It's Fun Being Sick

For the past two weeks, like so many other families, we have been sick. Currently, I'm the one who is down for the count. Besides driving Ben to and from school, I've mostly been home doing mostly nothing. I think I'm coming down with cabin fever, along with this hacking cough and chest congestion. Yes, I definitely have cabin fever.

Or the plague.

Anyway, since I haven't been out of the house much and haven't felt like doing much, my 29 Day Giving Challenge has taken a backseat to all the fun we're having being sick. That's right, fun. Yes, being sick can be fun with the right attitude.

The sick-fun possibilities are endless!

Here are just a few of the perks that await you: you get to stay in your pajamas ALL day (and not just until 3:00 pm like on healthy days); you get to eat whatever you have a taste for, which may or may not include large quantities of Halloween candy and caramel apples; you get to watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta marathon in anticipation of the season premiere of the Real Housewives of Orange County, which everyone knows is by far the superior of the Housewives series; you get to take a hot bath AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT because it eases your aches and pains AND you can stay in the tub in the bathroom with the door locked for AS LONG AS YOU WANT and nobody can complain because, after all, you are sick; you get to put your domestic responsibilities temporarily on hold because when you have the plague, a messy house and dirty dishes are the least of your worries; you get to nap, nap, nap your day away; and finally, when you're sick, you get to do......nothing!

I know, I know. As Moms, we don't ever really get to do "nothing." But when we're sick, it's as close to "doing nothing" as motherhood will allow.

Don't get me wrong, I don't prefer being sick. But it's pretty much inevitable, so I like to approach my unhealthyness (it could be a word) with a positive attitude and as much gratitude as my immune system will allow.

I'm a "the glass in half full" kind of girl. I'm upbeat like that. But you already knew that about me right?

Back to my giving challenge. I'm continuing to walk that road but in the comfort of my home wearing my pj's and with a big bowl of Kit Kats in front of me. Sitting on the couch playing Barbies with Ali and reading a book to Ben counts as giving, right?

This is obviously not me reading to Ben but it is Ben reading. Doesn't he look all serious in his 3-D reading glasses?

And now, back to my sick-fun!

I think I'll take a nap......or a bath......or both.

Goodbye Dear Friend

Today was Ben's first day back to school since last Tuesday. He was home sick Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He is feeling much better and his cough is all but gone.

Wish the same was true for his mama.

Why is it that after all of the kids are sick and then on the road to getting better, that Mom catches it? Or is that just me?

I started coughing yesterday and today it seemed worst. No fever or aches and pains. Just a cough and some chest congestion.

Ok, this post just got officially boring. Am I really talking about chest congestion?

Normally when I feel like I'm getting sick, I just push myself until I crash. Then it takes me a week or two to get over it. I don't know if I am smartening up (is smartening a word?) or if I'm just too darn tired to push through this time but I am attempting to nip this "bad boy" in the bud before it "bites me in the butt." I am resting a little more than usual, drinking lots of water, taking all of my vitamins and trying to avoid all things sugary and processed.

And with all of the Halloween candy at my disposal, that last part is much easier said than done. Because over the past 48 hours I have been spending time with an dear old friend, who might not have my best interest in mind. I think you may know her.

Her name is Kit Kat.

And if lovin' Kit Kat is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

Reunited.

And it feels so good.

Kit Kat and me......me and Kit Kat. We go way back. Sure, we've had our ups and downs but she's helped me weather more PMS storms than I care to admit. She's been there to offer her sweet chocolaty goodness when my salad just doesn't understand. And when I run into her at the grocery store, she's always willing to come home with me to brighten up my day.

A friend like Kit just doesn't come along every day.

But, atlas, our relationship is fleeing. It comes and goes.

Just like my waistline if she stays too long.

So, goodbye dear friend. It was wonderful while it lasted......I wish you could stay just a little longer but you're no good for me. I realize that now.

Oh, and one last thing Kit Kat, give my regrets to Snickers when you see her because that one is just plain trouble when she comes around.

Thanks. I knew you would understand.

I'll miss you always......

OH, OK! I'll see ya' tomorrow!!

Pushy chick, ain't she?

Picture Day Was A Bust

Ben stayed home from school today.

Again.

He was coughing up a storm this morning so I had to make the call.

Again.

I was kind of disappointed for him to miss today because it was picture day. All of my preparations down the drain. And by preparations, I mean giving Ben a quick haircut last night and picking out a cool "picture" outfit. I know he will eventually have his picture taken on the make-up day at the end of November but it's not the same as having it taken as a group with your class. I was bummed.

Ben, he could care less. He was just happy to play Wii all day.

But who is the one who is going to have to re-cut his hair in a month and pick out the same cool outfit again? I mean, really people, how much energy do you think I have? It's like you don't know me at all.

Anyway, we were home all day and basically did nothing. Except for all the Wii playing. And all the cartoon watching. And all the chicken noodle soup eating.

It was a looooong day but I had lots of opportunities to "give" on day 2 of my 29 Day Giving Challenge. Mostly involving one coughing child and his kind of coughing sister. I know these are things I would do anyway, without the challenge, because I am a Mom. But I have to say, the meaning behind giving is more present in my mind ever since I started this challenge.

All of three days ago.

Seriously, before the challenge, I might have viewed having to dispense cough medicine and reminding the kids to wash their hands for the 100th time and the stress that comes with taking care of your children when they are sick to be a chore - something I have to do because I am their Mother after all. And although that is true, I am starting to see it differently. It is a gift to take care of someone you love when they don't feel good, not a chore. Stressful at times, yes, but I am giving them tender loving care. I never really looked it at that way before.

So, throughout the very long day (again, did I mention it was a looooong day?) I found myself actually appreciating the situation. The fact that I am a Mom with two wonderful children is such a blessing. And although it isn't easy sometimes being a Mom, I have been given this gift from God.

And since He has so generously given to me, I'm pretty sure He would enjoy me working on being a different kind of giver. This challenge is already changing my attitude about how I give to my children and husband. And they are so very worth this shift in my outlook.

I can't wait to see what else I discover in the next 27 days!

PS - Everyone is sleeping now and I don't hear any coughing. Thank you, Lord!

You're Faking

Today is "not me" Monday. After reading about what I didn't do today, head over to MckMama and read about everyone else's "not me" day!

Today did not start off with the alarm screaming at me, signaling the start of another week. I most certainly did not stay under the covers for 15 more minutes, delaying the inevitable. I wake up every morning feeling refreshed and excited to begin my fun-filled day of domestic responsibilities. I'm perky like that. I'm a freakin' ray of sunshine. So, I woke Ben up for school in my normal cheerful way. What? It could happen. Anyway, when Ben declared that his belly hurt and then proceeded to grab his stomach in anguish in a very obvious and overly dramatic way, I did not say to him "you're faking, you just want to stay home from school today." What kind of mother questions her child's digestion disturbances? Not I. I did not for a split second have this conversation in my half-asleep head: "I guess it would be ok if he stays home just this one time...... plus, it's cold outside...... plus, we could just stay in our pajamas all day" (which would be highly unusual for me, I assure you.) Hmmm, what to do, what to do...... I did not then contemplate my complicated dilemma for 5 minutes, now leaving approximately no more than 12 minutes to get "sick" child ready for school, out the door and make the 10 minute drive to school. I then did not have a second conversation in my very confused head, that did not go something like this: "if he really is "sick" and I send him to school, then I will feel guilty for not believing him...... plus, then I will have to make the 10 minute drive right back to school to pick him up when the school calls and says he just puked all over his desk during a spelling test and, really, that's just a waste of gas and wear and tear on the car...... on top of it, I will have to hear Ben say "I told you I was sick......" Who needs that? Not I. So, after much consideration, I finally decided not to let Ben stay home from school today. And I most certainly did not take advantage of this "sick" day, by plopping "sick" child and his sister (who actually has had a cough for a few days) on the couch. I did not proceed to make them comfy with their favorite blankets and I did not turn on Curious George because when you are "sick", cartoons is not the best medicine. I did not then tell my adorable children that I was going back to bed for a while because I was not tired at all. I did not consider at all forgetting about my domestic responsibilities because that would just be taking advantage of this "sick" day and that's something I just don't do. Taking advantage of a situation, that is. Never. While I was laying down, I did not hear Ben and Ali upstairs in their room jumping on the beds and I did not yell at them to knock it off and go back downstairs and be quiet because Mommy thinks she is getting "sick" and needs to rest. No, I would not do that. I did not hear my children running down the hall downstairs and then I did not hear lots of laughter and lots of splashing water. I also did not get a little upset to discover them in the bathroom, trying to quickly wash off permanent marker and glitter glue, which they had painted all over themselves. I did not tell Ben that he isn't really sick and the next time he claims to be "sick," he is definitely going to school. And I didn't respond with a big fat YES when he asked "even if I really am sick?" It was not at that moment that I did not have the realization that I had been essentially duped by my 7 year old.....again. I did not vow that I will never fall for his "my belly hurts" routine ever again because I am not onto him.

Until the next time he gets "sick." I will probably not let him stay home from school......