We have been sick around here ever since last Friday. On Friday evening, Isaac seemed like he was being extra sassy. Then I realized his body was warm and he had a fever. The following night, whatever virus it is had developed into croup (meaning it affected his vocal folds). That was only really bad for two nights, but Isaac has a lingering cough and a lingering fever, otherwise I probably would have shipped him off to daycare for my last work day this week. But, of course, now I am starting to get whatever he has, so I called in sick today for myself. I'm a little sad because we might have to put off our trip to visit Auntie Anna and baby London until next weekend. But we certainly don't want to give baby London croup.
However, I am very thankful for several things:
1. My job - I really really really appreciate how flexible it is. I like that I don't feel guilty (and am not made to feel so) if I have to take time off to take care of my sick child. Or myself. People take time off often. I think it is part of the field. You are constantly exposed to small children, who constantly expose each other (and you) to diseases. Especially around this time of year, colds and flu are rampant. (In fact, I think we actually picked up this bug from Isaac's daycare, not one of my sites. This is very impressive to me, or maybe just illustrates the importance of hand-washing.)
2. Papa - he took the day off yesterday so I could have one work day during the week. I really needed that day, because I have three annual meetings next week and was counting on seeing all three of those kids this week so I could have a better idea of progress to report to their parents. I can't work it into my schedule to see them next week before their respective meetings, so having the entire day to do what I needed to do was priceless.
3. Health - we are so lucky that we have made it to the first full week of November before getting sick. Really, with the stresses of a new job (although, honestly, it hasn't felt too stressful) and new schedule, we should have been sick many more times in the last two months. Here's hoping that we make it through next week with no sickness, then have a relaxing Thanksgiving week off, and make it to Christmas break healthy.
4. Family - Nana, Boompa, Grandma and Grandpa all came to visit last weekend. We were so lucky that they could spend time with us. Boompa taught me how to change the oil on a car, Nana and Grandma helped make dinner that night. Grandpa helped pick huckleberries too and Grandma and I made huckleberry jelly. The jelly is from the huckleberries on the bush right outside our back door and it is delicious!
There are a lot of material things I am thankful for too:
5. Having a garage - you quickly become pampered by this luxury once you have it. Scraping windshields is absolutely no fun and takes up a lot of time!
6. Having a dishwasher - I'm not sure how many days of my life have been saved so far from doing dishes. Let's just say I am the slowest dishwasher ever so a sink full of dishes can take me an hour or two.
7. Having a washer and dryer in our house - no need to explain. It's just convenient.
And I'm sure there are more, but that is enough for right now. I hope everyone out there is doing well and is healthy!
