On this very day

last year, I was sending Maggie off to her pre-school with a bag full of home made little Valentine's. They weren't too fancy, but she helped make them and she loved handing them out to all her little friends. This year all of us are home sick. Cash is missing his Valentine's party today (we dropped off some store bought Valentine's at his school- no home made cut out hearts this year, no siree. Thank you Hello Kitty and Spider-Man for saving the day). We'll see if Maggie is feeling better by Monday when she has her class party. This cold of mine has almost lasted me a full week. Blech. My poor kids have been neglected for most of that time (Ben stayed home on Tuesday so he, I mean, I could sleep all day, so they got real food and diaper changes on Tuesday.) Maggie has been my little helper, bringing me glasses of water and brushing my hair. Right now she's "reading" a dinosaur book to her little brothers (who are supposed to be napping). I just heard her say, "With their big huge teeth, bigger than sharks, moving side by side, and their well-made eyes like bees nests, these dinosaurs are bigger than this house and very scary and meaner than volcanoes and probably were waiting for humans to pet them (they didn't know humans weren't alive yet) so they could bite them."

At least while I'm sitting here in my misery, my kids are getting a quality education.

Maggie's Valentine's: 2010

p.s. I just realized that most people have colds and can still function, but I'm telling you people, this has been the head cold from HELL. I am reminiscent of the swine flu of 2009, that's how crappy this cold has been. So before you get all on my case saying things like, "c'mon Kat, it's a COLD for crying out loud, what is up with that? You are seriously the biggest boob EVER", just know that this is no ordinary cold. It's a cold on steroids. Okay, now you can judge.

Dear Virus,

As your host, I feel it is my responsibility to inform you that you have worn out your welcome. Perhaps I gave you the wrong impression when I mentioned that you weren't that big of a deal. I take it back. Your presence in this household has become irksome, to say the least. You are a nuisance and a bore and we are tired of you. Had you shown more generosity, maybe springing for dinner or cleaning the guest bath, your extended stay may not have been so exhausting. But, as it is, all you have caused is pain, discomfort, and a preposterous amount of mucus. Please demonstrate that you have a shred of decency by clearing out at once.

Sincerely,
Your Host Family

p.s.

photo credit: Heather Allred Bliss

Oink, oink...

So I'm feeling pretty great. Still coughing a little here and there, but I feel pretty good. Too bad that Thursday night Cash woke up crying that he couldn't breathe. I went into his bedroom and the poor little guy sounded like he was sucking air through a straw. I wrapped him in a blanket and took him outside in the cool air to reduce the swelling in his breathe-way, and then put him in a hot bath with lots of steam. When his breathing was less labored I slathered him with Vick's, set up the humidifier in his bedroom, stuffed some rolled up blankets under his mattress to elevate his head, gave him a dose of Tylenol to bring down his fever, and put him back to bed. Then I went in to check on Oscar. Repeat story. Friday both boys continued getting worse, so Friday evening I rushed them to the doctor before the office closed for the weekend. She thinks both boys have swine flu. Wha??? That hadn't even crossed my mind! Swine flu. After both boys received a shot in the leg of steroids, she sent us home with an armful of prescriptions and an order to stay in the house. Sigh. The last few warm days of the year and I'm going to be stuck in the house with sick kids. Today it looks like Maggie is starting to get symptoms. So I'm buckling down for a week of indoor activities. I have to say though that being a swine flu "survivor", it's really not that big of a deal. Or maybe I should say I'm glad we seem to have gotten a mild case of it.

So, anyone have some fun indoor ideas to keep kids entertained? Pass them along, friends. Pass them along.

Here's a picture of Oscar yesterday. Sad!

Thoughts

I'm sick. I've got a horrible chest cold that feels like fiery explosions in my chest every time I cough. Explosions that fling shrapnel into the fleshy insides of my lungs. Not fun. It should be illegal to get sick on the eve of your anniversary, don't you think? Ben and I dropped off the kids with their aunt and uncle anyway and headed up to Salt Lake for a delicious dinner, some shopping, and a movie. On the way home we stopped by the drugstore so I could stock up on some Vicks, Sudafed, and saline spray. Romantic, no? Today my evening of "reckless abandon" is giving me the gift of hoarseness, sore muscles from head to toe, and an extremely clouded mind (ergo this post probably makes no sense). I've been forcing glasses of Airborne down my family's throats. And I've been drinking my fair share of tea, hot lemon juice with honey, orange juice and just plain water. Also the t.v. has been on pretty much all day. Dora, Diego, and lots of Disney. Although 'Map' is starting to wear thin on my patience and so I think the play-dough is soon to be making an appearance at the kitchen table.

Ben and I have successfully navigated our way through 7 years of marriage. We have 3 beautiful, healthy, exuberant children. We have a cozy, comfortable home. We're still in love. And so, even though today I feel like wrapping myself up cocoon style in a thick, heavy quilt and jamming three sets of ear plugs in my ears, I have to say that my life is pretty sweet. Sweet and mentholated...but mostly sweet. Except for that hint of yucky that is wafting from the general direction of Oscar's pants (and actually it must be more than a hint because I can smell it through the Vicks). So I'm off to correct that.

Happy Anniversary, Ben. I love you.

good things come to those who wait...

bad things come to everyone...

so i feel like a slacker as far as blogging goes, but let me give my excuse. i've been sick with a horrible cold and then yesterday woke up with a major ear infection that hurt horribly and now i'm on medication for my ear but, of course, still have the cold. as of yesterday my two darling children have each come down with runny noses as well. fun times, especially seeing how i'm a work-widow this week while ben's on a business trip.