this fall and winter have been nasty!
Loved seeing those new pics. She seemed to grow up so much while you guys were in India. I love the Barbie this Gabba thing too.
Wow she is getting big. Glad she is feeling better.
I did have a little giggle about the carseat comment….thankfully my kiddos are out of those things…..hope you got it back together and glad to hear your wee one is better!
Just love your blog!
ahh we have been dealing with sickness for the past 3 days with my 16 month old. Thankfully no puking (yet). I hope she feels better soon but they are so sweet when they are sick!
you are amazing. i cannot imagine dealing with the throwups by myself.
Sorry to hear about Maddy getting sick, but glad to hear she is on the mend.
Matt, I am sorry to tell you I laughed my head off till I was silly with your talk of vomit. Your writing is so awesome that if this is anything like the book, it will be something! I am a grandma not and my son is 36 so I guess I (thankfully now) am missing the whole little ones and vomit.
There is nothing worse then a vomiting child. Well maybe– but I just HATE that for the following ten days after a bout of sickness I jump at EVERY cough. Glad that she is feeling better!!
Vomiting SUCKS! Just wait until it is a McDonald’s hamburger being vomited on your carpet…THAT sucks even more!
http://vimeo.com/7301300
HI matt – have not posted in a long while. hope you got our little gift a few months ago ( little flexible wooden robot
anyway – I am desperatly trying to raise some money for this organization where we got our sweet rescue dog from, they are in trouble, so I thought I could post it here – thanks, beautiful beautiful pics…..
Maddy and my 2 y.o., Abbie, sound a lot alike in their spiritedness. And the need to cuddle when they’re sick.
Sorry to hear she’s been sick. I hope the car seat isn’t a Britax, as those are a REAL pain to put back together.
Good luck! Looking forward to reading how she’s doing over the weekend.
I was babysitting my niece when she got sick during my watch. I offered to take her for the weekend because her parents were celebrating their anniversary.
I didn’t want to scare her parents or send them back home (although, I knew they would). It’s a good thing that their next door neighbor is a pediatrician. She just needed something to calm her stomach.
We went to the park afterwards. That was a relief!
You handled yourself so well. I would have been crying for Joe. Paige never threw up as a child, I always thank God for our “health” department in our house. I know your happy to hold M and it makes you think that Liz is in your arms. But I know this feeling, it is so hard to deal with. Matt really she is growing up and I just can’t believe it…We knew this would happen….didn’t we! Ok what is happening for Christmas with you guys?
Oh man. I feel your pain. When I was a senior in high school, I worked at our local YMCA’s daycare in the afternoons. There was one week from hell when all the kids were coming down with this stomach bug and it was the sort of thing where they’d be running around happily playing one minute and two minutes later they’d be emptying the contents of their stomachs all over the floor. I pretty quickly thought to go over to the pool and invest in nose clips because there were a couple times as I either cleaned a weepy, vomit covered toddler or wiped up the floor that I almost added to the mess myself. Not fun.
Hope her non-vomity-ness lasts.
Matt, I hope Maddy continues to feel better. I remember when my 15-month-old daughter had her first vomiting spell about six months ago. It was awful…I hate to throw up myself, so to see her bracing for it, knowing it was coming and there was nothing I could do for her, was just awful. Lots of Pedialyte and rest…and Yo Gabba Gabba, the Backyardigans, and the like are all you can do. My daughter gets clingy when she’s sick too…totally on-the-go and doesn’t stop to be held otherwise. Maddy just continues to get more and more beautiful, and I’ve always thought she looks so much like Liz, but I was really struck in these pictures with how Maddy’s personality coming through in the pictures, especially in that closeup of her in the navy flowered hoodie where she is really grinning big, resembles what you can see of Liz’s personality in the pictures you’ve posted of her. You are doing a wonderful job…I still can’t imagine how much you must miss Liz, every second of every day.
pedialyte popsicles are the best!!
I concur. Puke sucks! I’d be dry heaving.
My first thought was “Is it the dairy here in the USA?” Was she use to drinking goat milk in India? Or rice. I know that when I travel over seas I can have the dairy of cows or goat but from here. ??? Just a thought.
Feel better girl! and Merry Christmas!
oh man…I feel for ya’….I spent the better part of today cleaning up vomit and the various household items it attached itself to. I handle it okay now after dealing with four kids’ worth, but my fear is that I’ll get sick. Everything seems to fall apart when mom goes down for the count. Oh, and my husband learned a valuable lesson today. Do NOT (repeat DO NOT) attempt to run to the bathroom carrying a vomiting child. As you might imagine this created a sprinkler effect of sorts, covering the walls, hardwood floors, most of the powder room, and a recently showered and dressed husband who was ready to leave for the afternoon. He now knows… vomit sounds = grab the nearest towel, blanket, cup, box, etc….but do NOT run with sick child.
I hope Maddy is all done with the pukies as we call it, and that you’ll stay well!
You handle the vomit-y kiddo with such grace. You are a spectacular dad!
I feel ya. Been there many times. You are doing great! Keep up the good work!
you are awesome! not just for this but for everything i’ve been reading the last few months. I LOVE that since maddy was asleep you took a nap with her in the car!! that is the PERFECT solution and one a mother might not do because of dumb thoughts we would place in our heads from our own mothers or perceived judgments of others – but ALL make believe. You did just what you and maddy needed and took perfect care of both of you. Major Kudos!!
Matt, you have such honesty in your writing.
I love reading your blog-laughing, smiling and also having my heart squished by what an awesome devoted dad you are.
You’re doing a fantastic job Matt. There’s nothing like the love between a daughter and her Dad.
So glad she is better! I am with you on the vomit. I have a 14 and 8 year old and I don’t give a shit who tells you “You will be just fine when it is your OWN kid” Fuck no! It still makes me ill and I feel like a shitty mom gagging while my kids puked in the early years. Now they are good on their own because they know their gagging mother is worthless in this situation other than to run baths and give them towels to clean up.
I feel for you on the reattchement of the straps in the car seat too. Holy shit that sucked. It gets better with age, at least they can tell you they have to puke. I ALWAYS carry those plastic grocery store bags in the car, MORE than once a kid has had to puke in one. Makes it much more “tidy” than all over the damn car seats.
Leather seats are your friend… Always with kids…
Happy she is better. Get it over with for Christmas!
I hate sick children.
Not the children themselves…more so that helpless feeling I get when I can’t make them better.
And I hate carseats.
Not the carseats themselves…more so the helpless feeling I get when I can’t put the fuckers together.
Just buy a new one.
A little nurse trick is to put a bit of vick’s vapor rub under your nose to deal with vomit.
Mouth breathing helps a bit too.
Im the same way with vomit. That doesn’t pay when you work in a hospital. Im glad Madeline is feeling better though! I just started reading your blog (like yesterday). I never thought I could feel so heart broken and smile so much at the same time. Madeline also might be the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen. You have truley mastered the adorable little pigtails.
I love how you just slept in the car… Thats the way to be- fit your schedule into their’s and not the other way round. If you do that it will be less stressful for both of you!
Shit…there is nothing like having to put a car seat back together after washing the cover. I seriously think it takes some sort of engineering degree to get all the clips and straps and everything back on right. Not to mention all the little holes that puke and everything else goes into. Best to just hose the thing down and let it dry in the sun!
I hope that you and little Maddy have an awesome trip to Minnesota and that you have a wonderful Christmas. She’s going to be SO much fun this year!!!
I don’t know what it is about men and vomit… but you are not alone in that one good sir.
I have found if a kid is feeling pukey water will most likely make them throw up for sure or again — pedialite is okay but i like old school remedies like gingerale….my daughter is 6 and still associates gingerale to that fizzy pop she drinks when she’s sick ;o)
I feel you on cleaning up the pukies. My two kids, 4 and 6 and my husband just had the stomach bug a few weeks ago. And just as they were getting better I got it! Ugh! Anyways, a very bland diet is the way to go. Gatorade for the first 12 hours. Start with a teaspoon to see if they can keep that down and work your way up. After that saltines, dry toast. BRAT diet is the way to go. No milk for at least a few days. Glad she is feeling better and hopefully you don’t get it.
Mom dies having triplets, husband left devastated
Atlanta, GA 12/07/2007 08:45 PM GMT (FINDITT)
Andrue Smith was left devastated after his wife died having triplet boys. The 28-year-old said the babies were born last Friday six weeks premature. He says after wife Debbie Smith gave birth to their sons, she sudden got ill.
Doctors were not able to save her. “My wife’s heart had stopped beating. Her body suffered and her brain suffered…It’s not the kind of thing people will recover from,” says Andrue. So he decided to cut life support.
The triplets – Legend, Tristian, and Jaisyn – is what keeps him strong, Andrue says. “My wife, I know she’d expect me to be strong and she’d want me to take care of those kids,” he added. “It’s going to be very, very hard. I can’t imagine life without her.”
The Tucson, Arizona resident is a full-time construction worker, but says he doesn’t know how he is going to afford to raise three babies.
Contributions to Smith and the triplets are being collected at the Victory Assembly of God Church in Tucson. “Absolutely anything anybody can help out with or contribute, I’d be very happy to accept anything. I’ve got my babies, my three boys to worry about, and that’s what’s keeping me strong.”
Just wanted to pass on this info to ensure that Madi is as safe as possible in her carseat.
This website has tons of carseat info.
http://www.car-seat.org/forumdisplay.php?f=5
Safely cleaning haness straps:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=92659&highlight=cleaning+harness+straps
Hi Matt,
Just reading your ‘life story’ and have laughed and cried and laughed some more..
Now the vomit…can you get Vicks Vapor Rub over there, now that stuff is liquid gold, smear a little bit of that under your nose and gad damn you won’t smell shit (no pun intended).
I used it with my 2nd pregnancy when my first born was still in nappies (aka Diapers) and I thought that vomiting on my own child probably constitutes abuse in some way…..
You are an amazing man!!!!