Sick is No Fun

If you sipped coffee, ate breakfast, lunch and dinner and all that you took in stayed on the inside of your body you had a better day than I. Let me just take a moment to thank my belly for all of the days it works so well. I have taken this for granted and a stomach flu brought me to a hunching walk and barely able to move from the couch.

I have prided myself on being the girl who drinks pickle juice, goes on rides that make teenagers think twice and who can, well, pack away a meal. But, today I was that one who feels oogy and woozy and flu-ish and ICK. My husband was home because he had the flu. Not a stomach flu but the flu where you have shivers so hard it looks like an aerobic activity.

Our daughter LOVES "Ohana time" with the family and thought of it as a fun day at home. None of us dressed today. We did take turns feeding and entertaining our child but we never made it out of the house or into clothes. I'd complain more but a tear friend ended up in the hospital with a much more vicious strain of this stomach bug and I so feel for her. She's home now but it was a LONG night for her. At least my husband and I could take turns napping, taking temperatures and being the sick one and and the caregiver.

Conversation went from talking about my dreams of Al Gore who was so sad about the environment and losing the election, discussing poor staffing at hospitals where my friend didn't even get a private bathroom while being sick as a dog so had to be in the hallway to then discussing which American Idol contestant looks like a Backyardigan.

I really knew I was sick when my daughter wanted to sew a craft and I said sure and showed her how. I don't really sew. I'm not known for my domestic side which makes my being a stay-at-home feminist kind of funny. I am not a person you would have thought would be home. I did not know I would be home. I had no idea how exhausting it was to pay attention. Apparently, sorry former co-workers, I used to work hard but not pay much attention to others. I am sure I listened adequately but the kind of paying attention and being 'on" that a parent has to do is something I had no idea about. But, since sitting was the most I could manage today, and since I was weak, when my daughter asked me to help her thread a needle I did. She was so proud to have sewed all by herself. "I'm a big girl now" is what she says several times a day while still asking for me to feed her a bottle so she can be a baby.

Yesterday she told me that she didn't want to share my lap, that it was hers, and that she didn't like how I had held my friend's baby the day before. We talked. I couldn't promise that I'd never hold another baby but could reassure her that no other child sitting in my lap would be her, be my daughter or take HER place. Kids are so honest. I'm so glad she tells me how she feels. I can't believe four-year olds have so many feelings.

Anyhow, our girl was so kind to her sickly and paler than usual parental figures today. She only jumped on my belly a few times and needed the "love shouldn't hurt" talk a few times. She was so understanding when I couldn't play play-doh because it smelled too strong.

I am a mother through adoption so I wonder how the heck single parents do it, how women deal with pregnancy while parenting one or more do it, how on earth couples manage when both have chronic health issues do any kind of parenting and managing.

Feeling more like a human on this end of the day but am SO SO SO SO SO grateful and am hoping that when I sip water tomorrow, I sip and I swallow as opposed to sipping and waiting, sipping and waiting. Hopes and gratitudes get simple, clear and small when I don't feel well. So often I take the gift of decent health for granted. While I'd rather be more grateful WHILE healthy, I'll take the gratitude. Thank you stomach for all those countless days where I didn't once even think than you!