Bam! Did you hear the least one fall into her second round this morning? Well, honestly, I was sort of waiting for it. She's been bouncing around for days, but got achy earlier and had a temperature. Still, she never gets as sick as some of the other ones. I wonder if it's partly her personality. She doesn't take life seriously AT ALL, and things just pass over her. Must be the optimist in her.
And youngest son, with his high fever, had a spell of the Alice in Wonderland syndrome....that's when your body parts seem oddly sized or your perception of distances is distorted. I'd never heard of this until one of the boys had this happen when he had Mono several years back. Several of our kids have experienced this with fevers since then, and while it's common, doesn't make it any less startling. He said last night if felt like his hands were huge and super strong. It passed when we got the fever down, but still.
Now I'm going to read my Anne Perry library book called 'Brunswick Gardens' which is very good. Sort of Sherlock Holmes-esque, and mild enough that my sickroom-drained brain can manage it. Don't make me read anything that requires words of many syllables, or I'll be lost. Not that Perry's books are that simplistic, but they are pretty easy to absorb, nonetheless.
Will hang onto the reality of kids getting well. We've moved into the third week of it, so guess it's time for some relief.
Remember to take your vitamins.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Getting better
Finally seeing improvement in some of the kids. It's always interesting to see how they react to illness in different ways. Oldest daughter will plug along and help and do things around the house---all the while pooh-poohing that she feels bad. Such a peach. Unfortunately that caught up with her this morning. I guess thinking that she's been dealing with this illness for over 2 weeks now, she figured she was on the mend. Well, she and Gary were driving to work just after 8am and she was bent over with pain from coughing--when she had the flu a couple of years back, she had the same experience with having what appeared to be, bruised ribs. He turned the truck around and told her to call her boss, while he headed home. He told me later that she gave a huge sigh of relief at being able to relax. I've dosed her with herbs (lots and lots of echinacea) and more common stuff, and she began to feel better by late afternoon. She's not in such pain---seriously, I was most concerned with pneumonia, but believe we've forestalled that.
Third son is finally better as well, after getting sick a second time, but bless him---he's had to work and not be up to snuff. His older brother is filling in for him at the restaurant tonight, and he's not feeling keen himself just yet. Man, it's hard. Really tough to see them being responsible at work while all the time, they'd rather be at home. That's the life in the world, though.
Now if fourth and fifth sons will perk up a bit more, plus middle daughter, we'll be in high cotton. I'm thinking we've passed the crisis point. If anyone's wondering what's going on with the least one---well, she was sick for about 45 minutes (yes, I exaggerate, but still...), last week, and is fine. That's her way.
And I was glad to see some smiles on their faces before they began getting ready for bed. My mom always told me that a temperature rises when the sun begins to set, making me think that our bodies are sad to see the darkness arrive and so give in to a fever (maybe running a bit too poetical there). Fifth son was at just over 103, so guess that fits, but at least he can still grin.
Will be glad for a fresh new day tomorrow. Gary brought me a cup of hot tea a few minutes ago, and that was welcome. Just the simple things. When life gets to bare bones with a sick-house, basic needs are the name of the game.
Hope you sleep well.
Third son is finally better as well, after getting sick a second time, but bless him---he's had to work and not be up to snuff. His older brother is filling in for him at the restaurant tonight, and he's not feeling keen himself just yet. Man, it's hard. Really tough to see them being responsible at work while all the time, they'd rather be at home. That's the life in the world, though.
Now if fourth and fifth sons will perk up a bit more, plus middle daughter, we'll be in high cotton. I'm thinking we've passed the crisis point. If anyone's wondering what's going on with the least one---well, she was sick for about 45 minutes (yes, I exaggerate, but still...), last week, and is fine. That's her way.
And I was glad to see some smiles on their faces before they began getting ready for bed. My mom always told me that a temperature rises when the sun begins to set, making me think that our bodies are sad to see the darkness arrive and so give in to a fever (maybe running a bit too poetical there). Fifth son was at just over 103, so guess that fits, but at least he can still grin.
Will be glad for a fresh new day tomorrow. Gary brought me a cup of hot tea a few minutes ago, and that was welcome. Just the simple things. When life gets to bare bones with a sick-house, basic needs are the name of the game.
Hope you sleep well.
Enough already
"Bam, bam, bam!" I said walking down the hallway. My husband looked up at me from the sofa and asked why I was repeating myself. Said I was making the noise of the kids as they get hit with this flu bug. "Bam!" One after another (with 3 of them getting sick a second go-round) they've gone down for the count. Four were in bed by dinner-time last night. Middle daughter, who's 12, is the most recent victim right after her slightly older brother.
We sit around waiting for someone else to feel lousy. Gary and I are the lone hold-outs and I told him I've not caught the flu because I'm mean, right? He gave me a look (happening lots lately) and joked that that was a question and not a statement, hmm?
I've been in denial calling this a *sort of* flu or a bad cold. Well, darn it, it IS the flu. On the up-side, folks tend to be immune from catching it again for several months after having it. Least that's what I'm going to believe. With this nonsense in the house, I'll take humor or positive input in any way I can.
We sit around waiting for someone else to feel lousy. Gary and I are the lone hold-outs and I told him I've not caught the flu because I'm mean, right? He gave me a look (happening lots lately) and joked that that was a question and not a statement, hmm?
I've been in denial calling this a *sort of* flu or a bad cold. Well, darn it, it IS the flu. On the up-side, folks tend to be immune from catching it again for several months after having it. Least that's what I'm going to believe. With this nonsense in the house, I'll take humor or positive input in any way I can.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
News from the infirmary
Well, nuts. Figured we were on the mend here, with the cold virus thingy finally leaving us, but youngest son is getting sick now, and middle daughter has a bit of a cough. Plus, three of 'em are still coughing from a week ago. And I had a spell of anemia yesterday, and had to avoid bending down too much because it made me dizzy. Seems with the kids sick, I've been lax in taking my vitamins including the ever-important iron. I say 'nuts' again.
That's my story, as sickroom-ish as it is. Maybe if I can push the vacuum around today, and wipe up the flat surfaces, the house won't look so peaky. It seems a bit frazzled with neglect.
Fortunately, there are things for the 2 girls to do with their schoolwork without too much help from me. Plus they're painting the dollhouse one of the brothers made a few years back. Their project is to paint and decorate it this week. And youngest son (when he's feeling better) will make a comic book about the folks who live in the dollhouse, and fourth son will write a story (he writes a LOT) about the boy who's writing the comic book about the dollhouse. A trickle down assignment. Came to me the other night when I was wrestling with not wanting to get slam into the basic school courses and wanting to be more creative with them.
Well, must go and be productive, or as much so as I can with still feeling a bit under the weather. Won't run any marathons today! That darned anemia does make a person feel weary, but I'm glad I know how to solve it. Maybe I needed to slow down anyway.
Enjoy your day. :)
That's my story, as sickroom-ish as it is. Maybe if I can push the vacuum around today, and wipe up the flat surfaces, the house won't look so peaky. It seems a bit frazzled with neglect.
Fortunately, there are things for the 2 girls to do with their schoolwork without too much help from me. Plus they're painting the dollhouse one of the brothers made a few years back. Their project is to paint and decorate it this week. And youngest son (when he's feeling better) will make a comic book about the folks who live in the dollhouse, and fourth son will write a story (he writes a LOT) about the boy who's writing the comic book about the dollhouse. A trickle down assignment. Came to me the other night when I was wrestling with not wanting to get slam into the basic school courses and wanting to be more creative with them.
Well, must go and be productive, or as much so as I can with still feeling a bit under the weather. Won't run any marathons today! That darned anemia does make a person feel weary, but I'm glad I know how to solve it. Maybe I needed to slow down anyway.
Enjoy your day. :)
Monday, January 3, 2011
'The Quotable Chesterton' by Kevin Belmonte
Kevin Belmonte has paid an amazing tribute to G.K. Chesterton in his book 'The Quotable Chesterton'. I just wish I was intelligent enough to appreciate it as much as my husband does, being that he's a huge fan.
The entire book is first class, beginning with the Introduction, through the quotes (which are incredibly varied and meaty), and to the end with the Notes section. Belmonte has done a beautiful job of sharing Chesterton's faith and talent in a way that's rarely seen anymore. The thing is, the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century gave us writers of a quality who are a rarity these days. Chesterton is one of those treasures, and the more we can be re-introduced to him, the better.
And while I can't even imagine the man behind the words, being that I hold Chesterton, Lewis, and MacDonald in such high regard, I would like to share my favorite and maybe Chesterton's simplest quote,
"Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese."
I concur.
(i received this book free to review from thomas nelson/booksneeze)
Hoppin' John
Had a couple of requests about the Hoppin' John I made for New Year's Eve (meant to be eaten on New Year's Day, however, for good luck), and thought I'd share the recipe. Partly so I'd not forget it.
Ingredients:
-about 3 cups cooked long-grain white rice
-one pound bag of black-eyed peas soaked and simmered until done, and salted to taste (sea salt seems to be best)
-in a skillet cook until crispy about 6 slices of bacon and then crumble and set aside
-in same skillet, in bacon drippings, cook about 1/4 cup of a mixture of onions, and red/green peppers (I use a mixture that's sold in the frozen section of the store called 'Seasoning Blend' or something like that
-after that's cooked a bit pour in one can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes...I used Hunt's garlic and olive oil flavor
-then add almost all of the peas (drained) and all of the rice...get it to your consistency, adding the bacon last, and stirring well
Total yum-ness with cornbread on the side. Oh, and I put some of the same onion mixture in the cornbread and baked it in the same skillet I cooked the bacon in. Talk about good. And, by the way, this recipe, as is, feeds 10 folks.
Ingredients:
-about 3 cups cooked long-grain white rice
-one pound bag of black-eyed peas soaked and simmered until done, and salted to taste (sea salt seems to be best)
-in a skillet cook until crispy about 6 slices of bacon and then crumble and set aside
-in same skillet, in bacon drippings, cook about 1/4 cup of a mixture of onions, and red/green peppers (I use a mixture that's sold in the frozen section of the store called 'Seasoning Blend' or something like that
-after that's cooked a bit pour in one can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes...I used Hunt's garlic and olive oil flavor
-then add almost all of the peas (drained) and all of the rice...get it to your consistency, adding the bacon last, and stirring well
Total yum-ness with cornbread on the side. Oh, and I put some of the same onion mixture in the cornbread and baked it in the same skillet I cooked the bacon in. Talk about good. And, by the way, this recipe, as is, feeds 10 folks.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
About those resolutions
In this New Year, I'm not going to pressure myself with things I think I *ought* to do, rather will focus on taking care of myself in a more genuine way. For example: would love to lose weight, but won't load myself with guilt if it doesn't happen. Told my husband the other night that 2010 had been a hard year, and he said that I say that every year. That prompted me to tell him that he's not supposed to know me well enough to make comments like that. He raised his bushy eyebrows at me for that remark. Still, I'd rather remain a tiny bit mysterious, just in case. Seems I'm not doing too swift a job in that department, does it?
Anyway, mentioned to oldest daughter today that I feel like I'm always on alert, watching and listening for details of everything that goes on around here. I listen to hear if the dryer is run too long, or if the tub drips overmuch, also am always fretting if the dogs annoy anyone--especially when the frustration of moving one more dog/child gate gets on anyone's nerves. See, I've taken on the job of insuring everyone's happiness and contentment---except my own.
I see a trend here, and this year hope to alter it. I want to move on up the list of my own importance. Sure, I'll take care of them, but have left myself off by the side of the road way too much. And it's not that I'm a doormat. They respect me around here, but I've allowed myself to be a minor note. And I'm tired of being sad about that.
Now just as a happy for you, go listen to Adam Watts' 'When Everything Else is Gone', and tell me if the introduction reminds you of the Beatles. And wanted to add that oldest daughter rented a movie on Amazon called 'The Lightkeepers' and I watched it yesterday and totally loved it. The reviews are poor, but she and I both thought it was very sweet. Maybe folks are so jaded by high action and convoluted plots that they can't appreciate simple acting and a good old-fashioned story. Never mind them. It was a treat.
Anyway, mentioned to oldest daughter today that I feel like I'm always on alert, watching and listening for details of everything that goes on around here. I listen to hear if the dryer is run too long, or if the tub drips overmuch, also am always fretting if the dogs annoy anyone--especially when the frustration of moving one more dog/child gate gets on anyone's nerves. See, I've taken on the job of insuring everyone's happiness and contentment---except my own.
I see a trend here, and this year hope to alter it. I want to move on up the list of my own importance. Sure, I'll take care of them, but have left myself off by the side of the road way too much. And it's not that I'm a doormat. They respect me around here, but I've allowed myself to be a minor note. And I'm tired of being sad about that.
Now just as a happy for you, go listen to Adam Watts' 'When Everything Else is Gone', and tell me if the introduction reminds you of the Beatles. And wanted to add that oldest daughter rented a movie on Amazon called 'The Lightkeepers' and I watched it yesterday and totally loved it. The reviews are poor, but she and I both thought it was very sweet. Maybe folks are so jaded by high action and convoluted plots that they can't appreciate simple acting and a good old-fashioned story. Never mind them. It was a treat.
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