It's been a LONG month. Today is the first full day I have spent at school since February 21st! First there was Cally's case of pneumonia and then Hazen came down with a very similar cough/fever combo for almost two weeks. John was away and I was terrified that he had pneumonia again. He was waking up in the middle of the night, barking like a seal, and showing similar struggles that he had in September (when he was hospitalized for pneumonia). Almost every night for the better part of a week, the two of us would sit in the downstairs bathroom with the shower running hot, so he could settle his bronchi down. I brought him to the doctor twice in one week because his fever persisted and the cough sounded just awful (each time they told me his lungs were clear).
He had his last bad bout of coughing the night before John came home from Idaho and I was spent. I had been staying up late most nights the week before planning so that my student teacher could teach my classes, grading, and getting my ducks in a row and would then be woken up for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes of settling the little man's cough. About an hour after he had gotten back to sleep that night, I heard Cally cry out for me. I almost ignored her, but some sort of sixth sense peeled me out of bed to see what was up. She told me her belly hurt...... and so began another bout of the stomach flu in the house. I won't go into the details about that, but let's just say that when she was still getting sick the next day after John came home, I walked away and he knew it was his turn.
Cally's stomach flu was not of the 24 hour variety. It lasted 6 full days! She was lethargic, ate almost nothing, and was sad for the whole week. When something like that lasts for so long, you start to worry that a child's little spirit is being sucked away. It's scary. At one point, we almost made a visit to the ER for fluid replacement, but she learned that that would mean a needle in her arm and agreed to drink more fluids.
So, John, who had been out of work for almost two week, and I, who missed most of four of the previous days of school, had to figure out a way to each stay home with her (because she was in no position to go to school or daycare). It wasn't convenient or easy, but we pieced it together and made it work for everyone. She finally turned the corner on Friday afternoon (only after we went to the doctor, AGAIN) and things were looking up. She got a bounce in her step, she had an appetite, and her little fiery personality was back.
Within 24 hours of her revival, John went down with the same thing! At this point, I was done. My capacity for patience and compassion was at a low point and I was hard pressed to do more than keep the children away and deliver gatorade to him. He was unable to even come downstairs for almost 36 hours and it was a weekend, so I was on my own, again. The kids were great and all, but I had these hopes of going on a run with my running partner, maybe skiing as a family, or going on a hike. I did end up getting the kids to Echo (a local museum), but I miss the family unit-- being able to do things together--- not passing the baton, as John and I did all week upon his return.
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| Checking out baby soft shell turtles at ECHO |
Everyone seems healthy today. If I've learned anything this month, it's that you can try to plan and organize your life, but you always have to be ready for a curve ball. I'm one of those teachers who gives the students a five week calendar with every assignment and activity planned out. It's important for me to get assignments back to students in a timely manner. I use a calendar and map out my week every Sunday. If I get a little warning and I can anticipate a change to this scheme, I'm fine, but I don't do as well with the whole "fly by the seat of your pants" thing. When I actually write this, it makes me feel so old and set in my ways, but, it's what works in my chaotic life. John, too, has his idiosyncrasies. He hates what he calls "interspace". He doesn't like being in a holding pattern and either wants to be told what he should be doing or have a plan. This month has forced us both to let go of these quirks and just go with the flow a lot more.
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| Fishing at ECHO |
I know I won't be winning any "Teacher of the Year" awards this year. And definitely won't win "Wife of the Year", but I've really tried to keep my cool and be the parent I want to be for my kids-- even though the stress has seeped into my experience with them, I've tried to really appreciate the extra time I've gotten to spend with them (the alone time is so great). They really are such amazing little people.
We aren't out of the woods yet. Hazen had a rogue fever the past two nights and I'd love to find out what that is all about. I'm downing a ginger, vinegar, honey, lemon, olive oil, and cayenne tea and flushing my nose with a netty pot, while also disinfecting all the surfaces in my house with a vengeance! Crossing my fingers that we can avoid more germs.
