With five in the family, I am learning, someone always is sick (or injured). Since December members of my family have logged two ear infections; a jaw infection; a round of the stomach bug that included every single combination of typical symptoms that you can think of and took more than two weeks to make the full rounds of the family; endless colds; back strain due to work injury; and neck strain due to sleeping beside an infant (guess who on that one). Oh, and surgery (and it’s preceding symptoms and recovery time), the heart patient living amongst us and the necessary doctor’s appointments and trips to the pharmacy.
Is it the season? Was it this particular winter that seemed longer than EVER and carried with it more germs? It just seems impossible that we all are healthy and able-bodied at the same time for more than about six hours.
I love my children and John more than I can begin to articulate, and when one of them is sick I turn into worst-case-scenario Jen, imagining all of the complications and terrible diagnoses that can be drawn from a runny nose, stiff neck, headache and fatigue. And when I’m sick, it’s so difficult to take the time to recover, because there is always someone who needs me or (more likely) I have a difficult time removing myself from the family. I want to be with them, even when I shouldn’t be.
I don’t know what all this means, really, or what inspired me to even get all of this down on a busy Sunday afternoon. I guess it’s just one more scenario that points to the “enjoy every moment” that I keep striving toward. The snuggles that come with a low-grade fever are comforting not only to my kids. Sometimes settled cozily under a comforter, reading books all afternoon and ignoring the dishes is a nice reminder of what’s really important.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t hope spring brings with it lots of good health, ruddy complexions and afternoons where the kids are playing outside on their own.
Read More in health, Jen Writes, motherhood, three kids
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Yes, I am so sick of sickness. Runny, goopy, gloppy noses. and holding the baby down just to wipe it away – no, more like scrub at the nose to get every crusty and gooped up bit cleaned off. Sick of coughs from all the boys in this house, and the way they snort the snot back up their noses – it sounds like it’s gonna travel right up through their brains and out their ears. Use a tissue already! No wonder you’re coughing, no wonder you’re congested. Get that ICK out of your body already. Ooooh I am so sick of sickness and being the mom and dosing the meds and wiping the noses and touching the foreheads.
However, I DO enjoy that cuddly-cuddle that comes with the low-grade fever. I’m not so coarse as to ignore the sweetness in these bitty bodies.