Whew.

We made it through that batch of sickness and are starting in on round two.

Yes. You read that correctly.

We're hoping that we can contain it to Addie....the only one with anything at this moment, but hopes are not very high.

She is on the couch with a sore throat, fever, earache, and pinkeye. :) Fun stuff. She's taking Emergen C, garlic chopped up in honey, eye drops, and gargling with salt water.

She is one tough cookie.

The rest of us are cleaning the house with Lysol wipes and disinfectant...and the boys thought it was great fun. I think the wipes have them all excited.

In other news.

Will is a different boy the last 1 1/2 weeks.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

Last week he went to school every day and never lost the first fish all week. (Fish in fishbowls are their behavior watches.) Not one fish. All week.

We celebrated with candy bars at the end of the week.

Not only was he super duper in school, the attitude transferred to home. He was amazingly helpful. He said, 'yes, mom' in a respectful manner. He didn't melt down to the floor in a raging fit when asked to do something.

We were all amazed. And astonished.

And ever so thankful. After six long months of raging, this little break has been delightful.

There is hope. Lots of it. We're seeing glimpses of the happy little boy who once lived here.

Yesterday on the way to church, Jason and I looked at each other and grinned. And commented on how peaceful the whole family is when Will is not trying to cause a little chaos. He sat back there cracking funnies with Addie rather than trying to make her cry. He laughed with Jack rather than trying to get Jack in trouble.

And today? While he started off with a bang...i.e. not really pleased with something and melting on the floor (thus causing us heart failure at the thought of a weak day)...he snapped out of his funk in record time and has been a pleasure and joy to be around the rest of the morning. Of course he's been lying on the couch 'resting' for the past hour, which always helps out!!

All the children are currently 'resting'. Doesn't lots of rest keep the bugs away? It's worth a try....plus it gives mommy a little break. :)

I forgot just how happy a home can be. It seems that we're always bending over backwards trying to keep things light and happy for Addie and Jack with Will screeching in the background, but when everyone is just simply happy and smiling it makes a huge difference.

Mentally, I feel well rested and ready to face the day after a happy day.

Ahhhhh.

We're praying this lasts. We see a light at the end of the tunnel that we really weren't sure we would ever see. Some days it just seemed like we were taking 43 steps backward and never a single one forward.

Now that this is written in black and white, IF those hairy days come back I can check in here as a reminder!!!