Survived the week

Hello, I have neglected you, Internet world. I haven't blogged, I've barely been able to check facebook, and I'm missing my SB mamas, who are apparently up to changing the world again.

Last Saturday, we went to Owensboro to see Memaw and GrandBob and after being there a few hours, I said those fated words: "I don't feel so good." Over the next few hours I developed a sore throat that made it feel like I was swallowing razor blades, a fever, body aches, headache ... general ick. The next day we went to Grandma and Papaw's house for lunch then drove home (2.5 hours), and I was so miserable that I actually had to pass on our Bible study potluck. You know I'm sick when I pass up a social engagement.

I stayed home from work on Monday--which was a huge deal to me because this is probably the busiest time of year at SBAK, and I was planning 2 holiday parties for this weekend and we also have our Gingerbread House event coming up tomorrow. There is a lot to do. But I was still feverish and had no energy, not to mention my throat. Then I discovered the "cure"--800mg ibuprofen left over from a root canal. :) For 7.5 hours at a time, I felt good! Which would lead me to think I was getting better, but I was like Cinderella with her pumpkins after 7.5 hours. Tuesday and Wedenesday I worked as hard as I could to get everything prepared for this weekend, then on Thursday when I woke up still feeling awful, and fresh out of my ibuprofen, I finally made a doctor appointment. Funny how mama waits 5 days before finally taking the time and $25 copay to go to the doctor; meanwhile, when I was waiting for the doctor, I got a text at 3:15 that Georgia had a fever, and I had her at her doctor by 4:30. So mama has an upper respiratory infection, and Georgia has an ear infection. But even better, mama has a Z-pack and Georgia has pink amoxicillan, and we are feeling better!

It really stinks when you realize that because you are a grown up--and especially because you're a mom--life just doesn't stop when you get sick. I still had to go to work, and take Nate for his OT eval, wake up in the middle of the night when the kids were screaming, pick up prescriptions... But Blake stepped up big time to cover for me what I couldn't do and take care of us, and our house would be unlivable if not for Alisa. My attitude for the week was, "Mama's sick. Do what you can."

But there's nothing like a holiday party to get you out of a funk. It was so nice spending time with other SB families last night. There were several I'd never met before, but there's always an instant connection, a shorthand, and a total acceptance in a world where kids are otherwise "different" and often teased. I was very proud of this party--I had it at GattiTown, my brother Lucas' new pediatric dental practice sponsored it so we could actually afford to go there, Santa was there to give each child a personalized stocking, and then all the kids received game cards and tickets to ride the carousel (which was handicap accessible!) and bumper cars. The party was 6-8, but happily we didn't leave until nearly 9:30 because families stuck around to talk with old friends and new ones and make plans to connect on facebook and at future SBAK programs. My best friend and her husband came, and so did my brother, so I had help with all the "work" (I fully realize how lucky I am that I actually get paid for this) as well as with keeping up with my own kids, who had an awesome time. Lucas stood in line for half an hour to exchange Nate's 32 tickets for 3 dum dums. :) But those dum dums were worth their weight in gold when trying to lure the kids out of GattiTown with no fits for a 1.5 hour drive home.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel the party I planned for today in a different part of the state due to a lack of RSVPs and impending snow. I was disappointed, but I was also so relieved I didn't have to travel 4 hours from home, with my kids, by myself, in bad weather, while recovering from being sick. So I woke up this morning totally out of the funk I had been in yesterday morning. It's partly that I'm feeling better, and partly because I'm now feeling the Christmas spirit, and I'm also just appreciating my kids being little. Yesterday I met a very surly teenager :) (who didn't have SB) and also heard stories of kids teasing about SB stuff like braces and pull ups as early as Kindergarten. So today, I just want to keep my kids little. They're so sweet (when they're not being rotten) and innocent, and I love experiencing things like snow and Santa through their eyes again.

This morning we looked out Georgia's bedroom window at the snow for a long time, with Nate exclaiming, "The snow is getting on that house! And that one too!" He asked why it was snowing, and I explained it as "frozen rain" which he thought was hilarious. He asked me if it was snowing on the train museum and if we could go see. Meanwhile, Georgia was emptying one of her drawers, bringing me one piece of clothing at a time. Each time I'd say "Thank you" and she would say something that resembled "You're welcome." Then we all piled in the glider to read stories. That's like the best feeling ever to a mama. Blake came home with some special Saturday morning McDonalds breakfast, then I got to TAKE A NAP! When I woke up, Blake was dishing out BROWNIES fresh from the oven! I immediately said, "Best day ever!" This afternoon has been filled wih coloring and building with leggos and Georgia running up to me with a book saying "Mama!" asking me to read it to her. This past week is forgotten. Life is great.