Crohn's and Family

I was thinking of a day a few months ago when i took my 3 kids to the swimming pool by myself. This is something i'm actually used to doing, although it takes effort, especially with a little one who still requires holding. Someone told me that day how brave I was, and maybe that has some truth, but really I was doing it because that is the only way they could all go. My husband has remaining scars from a previous skin breakout, and at the time was dealing with another one- so there was no way he was going swimming with open sores. There are moments when I feel separate from Crohn's, because it does not affect me physically, and there are times i realize the effect it has on our family as a whole. Some days, he comes home and is exhausted, usually from the effects of medication, and sometimes just active disease takes the life out of him. When this happens, it can mean cleaning up dinner, taking the kids out, putting them to bed by myself. I'm not meaning to complain, just pointing out the ups and downs of how it affects him day to day. When he feels well, it seems like Crohn's disease doesn't exist, but when he is struggling, it does affect us all, and life seems to have to go at a slower pace. Tomorrow we leave for a family holiday, which means packing lots of food to help my hubby stick to his SCD, while also keeping my kids happy. We won't be spending much time at the beach, though my kids would love it. It takes a lot to keep things afloat sometimes, making sure everyone is fed well, happy, and like they haven't missed out on anything. The most important thing is that we all spend time together, and I am so grateful we can enjoy this break together, especially after seeing him recover after a really serious flare up. Actually, his doc said he is just starting to really recover, which is cause for celebration and a holiday! It's hard to believe 2 months ago he was in the hospital-- he has come a long way. How do you cope with the ups and downs of Crohn's disease in your family? Do you have a system, or family to help you cope?