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Seriously, if you were a stomach bug could you find a cuter host? The 2019 stomach bug originated from an unknown child at daycare and attached itself to our cute little Wesley. What an innocent, cute little face for a virus to attach to. We have warned family members but if you saw this face, would you take the risk? Could you say no to this face? We left the beach yesterday and so far nobody else has gotten it. This thing was relentless. So far, including Wesley, there have been 8 victims.

I got a call from Erin while at work that was a “you need to come home right now” kind of call. Once I got home Erin was not able to move and was laid up on the couch. I was stuck taking care of Wesley all by myself. Then I started to feel a little strange…

Dangit Wesley, I thought we were buds. Knowing I was about to be as immobile as Erin was, I called Erin’s parents who were already supposed to be visiting for the night, and told them they needed to get here ASAP. I was worried that I was about to be down like Erin and poor little Wesley would be all on his own and they had a 2 hour drive. So they started on their way. But, did I mention that Aunt Beth was taking care of Wesley before Erin had come home?

Aunt Beth had been taking care of Wesley for a couple days once he was too sick to go back to daycare. So as soon as Erin had called her and told her she was feeling sick and on her way home early, Beth already knew that she was in trouble. I think she was able to even puke backwards off her hand at one point. So it had to end here right? Wrong.

Elizabeth later described the experience as feeling hot flashes and immediately getting away from people in case she was contagious. She texted Erin a couple hours later and said she felt fine. The next morning we discovered that she had gotten the Beach Bug. Tim had to take care of her, and you know what that means…

Tim tried his best to stay away from Wesley while he was sick, but the Beach Bug really, really wanted to get him. And it did. Trying to keep his distance from Wesley while he had symptoms was hard enough but after Elizabeth came down with it, he knew he was in trouble. Speaking of wives passing the Beach Bug to their husbands…

I woke up one morning to make Wesley his morning milk and saw Roger sitting on the couch with his golf gear on. He and his son had a tee time that was non-refundable. I did not think he looked too great, but thought he could also just be really tired. It was about 6am after all. That turned out to be a golf game that he will not forget… So now that the Beach Bug has gotten Wesley, Wesley’s parents, and all the people that originally took care of him, along with the husbands and wives, this thing has to be done right? Wrong.

One night the whole family minus my mother was on the back porch drinking wine and telling stories. I realized Mom was missing and texted her “Where are you? Back porch, family party – you”. After a few minutes of her not responding, I called her. She answered and sounded half alive and I heard her say she had been sick. I was terrified. The Beach Bug had now spread to more than just the original people involved. How far would this thing spread? The Beach Bug was determined to grab one final victim…

The Beach Bug had circled back around to the original host. After a sleepless night, Erin and I decided to call it a vacation and head home. We were not going to let this thing take out the entire colony. So after bad weather (that likely kept us inside, closer to this), a broken hot tub, and watching our family slowly get taken out singing along to ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ in my head, we decided to pack up and head home. We did not bother to hug many people on our way out. There is no doubt, the 2019 Beach Bug will be talked about for years. I had include a pic of maybe the smartest person from this outbreak.

Just look at this picture. You don’t live long enough to have a great grandson without intelligence. Sure GranDad volunteered to hold Wesley but his technique is flawless. Leaning away long enough for a family photo opp and passing him on, surviving the Beach Bug. Well played sir.

We’ve now been home for a few days and Wesley is getting back to normal. Eating lots of milk and food to the last drop. So we think the Beach Bug is finally over. Or is it?…