Three Out Of Four

Three out of four of us are sick. I hope that changes a bit next week.

Last weekend Lauren and Brenden headed off to grandma Ginger's and grandpa Jim's house to spend the night so I could focus on cleaning. We were so busy during the holidays that a deep clean was definitely needed. I noticed that Lauren seemed a little stuffy but I wasn't too concerned. I thought it was just from being cold. By Sunday night I knew I was wrong.

She woke up on Monday morning with her hair stuck to the goop that had dried around her nose. It was terrible! (No, I didn't take a picture. I have more than enough blackmail/unflattering pictures and I don't need to remember that.) She had a low grade fever and was just cranky. This did not bode well for the rest of us.

By Tuesday night my throat felt like I had swallowed glass, which is the first sign of sickness for me. I woke up on Wednesday feeling absolutely awful. Tim had a ton of work to do so there was no way he could stay home to take care of us. I thought for sure Brenden would wear me out that morning but he lounged on the couch with me when Lauren was napping, which is his first (outward) sign that he isn't feeling well. That night the 3 of us went to bed, snotty, tired, sore and feverish.

Thursday was more of the same. Since Brenden wasn't feeling well he missed out on his first party at school, which makes me really sad. We went through an entire box of tissues and I finally figured out that swaddling Lauren was the best way to clean her nose. She's figured out how to flail really well, pull on my hands and yell "nah nah nah nah!!!" (Which is either "no no no no!" or she's yelling for a grandma to help her. Either one makes sense.)

Today Connie came and saved us all! Tim is out with the guys so I was going to be alone all day. I woke up at 5:30 am (Why, brain, WHY?!?) and couldn't get back to sleep. I took a shower, started laundry, cleaned the kitchen, started coffee and made everyone pancakes. I was exhausted by the time Connie made it to our house with some wonderful Chick-Fil-A. I very happily watched the kids climb all over her while I zoned out. When naptime rolled around I laid down, too, although Lauren was not in the mood. Poor thing was so congested she kept waking up. Plus, her two top teeth are really bugging her. Sick and teething does not mix well. Thank you, Connie, for taking care of us all!

Hopefully next week will be full of a lot less snot, although Tim's chances are not looking good.