not for cowards

On one of my recent facebook posts, complaining about Coranelle's nursing strike, a friend of ours wrote something like, "Motherhood is not for cowards". Whew... is she right. I'll broaden that and say, parenthood is not for cowards. Coranelle has showed us that in some many ways in the last few weeks. She has had a terrible cold and diaper rash, then she stopped nursing for 5 days, starting nursing again, went on strike again, and most recently got some sort of stomach bug. Yup, last night at 3 am she was fussing. Ryan went in to check on her and rubbed her back for a while. When he left, she started fussing again. I went in and decided to change her diaper, because she smelled poopy. I lifted her out of the crib and she started coughing and gagging and then she threw up all over both of us. Poor thing! So, I went and got Ryan and we drew a bath, started a load of laundry, and stripped her down- only to find the biggest blowout I've ever seen (literally up to her chin). (Am I being to graphic?- yup- that's cause being a parent is not for cowards!). We proceeded to take her temp (95) and bathe her. She was all about the bath at 3am, even though I was exhausted and worried. I got out the What to Expect in the First Year Book to read about vomiting. I gave her a bit of juice and then she nursed and went back to sleep. So, I have no idea what caused the vomiting spell! She had some jarred baby food yesterday, instead of my homemade baby food, but I doubt that could do it. I don't think it is an allergy because everything she ate yesterday, she's been eating for a least a couple of weeks. Anyhow, I have a fear of people throwing up. I know it's a strange fear, but I HATE it when people get sick. And, I got over that fear last night when I got thrown up on for the first time in my life!
She seemed okay today, but did not have much of an appetite. I tried to feed her rice cereal and bananas for her meals, but she wouldn't eat any dinner. It's hard to get my peanut to put on weight when she refuses to nurse and then has no appetite!
So, to all the parents out there- I respect all that you do and have done for your kids. I know a lot of it goes unrecognized, but you are courageous and anything but cowards! Thanks for all of the hours of sleep you lose, for all of the diapers you change, all of the messes you clean up, and all of the hours and days you spend worrying about your kids!
I hope that all of you are having great week! Keep our little one in your prayers!