Julia got sick on Sunday afternoon; the same vicious bug that bit her brother earlier in the week came along and nipped her, too. We had a rough twelve hours and then she seemed to settle; when Dave got home from work yesterday evening she felt strong enough for a bath and even managed a tiny bit of chicken noodle soup. When I put her to bed we agreed that if she felt well enough, she could go to school for the afternoon today.
Early this morning she appeared at my bedside, pale-faced, complaining of a stomach ache. Half-asleep, I mumbled for her to get in next to me. She crawled up on Dave’s side and promptly threw up on the bed beside me.
She’s got it good; it breaks my heart to see her so sick. I’m exhausted; I’ve spent the last two and a half days alternating between taking care of her, keeping Oliver happy and occupied, running laundry, disinfecting and cleaning up vomit.
The phone rang unexpectedly this morning, and I was surprised when I saw Dave’s cell number pop up on the screen. Guess what? He’s sick, too. Dave’s the kind of guy who hates to miss work; for him to leave mid-morning means he is SICK. And he is – he had to pull over on the way home to yack on the side of the road and he’s upstairs in bed now with a fever and a bowl.
I feel like a sitting duck.
Tomorrow evening my family is gathering at my grandmother’s farm, which was sold last week, for one last hurrah before the house is gone. I think it’s safe to say I am grieving the farm; I spent so much time there in my lifetime and I am sad, very sad, to see it go. Tomorrow will be, without a doubt, the last time I will see her house the way it has been all my life, the way I’ve always remembered it, and always will. It will be the last time I’ll see it, smell it, touch it, feel it, and it is integral for me – for my heart, for my soul – to be there with my family.
I just need to get through to tomorrow night. I don’t care what happens after that, but I need to get through to tomorrow night without getting sick. Please, please, please, if I’m going to get sick, don’t let me get sick until Thursday.
Please.
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36 Comments, Comment or Ping
best wishes lady. remember vodka cures all.
May 6th, 2008
Sending you healthy thoughts!! I’m also wishing for Mary Poppins to appear on your doorstep…
May 6th, 2008
I truly hope this bug skips you all together. It’s hard to say goodbye to the places that hold so much dear and make us who we are. I’ll be thinking of you.
May 6th, 2008
Damn, this has been a bad winter/spring in your house, eh? Isn’t this the second time you’ve been outnumbered by the sickies 3 to 1?
Jeez… and BFF is in your neck of the woods? Is it safe there?
May 6th, 2008
I can relate, but in my case I started the icks and it spread like wild fire from me to my kids and then my poor husband. It was a good one too, leaving everyone quite drained and very, very cranky. Hope you avoid the plague and that the rest of the house feels better soon!
May 6th, 2008
Oh, my dear… You and your family are having a carbon-copy of the kind of year our family has had: sick at every. single. damn. turn.
And it sucks, truly it does. I feel your pain.
But you know what? Even though the mamas ALWAYS get the bug– always after everyone else has recovered, and usually TWICE as badly as everyone else– it is INCREDIBLE how powerful the Maternal Suck-It-Up can be. By that, I mean that you CAN, out of sheer brute female will-power, NOT GET SICK until after you’ve nursed your family back to health, and then said goodbye to your family farm. You just be strong, my friend– I’m out here rooting for you.
And when it’s all over and you’re feeling better, I want to read a beautiful, long post about your Grandma’s place. I sure miss our old family farm…
Love to you– with a Gravol on top.
xo CGF
May 6th, 2008
Why must it always pour? Why can’t it just rain?? Here’s hoping the sickie vibe passes you by. I know the sitting duck feeling well.
May 6th, 2008
Oooooh that SUCKS!
I’m hoping that your amazing-mommy immune system kicks that bug’s ass and you don’t get sick!
May 6th, 2008
Mucho-well-vibes heading your way. Your poor family…xoxoxo Hang in there!
May 6th, 2008
Oh, deardeardear. Hang in there, that farm needs you to say goodbye to it. Sick-avoiding vibes headed your way…
May 6th, 2008
A sitting duck indeed. Good luck.
May 6th, 2008
Okay. No more sickness in the Tulip house. That’s EeeeNUFF! I hope everyone feels better! And, yes, I will pray that you don’t get it!
May 6th, 2008
I’m thinking of you bebe.
I know this has got to be a rough one.
lots of hugs and love and kisses.
♥
May 7th, 2008
all my best…
May 7th, 2008
I’m sending a cootie shield to you that won’t expire until Thursday night. It usually works.
May 7th, 2008
Sending you healthy, happy vibes (NO PUKING!) so that you can make it to the farm with your family. Good luck!
May 7th, 2008
The farm, somehow it doesn’t seem fair. Aging doesn’t seem fair to me, in general. But the farm. I’m gonna hate the new owners for you. And even this far north people are yaking their guts out. My son is home sick today. The rest of us sitting ducks are only quacking, not yaking yet…
May 7th, 2008
I hope everyone feels better soon…and hope you totally avoid it!
May 7th, 2008
Ohhh, i’m so sorry you have to say goodbye to the farm. Make sure you bring your camera and take lots of pics. I’ll keep all things crossed for you till Thursday.
Hugs,
a.
May 7th, 2008
Take plenty of videos when you go to the farm. That way you can take your kids on a virtual tour when they’re older and want to talk about their great-grandmother. I did it for my grandmother’s house.
May 7th, 2008
Ugh! nothing worse than the stomach flu! I hope you escape. It’s possible.
May 7th, 2008
Oh, sorry about all the sickness and yack. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it will bypass you.
May 7th, 2008
It’s bad enough when one is sick – but the entire house…
Hope everybody gets better real soon
May 7th, 2008
Oh darling. Your Grandmas farm.
I am hoping soooo hoping you do not get the bug.
May 7th, 2008
((hugs)) honey. you sound like you need them!
May 7th, 2008
hugs, love.
you already know i’m sending you the be strong, no sickness vibes!
May 7th, 2008
OH, I have my fingers crossed for you! And my toes, even though it is totally making walking awkward!
and how rotten to have sick young ones AND a sick husband. I make a terrible nurse, too. You have my total sympathy.
May 7th, 2008
You’ll get through it.
May 7th, 2008
Uh-oh – hope you’re still okay…
May 8th, 2008
((hugs))
May 8th, 2008
Oh yikes. There’s few things I hate more than the stomach bug. Strangely enough I manage to elude it most times. Sore throats I am a total beacon for though, bleh.
Hope this one passes you by. Pretty sure that whiskey is a fine choice for keeping germs away. Little hot water, little lemon and some nice Makers Mark. Can’t hurt.
May 8th, 2008
Well, it’s now Thursday…how are you doing? I hope the last few days were bearable and that you didn’t get sick! I think skiplovey is on to something with the whiskey and lemon trick….
May 8th, 2008
I’ve got every available digit crossed for you. The prospect of missing that must just be terrifying.
I am usually the second in the family – after the little one – to get sick and that’s how Joe must always feel…like a sitting duck. Luckily, his constitution is way better than mine, so he probably gets sick about half the time that I do.
May 8th, 2008
Dear Tulip, Hope this finds you well and at peace after a wonderful visit at the farm.
The farm has been sold, but your memories are yours forever. Your love for your Grandmother lives on, no matter whose name is on the deed to her home.
Peace and love to you.
May 9th, 2008
Hey, Friend… I’m sending you and your family good healing thoughts and love.
And peace…I’m hoping for peace too, to hold that farm in your heart and may those memories ALWAYS reside there.
May 9th, 2008
(((You)))
I’m so glad you were able to make it sweetie….
May 16th, 2008
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