"Do I have any other options?"

Luke woke up at 3am last night (after I went to bed at 1am), crying. His stomach hurt. Really bad.

"Do you have to go to the bathroom?" I ask.
"I don't think so."
"Do you feel like you're going to throw up?"
"I don't think so."
"What does it feel like?"
"It feels bad. Really really bad. Like the baddest ever."
"Well Luke, there's not much you can do for a belly ache, I'm sorry baby. You can go to the bathroom, throw up, or go back to bed."
"Don't you have medicine?"
"No, honey, there really isn't medicine for belly aches."
"I guess I'll go back to bed."

So I tucked him in again, told him to try to find a comfortable position, tried explaining that he might have gas and to try to get some sleep.

A few minutes later, he's up again.
"But mom, it hurts BAD!"
"Honey, I'm sorry, I can't do much for you. Do you want to try to go to the bathroom?"
"I guess...."

Nothing. Back to bed he goes.

A few minutes later. Deja vu all over again. And again. And again. And...

I try rubbing his back, sitting with him in the bathroom, talking him through what it *could* be. Unfortunately, I can't come up with a magic potion and we are going on 45 minutes of him being up.

Emma starts to cry. "I'm so worried about Luke, what's wrong? Is he okay?"

Back to bed. For everyone.

A few minutes later, "MOM, it is REALLY BAD!"
"Okay, Luke, get to the bathroom, just in case."
"Why?"
"Luke, you might be sick."
"But I don't want to be sick, can't it be something else?"
"Luke...."
"Mom, it HURTS SO BAD!"
"Luke, I know. What do you want me to do? I told you, you can go to the bathroom, throw up, or go back to bed."
"BUT DO I HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS???!!!"

Other options???? It is now 4:30 and I am crazy tired. I'm feeling bad for him and all, but.... we all need sleep at this point. I'm hoping he picks the back to bed option.

And then Option #2 arises: finally, he throws up. Feeling much better, he goes back to bed. We all sleep in until 10am, except for my poor husband who had to get up at 6am for work.

Chalk up another reason why I am glad I am a stay at home mom. Sleeping in until 10am after a night of crazy: priceless.