Cold & Flu Season is upon us...

Well, as you recently read, last week for the Strawn’s was blissful.

Lars had begun sleeping through the night on a regular basis (4-5 nights in a row).

Our trip to and from Casper, Wy was painless and relatively quiet. No blown tires, no flat tires, no tires needing replaced at all, in fact.

Lars had begun walking well.

Eden was stepping out of her defiance and starting to become a nice little girl in society.

You know, blissful.

Then came February and all that was blown to somewhere. Ok, that’s a huge over exaggeration, but I’m lacking drama at the moment and need to make it sound exciting.

On Monday, Eden had a field trip to the dentist with her day care group. Since Al had an early meeting in Scottsbluff, I had to drag Lars along, as well. He was Ok, sitting the car while I ran errands all up and down Main St.

Don’t worry, I left the car running with the heat on.

In the afternoon, I got the house picked up and the laundry done, while Lars took an unusually long nap. I even got some sewing done, which made me think it was going to be such a great week.

Tuesday, I missed the Schwans’ Truck and had to come up with my own supper. While I was muttering about what to make for supper, I decided to make a menu for the rest of the month. What a good idea that turned out to be! I headed to the grocery for this week’s items and called it good. Eden helped me pick out the best dozen of eggs and several flavors of yogurt. All which are Key Lime Pie for her.

We were having Mexican that night so I felt obligated to invite our Mexican friends, Mark and Laura. Ok, so they’re not Mexican and I didn’t feel the least bit obligated, but we all enjoy the food and company so much. The girls played together and the adults actually had a bit of time to chat without interruption.

That night, I was really tired and went to bed early. At 0300 on Wednesday morning, I work up with that awful dread feeling that says, “Woman, you’ve got a cold”. Trying to pretend it away, I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Three hours later, when that didn’t work, I fished out a new box of Kleenex and took some drugs. I was sound asleep when my kids got up and my husband said, “Are you sick?”

Yeah.

This question from your husband really has a double meaning. Not only does it mean, “Oh no, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well”. It also means, “Crap. This is gonna be awful. I’m going to have to get the kids up and breakfast and diapers and dressed and all that stuff and I still need a shower!”

Thankfully, my husband’s job allows him to be late on occasion. Not so thankfully, he had bible class first thing in the morning, a meeting over lunch, and confirmation class in the afternoon. Meaning he wouldn’t be coming back home until nearly 7:00 p.m.

I lay on the couch all day, letting the kids do pretty much whatever they wanted.

I think Lars had pears for all three meals. I’m pretty sure Eden found something to eat in the snack drawer and the yogurt compartment of the fridge.

Thursday wasn’t much better. Daddy came home over lunch, but didn’t get home until after choir, 7:00 p.m. By now, Lars was getting a runny nose.

Eden was still doing her own thing, which is how she lost scissor privileges. (See Mohawk, several angles, below).

Friday, I felt much better. Lars, not so much.

The only thing worse than being a sick mommy, is having a sick baby.

Al had to work all day Friday.

Friday night, Lars was moaning and crying in his sleep, rolling around, banging the side of the crib and coughing himself into fits. It was awful to listen to and useless to try and sleep through.

Saturday and Sunday, I had my final days of training for my EMS instructor course. My written exam was Saturday afternoon and my final oral presentation, Sunday afternoon. Both went well and I passed with an “A”. Now I have more work ahead of me so that I can use my new found skills and get a teaching job!

Lars was sick all weekend. Laura stayed at our house on Sunday morning while Mark took Eden and his girls to church. It is now Sunday evening and I’m hoping Lars’ll make it till tomorrow morning, when I can take him to the clinic. We need a wet diaper pretty soon or I’m going to have to do something different...