catching up on the week

I seem to have found a little opening of time to blog today.  I have a feeling it won’t last...but I’ll try.

The week was a bit rough.  Jesse was sick on Sunday through Tuesday with high fever/chills/sneezing/coughing/ etc etc.   He complained of a sore ear and throat and being freezing all day on and off- but he’s pretty good when he is sick.  I can’t complain.  But- we were stuck in the house for the whole day which is a bit draining for me.  I like to get out with the kids at least once a day.  

I took Jesse to the doc on Wednesday morning even though his fever broke.  Aside from a slightly pink ear he checked out alright.  The doc’s order was rest, rest, and fluids fluids fluids.... We had a busy morning out and then at home getting final things ready for the holidays.  Jesse’s bug hit me gradually during the day, and I felt like death by supper time.  Like something was squeezing my head- whole body aching-sore throat-fever-chills- like I’d been hit by a truck, really.  I felt a lot of sympathy for Jesse.   I kept it together until the kids went to bed at 7:30 and I broke into uncontrollable sobs while hugging my legs and rocking.  My darling husband got my Tylenol, forced me to soak in the tub, and ran out at 9 pm to buy me ingredients to make my beloved homemade chicken and vegetable soup that I crave when I’m sick.   What a man.

I woke up the next day and cancelled all my plans to try and rest (AS much as possible with 3 little kids).  I was popping the vitamins/chugging water/and starving my body of all dairy and sugar.  As supper rolled around I was feeling a little on the up and up.  Dave arrived at home, and we drove to the airport to pick up Nana.  It seemed everyone was going to the airport at the same time.  The traffic was awful, and the trip was almost 2 hours there and back.  Luckily, the kids were happy and sitting in the car actually felt like a break from running around with them at home!   We dropped Dave off at his school’s Christmas banquet on the way home, and I was happy to cozy in back home as the forecast showed a monster storm a comin’. 

Well- the baby and kids went down pretty well and I did a few things around the house and visited with Sharon and Katie while catching the X Factor finale.  I was so excited to get to bed around 10:30- as I was still feeling under the weather.  I got in my Pj’s and hopped in bed.  Then I saw my magic bag sitting on the end of my bed beckoning me to heat it up.    I ran downstairs to heat it up.  At the same time, Dave texted Katie who was cooking in the kitchen.  He asked Katie if she was awake still.   He had someone how gotten stranded at the school without his ride home in sight.  Ugh... I was so grumpy, “ TELL Dave I will be there in 10 minutes.  To be waiting at the door, or else I will killlll him!” I instructed Katie.  I went out in the cold wet snow that was whipping around to a van covered in a layer of ice in my Pjs.  After grumpily scraping off the ice,  I drove 20km/h to the school.  The whole way there I thought to myself, “Dave probably didn’t see his ride, and then he’ll find them, and go home with them and I will be sitting at the school wondering where he is.”  Well, I arrived at the school, and sure enough Dave’s drive WAS there.  But, Dave didn’t go with him, they were just waiting for me to arrive.  Anyways- it sure felt good to sink into bed around 11:30.  But- I felt stressed out that I probably would only get around 5 hours of sleep before the day needed to start.  I find sleep is simply the most important factor in how my next day will go. 

Well, Jesse was up on and off through the night still a bit under the weather, and Robyn was up for one long feed.  The snow was just pouring down outside, and I felt stressed out that Dave would need to travel into school in the bad weather AND the kids and I would be storm stayed.  Well, shortly before 6 AM, we received a phone call.  Happy Holidays from the principal...all the staff could take a real snow day and stay home.  I was SO happy!  Dave and I fell back asleep and everyone slept until 7:30.

Friday felt like Christmas came early.  The kids had slept in- the ground had tons of snow with big flakes still shooting down- Dave would be home- Nana was here to hang out- and Jesse and I seemed to be on top of our colds!  I figured Dave would at least put in half of the day catching up on marking.  When he told me that he was going to take the whole day off to spend with us, I nearly cried!  We had a great day.  We took our time getting ready,  braved the snowstorm to make a snowman as a family.  Well, this was mostly Dave with the help of the little girl in pink (our neighbor).  But Jesse was intrigued with the process, I got the accessories, and Janna tried her hardest to plow through the snow which was thigh deep for her.  Made her a bit cranky!

 We all enjoyed a long afternoon nap, and gingerbread house making in the afternoon.  This is 50/50 Mommy and Jesse’s creation.  I think that this is probably the ugliest gingerbread house ever made.... perhaps that will be our family tradition.... who can make the slantiest shanty?  

Anyways, Saturday continued to be good and busy.  Dave’s Dad, joined us yesterday and we all enjoyed pizza for supper and lots of yummy baked goods throughout the evening.    However, a nasty fever hit Janna last night on her way to bed, and she was up several times during the night.  The bliss seems to have ended as Janna woke up totally miserable this morning.  Fever/chills/ and wouldn’t eat or drink a single thing I offered her ( And I did offer all her favorites!) All she wanted was for mommy to snuggle her for hours on end.  Literally.  She has just sat on someones lap snuggled into them all day long. 

 We tried to juggle taking turns going to different church services so someone could be home with Janna.  But although Dave got out early this morning, it didn’t quite work for me to get out later.  So! I feel like I have been snuggling one of my girls non-stop for the whole day.

 Dave has done a great job taking over the cuddle role, and forcing some fluids gradually into her. She was still miserable, and sort of floppy and worrying me.  Finally, we made her drink about a quarter cup of apple juice.  She fought through the whole thing, and then immediately after threw up all over the place.   We gave her a bath, AND she all of a sudden became a new girl.  She ran downstairs and wanted to play and read books, and then bolted to the table and moaned for us to get her in her chair.  She downed a monster bowl of KD with some fruits and veggies, and while she is still a bit whiney- I am not worried she is about to sink into a coma or anything!  She just needed a puke and bath I guess J

The kids just ate supper and there is only a bit of time before we start bedtime.  I know this is maybe not the greatest time for a sick kid. BUT!  I am happy that Jesse and I got the worst out of the way, and that we now have some extra hands to help out.  When Janna threw up, Poppie ran the bath, I carried her upstairs to strip her down, and Nana cleaned up the mess while Dave got changed.   All hands on deck around here!!!  I don’t know how I would have taken care of Janna along with the other two all by myself today if this were a normal weekday.  Hopefully the worst of this bug will pass along and people will be happy (although perhaps a bit snotty) for Christmas.

Exciting times!  We are all crossing our fingers that Nana and Poppie stay strong! The kids are delighted to have them here.  I haven’t taken too many pics, but here are a few from Nana’s camera.  Thanks for reading! I’m out.