The life cycle of the common bug

The babysitter was here last night and we were just about to leave when I hear a call from the kitchen: "MrsDarwin, Babs just threw up!"

And so she had -- her entire dinner, over her entire outfit. It took about 45 minutes to get her cleaned up and medicated (if your child hates Pepto-Dismal, it's helpful to administer it while she's in the tub). We feared we should have no birthday dinner, but finallly she fell asleep and we were able to sneak out for an hour or two.

In the middle of the night Darwin woke up feeling indisposed and proved that this bug is indeed contagious. And Babs toddled in to stand beside me and tell me that she wanted to sleep with us because she'd thrown up in her bed. Sheets were changed, foreheads were felt, temperatures were taken. Darwin is still curled up in bed, ready to welcome death when it comes to bring him sweet release. Babs whimpered and moaned herself back to sleep (breathing right on me, I might add), and was generally piteous until I called to cancel her dental appointment. Now she's eating tortilla in the living room and demanding orange juice. Ah, the resilience of the young!