This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
We don’t get the stomach flu too often. It is mostly because we are vigilant hand washers and we won’t go anywhere near people who have recently had a stomach bug. Seriously – our friends and family know that we are incredibly careful and often laugh at us about it. But ladies – it works!
But this time, Susan thought she would be a little bit more normal. Her dear friend Julie and her family just had a terrible stomach bug. They even had to bring their little baby to the hospital twice to get hydrated.
But it was last week and Julie, a super clean freak, had bleached her house top to bottom. Susan was concerned, but figured it was probably safe to let Julia go over on Tuesday for a play date.
Oops. Today, (Thursday,) poor little Julia has been vomiting like crazy. All day.
My mom said that through all her years parenting she always found that stomach viruses are contagious for long after the symptoms have subsided. And those germs seem to cling to surfaces for days – even up to two weeks. (I read on line somewhere that the virus can be present in stools for up to three weeks after symptoms have cleared. But don’t quote me on that. I read it somewhere, but I can’t find it now, so I am not sure of the source.)
Let people call me crazy – but when people have had stomach viruses, I am still going to stay away for two weeks!
Unfortunately that means that we will not be seeing Susan and her kids for the next couple weeks. Which is so sad! Jackson is on spring break and we love to have the kids together as much as possible.
It also means that Susan wasn’t able to get to her computer much today and the rest of the week and the weekend might be even worse if Susan and Sophia get it too. And we are already drowning in emails and listing requests, not to mention all of the other work for our stores.
So please forgive us that we still haven’t been able to party hop much. We will get a post up soon linking to some of our favorite party posts. But we haven’t been able to get to enough parties yet.
I hope you all are doing well and that you had a ton of fun partying. Did you post your favorites? Leave a comment and let us know if your “Favorite Ultimate Blog Parties” post is up.
Jenny says
I realize this post is really, really, old, but we’re in the throws of stomach flu and I was looking for support.
When we get stomach bugs, it seems to be about five days in between each person getting it and some of us can have it up to a week. With five family members, it’s not uncommon for it to be three weeks from start to finish. I can’t tell you how many meetings, family milestones and social functions we’ve missed due to our stomach flu routine.
Last week, a friend cancelled a playdate because she’d had a GI bug. This was Tuesday. I was horrified to see her show up at a moms’ group function on Thursday. Her son and my daughter played with the same toys. Even though I disinfected my daughter’s hands, she still got it. She is on day four of illness. The rest of us haven’t gotten it yet, but probably will. When my husband gets it he misses work and he works on commission. GI bugs also cause his blood pressure to drop and he has episodes that resemble a seizure. I have to find people to fill in for me in the school carpool when I get it, and if I’m really sick, my husband misses more work to take care of the kids for me. And, in a week and a half, we’re supposed to meet friends from college for a getaway weekend we’ve been planning for a year. I haven’t seen some of these people for eight years. All because my friend felt she had to come to the moms’ group. I’m just so depressed right now. Thanks for hearing my vent.
Tiffany says
OMG…I’m sick with it now my sister bought it into the house..my 1 year old got then my 3 year old now me and my mother has it…I’m feeling better and I’m spraying my room with Lysol…and washing my colored clothes in ammonia and my whites in bleach…this is not a virus that’s easy on you it had me up all nite vomiting…so if you stay in the house with the person who’s sick you will catch it..:-(
Cathy says
I agree totally!!! I too stay away from the stomach bug as long as possible. Take care all!
Beth says
Please, Please, Please enter me in your drawing!!!! I have had 6 children and got rid of almost all of my maternity clothes (b/c we thought we were done ;). Lo and behold, we are expecting #7! I would live to order from Ann Taylor Loft Maternity!!! Thanks!!!
Kristen Andrews says
I am a germ freak also and the stomach flu sends me into hiding I get really nervous when I hear a friend or family member has it. Glad to hear I am not the only one who gets a little freaked out!
Emma (Fairy Shop owner) says
I have four kids and I know hard hard it is to keep everyone well. I wish you luck!
Storm says
Prayers being said for so that not everyone gets sick and that you have the patience to deal with it all.
Maria says
Oh, you poor thing! I hope this nasty flu clears itself out soon. I can’t wait for summer!
~Maria
http://www.jubileeonearth.com
The Pear Lady says
Eww…that’s dieting the hard way. :P~ Hopefully, all be well soon.
As for after-parties, I think I got bit by the lazy bug (or maybe I’m still irtually drunk from all that partying – LOL).
Bailey's Leaf says
I have a strict policy on the stomach flu, as well. A week is my hazmat tent time for anyone under the influence. I find that works. I also find that immediate application of Purrell PRIOR to entering the vehicle, especially after preschool, has helped immensely with the germ thing.
However, my daughter and mother-in-law came down with the stomach flu a few weeks ago. The two got into something together. 3 days of vomiting from my child and a week of, well, intestinal upset + a major snowstorm that shut down the city = a mommy with cabin fever! We survived it, though.
Good luck and Happy Easter!
Cassie P says
That’s too bad that she’s sick. My philosophy has always been to keep our hands clean and sanitized (Thankyou Purell!) and try to keep away from people who are sick. But honestly, if the virus can live on a surface for 2 weeks then you’re nearly as likely to pick it up on a grocery cart or somewhere else. I understand not wanting to get sick… I have premature twins and we do our best to stay germ free but I try really hard not to let it consume me (I could get a little obsessive if I weren’t careful)
Stephanie says
Oh, send along our get well wishes little Julia! It’s so miserable when little ones are sick!
Dawn Weigum says
Oh I am so sorry to hear the flu bug has hit Susan’s family. Yuck. It is never fun when your kids don’t feel good. Poor things! It is so hard to not get to play on spring break too.
Well I have my Ultimate Blog AFTERPARTY blog up with some featured parties I went to during the party. You can check out the post here if you want!
http://sweetpeacakesetc.blogspot.com/search/label/parties
Adventures In Babywearing says
Ooh my goodness! I hope all is well very soon! I ended up making a new Blogging Babywearer blogroll after meeting so many babywearers at the big Party!!!
http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com/2008/03/calling-all-babywearing-bloggers.html
Steph
Michelle Potter says
Interesting, I have never really worried about that stuff, but then we *rarely* get sick. There are 8 of us, and I can’t remember the last time *anyone* got a serious stomach bug! I didn’t realize that other people had to work so hard to avoid it.
Anyway, my after party was up last weekend:
http://usr-bin-mom.com/index.php?page=entry&id=2078
Blessed... says
We usually wait at least five days until we feel that someone is in the clear. And that is five days from the last time they were sick. I have at least three dear friends at our church who will call me at anytime of the night or day to give me a ‘vomit report’. This is a report of anyone that we both know who may have diarrhea or vomitting. We then stay far far away. My friends know that if they do not fill me in on this very important ‘vomit intelligence’..that I will take it personally! It still amazes me that parents do not take this more seriously. We have four children in our home and if we get the stomach flu here, I could be cleaning up barf for weeks.
If you want to become my enemy really fast, make sure to come in to church or over to my house and say, “Billy threw up last night but is feeling much better this morning.” Those words are death to a relationship.
Joanne :O)
Milk Mama says
It seems like everyone is getting that stomach flu! I hope you get better soon!
melody is slurping life says
Sending get well and stay well prayers and wishes. We dealt with this a few weeks ago…just yuck!
Candi says
Mine is up!! http://tinyurl.com/2qe5hf
I hope poor little Julia is feeling better soon and that the rest of the family are spared.
We rarely get sick, too! I got sick not too long ago and was actually hoping for food poisoning because it meant everyone else would be spared. Apparently it was, no one else got sick and I was the only one that ate chicken for lunch and then got sick that night!