Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Nursing a Cold

I’m sitting alone on our couch (Mike having headed out of town for work for the night). The lights are turned low, and I’m bundled in a blanket. I have a pillow and a laptop on (appropriately) my lap, and I’m listening to A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera sing Say Something . . . on repeat (it’s maybe a kind of blue song, but it’s quiet and pretty – fitting with my bundled up, quiet, and husbandless night).

I’m sniffling, repeatedly; and occasionally stopping to blow my red nose with what should be nice tissues, but is, instead, a rather rough roll of toilet paper. It’s not sadness, mind. It’s simply a head cold that began creeping around on Monday – toying with my sinuses, needling at my muscles – and then swung in greedily and fully today.

Five of the six kids are in bed – Penny having claimed Mike’s vacant spot in my own bed for tonight (just as Goldie did last night). Abe is in the loft above me working on a few last bits of homework before heading to bed himself. He just called down, in a voice of nervous worry, “Mom? Are you . . . OK?” It was all that darn sniffling. He was certain I was crying and seemed relieved to discover that I was perfectly happy and only wholly unable to breathe.

There is plenty that could be done around here. Plenty that should be done. Laundry that needs folding. Pictures that want loaded onto the computer. Library books that need stacked nicely in a corner. Cans of food that need carried downstairs to our cold storage. A large children’s tent that needs folded up and put away -- it nearly takes a degree in rocket science to fold it so that it fits back in the small round bag it came from, so I’m rather proud of myself that I can typically manage it. Tonight, however, I’d rather not.

Motherhood, it didn’t take me long to discover, doesn’t make allowances for silly things like sickness. Kids go on needing fed, mess goes on being made, diapers go on needing changed, and piano lessons go on needing driven to.

This isn’t an end-of-the-world sickness. More of an annoyance. The kind of annoyance that would enjoy being coddled and wrapped up in bed all day, but can sulkily manage with not being. Still, now that the hour is late, and the house is quiet, I’m going to coddle my little self all I’d like. A book is by my side, along with a cell phone waiting for Mike’s goodnight call, a small bag of Doritos are on the table in front of me (hush – no need mentioning that I can hardly taste them), and, well, that song is on repeat.

I’ll check with you all again in the morning. Or, actually, probably not. I’ll be mothering and what not again. For now, I’ll leave you with a few pictures from my cell phone (‘cause remember that part about camera photos not getting loaded onto the computer?). Good night.
IMG_20140103_165350IMG_20140102_204019IMG_20140102_211106IMG_20140102_210711IMG_20140103_092046IMG_20140102_205205IMG_20140107_141832IMG_20140106_081207IMG_20140107_223845

Shh. Don’t tell anyone about Jesse playing with the girls’ roominate set. They would be furious. Winking smile

8 comments:

Val said...

Oh, I hope you get better soon! I know this situation so well: blankets call you, but you need to stick to you motherly duties, and have to wait until late at night to finally indulge in a little fun and rest! Coddle yourself as much a s you ca,...sure you'll get a few kiddy hugs and kisses to help you on the way (mum's rewards!) ;)

Sachi said...

Oh! I'm sorry to hear your trouble! Please take good care of yourself and I hope you get better soon!

Nancy said...

Thanks for the well wishes, girls! It took several days, but as of today, I seem to be back to normal (mostly :)). Wishing health to you and your families!

Shannon said...

Glad you're mostly feeling better! What are those cute boots you're wearing?

Shannon said...

Glad you're mostly feeling better! What are those cute boots you're wearing?

Nancy said...

Shan, Mike bought me those boots last Christmas . . . and often questions my proper gratitude because I wear them so rarely. I do like them though. It is just, in general, I find that, unless I am going out somewhere special, I only ever put on flip flops or, in mid winter, rainboots -- neither of which require tying or zipping or any other tedious nonsense.

Marnie said...

The others all wrote with sweet sympathetic messages, but I was actually just thinking of myself. It's winter, you know, and I need more entertaining than usual. So, just pointing out that you haven't written since the 7th.

Nancy said...

Well, Marns, your sympathy would have been ill spent as I am feeling completely fine again. BUT, it is lovely to hear you've felt my blogging absence so keenly ;). I'm sure I'll muster up something before too long. . . . If only those darn kids of mine would quit making so much mess to clean up.

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