Why is it that when families get together germs seem to multiply and spread like wildfire. As a child I remember that at our annual Thanksgiving get together at my grandparents inevitably someone would get sick. One year on the way home we stopped multiple times for my mom and brother to throw up. This year our family get together was no exception.
For starters I was planning on driving back with my parents after Christmas and then my husband was going to join us on the weekend. But my youngest got sick so we sent my son back with my parents to stay at his cousin’s house and planned to meet up with him on Saturday. Then on Friday my mom called to say that my niece who was also staying at their house had the stomach flu. But that my brother and his family who were visiting from Washington D.C. could go stay at her parent’s who live in the same town. Then my mom would disinfect her house so hopefully no one would get sick. Since my son was in Utah and someone had to get him we decided to take the entire family. We postponed the family Christmas dinner that we had planned until Monday night so hopefully everyone would be well enough to attend.
Saturday night another niece, nephew, my sister-in-law, and my dad all came down with the stomach flu. We did manage to open the Christmas presents before everyone got sick.
Sunday was New Year’s Eve and my daughter’s birthday. We of course had planned a big family get together, with lots of food. Everyone but my sister-in-law felt well enough to attend, but we didn’t eat as much food as planned, and half the family went home before midnight. That night my husband came down with the stomach flu as well. He blames it on sharing the Playstation controller with my sister-in-law the day before then eating food without washing his hands. He’s probably right.
Afraid that the kids or I would get sick and be throwing up on Tuesday we decided to drive home on Monday. Unfortunately we never had our big Christmas dinner. I was disappointed because we missed out on the homemade ice cream and Bouche de Noel a French cake log that is a family tradition. My son was whining because he didn’t get to see his cousin, just four months older than him, for one more day. My husband wasn’t looking forward to a five-hour drive with the stomach flu. But at the time we felt like it was the best decision.
Now I wish we would have stayed because by Monday night my husband was feeling better and so far no one else has gotten sick. My husband ended up watching the Fiesta Bowl by himself instead of with my dad and brother like planned. Although my dad did call when the game was over. Living in Boise my husband is a huge Broncos fan and was ecstatic over their win.
My sister-in-law has decided that they will limit their visits to the summer when there is less chance of getting sick. I have to say I agree. There is just no way to prevent germs from being transferred when you are in close quarters.
If you do get together it is always a good idea to wash your hands frequently especially before eating anything and make sure that your children do the same. I attribute the fact that I didn’t get the flu to my frequent hand washing and a lot of luck.