Dear Winter, i dislike you with heated passion

I never used to hate Winter time. alright, hate is a very strong word, but dislike without rival may be more appropriately descriptive.

why do I have such passionate feelings? well, I have children, and a small house, and close quarters make us share many things, germs being one of them.
Germs happen in the Summer as well, but at least then you can open the windows wide and send the germs on their way.

it seems every day I hear someone say "mom, my throat hurts" or "mom, I feel like I'm going to be sick".
everyone has taken their turn with being sick and then we take it in turn again.
last week Emma was going to stay the night at my sister's house and play with her cousins. We took her out there and they played for hours and had a great time. then at 11:45pm the phone rang and it was my sister telling us that Emma had thrown up. Tim went out to get her and was getting her all settled in and medicated when she threw up again. She sleeps on the top bunk in the girls' room and I really didn't want her to have to try to climb down and run to the bathroom if she was going to do it again, so she stayed with us in our room. :(
just when I thought she was past being sick for a while.... she told me this morning that he throat was hurting. I looked and it is red, but I'm not ready to run off to the doctor quite yet. but Emma does tend to be susceptible to Strep so I kept her home today to monitor her.

Erica has been mentioning feeling ill, but at 16 I have to be a little skeptical because she pulls through during the day and then night and early morning is the worst for her.
is it really germs or just unfinished homework assignments?

Connor has been sick recently, and I had to have him home from school a couple of weeks ago. I anticipate it will be his turn again soon.

Ronan has had a fever recently. he's bounced back pretty quickly, despite my lack of magic tablets aka Motrin. I miss my Jr Strength Motrin

Tim has had a sore throat for the last few days. he called me from work a couple of days ago and I could hardly hear him. He's the one I really have to keep an eye on. he wouldn't go to a doctor if I didn't make him.

in fact, the only one of us who hasn't been sick has been Timothy. he rarely does get sick... plus he's quite determined to have a perfect attendance this year.


I can hardly wait for another 5 weeks to go by so I can open windows