Quick Update

I did get an appointment today and left with a prescription for a Z-Pack. After I picked up my prescriptions and got home to rest for a minute before going to pick up the kids, I turned on the news. The local NBC channel has a segment called "What's Going Around" and tonight they talked about the same symptoms I've been having. Apparently, lots of folks have fever, congestion, cough and sore throat and many are being tested for influenza and the tests are coming back negative. So, I'm not alone.... I am looking forward to getting better. For now, I will keep up with the ibuprofen, acetaminophen, Robitussin and antibiotics. Oh, and sleep!

Cold

I will post briefly then must get back to my bed that is calling me. I've had fever since Saturday night and have been attempting to manage it with ibuprofen and acetaminophen (yes, I need both). I've also had a cough and sore throat and headache from time to time. Anyway, yesterday, I had take ibuprofen at 2PM and still felt alright by 6:30PM so I'm thinking that maybe I'm getting better. I started feeling cold again around 8PM and just figured it was because the house was chilly. I turned the heat up, and then when I put the kids to bed, I covered them with their comforters. I was still cold, so I sat down on the couch wrapped in a blanket....still not unusual when the house was chilly. I just forgot that I'm not that cold unless it's below 30 degrees outside, which it wasn't at that time in the evening. I was trying to grade papers while watching "Dancing With the Stars" and just kept shivering. Finally, I got up and put my coat on (yes, crazy, I know). Then, I fell asleep on the couch. After I awoke, I was a little warmer but realized I was feverish, so as I'm heading to get the ibuprofen, Charlie woke up coughing and came into the living room to tell me he needed a treatment. He also asked, "Mom, why did you put that heavy cover on me?" I replied, "because it is cold" and he just said, "no, it's not." Poor thing -- I was cooking him from the outside because I was cooking on the inside! My fever was 103 later on, and then when I got into bed, I could feel the heat just radiating. It was really wierd. THankfully, the medicines finally kicked in. I'm taking a sick day today still waiting for my doctor's office to call me back. I decided to try to go in if I can get an appointment, though, judging by past experience, the chances of that are slim to none. They just don't do well when they get sick calls but they are great with everything else.

By the way, Daniel, I'm so sorry that I didn't write happy birthday to you at the bottom of my last entry. I was intending to do that....so, Happy Birthday! I thought about you all day. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.

I Can Spell!

Marcie, my little whiz-kid Kindergartener, has learned the joys of spelling. She is so proud that she can spell can, we, like, the, cat; and she is constantly writing in her High School Musical notebook and asking me how to spell many other words. Charlie and Kyle have gotten in on it, too. Kyle says, "look, Mom, n-o, No!" and has also started asking how to spell simple words. A few nights ago, when putting Charlie to bed, he said, "Mom, I know how to spell blue." I took the bait and replied, "how?" He said, "b-l-u-e," after which I praised him and he followed by spelling green, red, and attempting white. After that I told him that he needed to go to sleep and there would be more time for spelling tomorrow. Tuesday afternoon Charlie said, "Mom, I know how to spell YMCA," and then he spelled, "Y-M-C-A" very slowly. He had such a proud look on his face. It was so cute! Then he attempted to spell said, "s-i-d" and didn't even mind when I replied, "oops, there's an A in there -- "s-a-i-d." He just said, "oh, yeah" and wasn't mad (he usually gets mad when he's corrected). So, I'm hoping this phase will last awhile and will help with his reading! Of course, now the kids are driving me a little crazy with the constant spelling but I am not going to discourage them. Pray for me to keep the patient look on my face while I am spelling everything that pops into their little heads. What about Joanna, you ask? Well, so far she is totally disinterested in spelling. She just enjoys writing her name, her teacher's name, and a classmate's name, over and over. When she gets into the mood for spelling, hopefully, the other kids will spell for her and I can take a break!

The Day After

Here it is the day after the election. I have this let down feeling, after all of the build up and anxiety. I had said that I wouldn't miss the political ads, etc., but I had just gotten so used to them. Anyway, I was feeling discouraged for many reasons and wasn't in the greatest mood. I had to take Kyle to his endocrine appointment, and while we were waiting I gave him some paper and crayons to draw pictures. That sweet little boy drew me with a big smile on my face, so either he thinks of me as smiling or he was wishing I were smiling. Anyway, it was just precious.

I had to drive to DC today and stopped in Stafford for a rest break. As I was turning into the 7-11 parking lot, I saw the prettiest rainbow. That really improved my mood as it reminded me of God's promises and that He is still in control, no matter what. Tomorrow is another day, and so we go forward.

A Good Time Was Had By All

I survived trick or treating and a day out with the kids, and actually even had a good time. Last night, we went trick or treating with another child and her mom. We did some houses in our neighborhood and then went to some of this other mom's friends houses and her parents' house in another neighborhood. The kids had a blast, especially riding in the car watching "High School Musical 2." Marcie sang every song -- so cute! I had bought them these fifty cents bags for their candy and by the time we were finished, their bags were slightly less than half full of candy. They also received a sticker/coloring book and some other non-candy treats. They really thought they had hit the jackpot. They did look really cute. Kyle ended up being Bob the Builder instead of spiderman.

Then, today, I decided to take them to see "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" a little on the spur-of-the-moment. Around 10:50AM, I decided we would see the 11:40AM movie thinking I could get home at a reasonable time to get somethings done around the house. NOT! I let the kids get popcorn and drinks and bought a drink for me (I knew they wouldn't finish their popcorn, so I waited and ate what was left) and we sat down as the previews were playing. Not even 15 minutes into the show, Kyle and Charlie had to go to the bathroom. Halfway through the show, Marcie had to go and then when we got back, Charlie fell asleep (trick or treating takes a lot of energy, you know). Charlie slept through the rest of the movie only once waking up to say that the movie was too loud. Kyle was ready to go about three quarters of the way through, but held it together. All in all, they were really well behaved and I enjoyed the movie. Then, we got lunch and walked around the mall. I took them into Payless to look for the Diego shoes that Kyle wanted (he has outgrown the ones he has been wearing). About an hour later and many shoes tried on, we left with "Cars" shoes for Kyle and a pair of Mary Jane's for Joanna. I let Marcie try on some Hannah Montana shoes and told her we could put them on her Christmas list along with the size so that Santa could leave her the correct ones. I ended up bribing her by agreeing to buy her a "High School Musical" purse if she would just try on some saddle shoes. Crazy, I know, but I thought they would be so cute. She cooperated so that she could get the purse, but she clearly hated every minute of it. I'm going to have to try reverse psychology and forbid her to try on the shoes I like....then, maybe she'll like them. After that, we headed to Wal-Mart so that I could buy the pigs in a blanket that Marcie likes and also get Charlie some new jeans. This past winter (late winter), I had to buy Charlie size 7 jeans (he started the school year in a 6) and he really only wore them a few months before he only needed to wear shorts. This past week, I noticed that his jeans seemed a little small and it finally occured to me that he was constantly getting "wedgies" because his pants were too small. So, we bought a few pair of size 8 pants, different styles. Got them home and one pair doesn't fit -- I'll have to get 10s! Anyway, the kids really did quite well. They were a bit whiny and restless by the time we left Wal-Mart and through the early evening. We got home just after 5 PM. They had a burst of energy after dinner and Marcie and Charlie both cleaned their rooms. Marcie really cleaned up -- putting a lot of things in her closet (don't open the door, though!) and Charlie stacked things on the toy box. Oh, well -- at least I can walk in there! Joanna got punished for lying and Kyle for not listening...then, it was bath and bedtime for everyone. Hooray!

OMG -- I've been running into the living room from time to time to watch Saturday Night Live and they just did a take-off on High School Musical. They called it "Night School Musical: Senior Year Equivalent." Really funny. I've actually enjoyed watching SNL these last few weeks. The satire on the election has been hilarious. I think that is the one (and only thing) I'll miss when the election is over. I've been totally amazed at how well Tina Fey imitates Sarah Palin -- she has the mannerisms and voice inflections just about flawless. I've only been watching the beginning of SNL and then going to bed because I have to get up early for church, but tonight decided to watch the whole thing since we get to turn the clocks back. So, no extra hour of sleep for me, but it's worth it.

Oh, one more thing....we have a new record in this household....Charlie has now made it through the first October in his lifetime without an asthma flare!!! Praise the Lord!!! Some of you who know what Charlie goes through every winter will understand just how miraculous this is. He even has a cold, and still no spasmodic coughing or wheezing. I could get used to this!