little gingers

...and all through the house,
The kids were all snotty
and Momma almost gave up. (Forget the rhyming this morning!)


Over the weekend, Bryce started with a fever and congestion. His fever got as high as 101.

Monday, I stayed in the kitchen making 2 pans of fudge and 2 types of truffles that were go to into gift bags for people along with the various other treats and cookies I had plans to make yesterday.

I felt a bit "slowed down" and was a little congested, but was very careful about sterilization and cleanliness while cooking.

Anyway, by the time I started working that night, my congestion rolled in a little heavier. By 5am, I had incredible joint aches, body aches, and was running a temp of over 103 with really bad shakes and chills.

For the next 24 hours, it would "cycle" in 4-hour shifts. 103 fever, break to 100, back up to 103.

I don't know if I've EVER felt like I did yesterday. When I'd cough, it would hurt DEEP inside of me. It burned like fire, front to back, and had a focal point of stinging in my left nipple (odd, eh?). My throat and neck were swollen and tender, as well, so coughing was an event. If I've been lying down, congestion builds in my chest, so the deeper coughs bring up this nasty, thick, green mucus.

Went to the doc. They had to bring me a blanket because I was having the shakes again. A CBC and a nasal flu check later, I was diagnosed with the flu and a white count of 3.2 (which isn't too bad considering my norm is a little under 4). The woman also told me that I have "bubbles" from the fluid in my ears.

I woke this morning 12 hours after my last dose of ibuprofen, yet my fever was only 99. I slept better, I felt better, and I didn't feel as weak or as full of aches. It's only been a day since going to the doc, but I feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe it was "talk" with Santa about how messed up it is to be THIS sick the week of Christmas... and for my babies to get it is even meaner.

When sleeping last night, Sophie woke me up at 1am. She began to cry and told me she felt bad. I let her crawl into bed with me.

At 4am, she woke up again crying. This time, when I felt of her, she was BLAZING hot. Temp of 103.3. FAST. Flu-like.

I dosed her up with ibuprofen. She threw up half an hour later.

She went back to sleep with the cool rag on her forehead and woke this morning with 99. I need to check her again, but she's not gotten up out of the bed just yet. I'm letting her rest.

WOW. Kid just walked in here where I am and is actually SMILING.

I'm sure she'll go through cycles, too. I'll just keep her super hydrated and dosed up on ibuprofen. She's coughing a little, but we've got some meds for that, too. She didn't say it hurt to cough, but was just "normal coughing."

Let's all just pray that Chris' FIRST DAY of this isn't Christmas morning, if he gets it, that is.

Sandra was with the kids all day yesterday, and she has what is similar to what Bryce was fighting - just the congestion and cough.

It seems maybe Bryce avoided the flu, if that's possible. I think I got Bryce's congestion and cough, and then the flu snuck in (maybe exposure from all the last minute grocery shopping?) What Sophie has mimicks mine 100% minus the extreme congestion and body aches, but it could just be the way her body is processing it.

She's in the floor playing Spongebob Operation right now with Bryce. I likely won't be making anymore sweets for people since I would likely taint it, but I DO plan to make some crafts with my babies today - in our jammies and the confines of our warm, safe, happily (and overly) decorated house.

I can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Really, the only TRUE ailments I can complain about today are the congestion and a little bit of weakness. I have a good bit of chest congestion right now, and when I cough, it hurts really bad still. Deeply. When I CAN cough deep, I expectorate something you might see in a scifi flick. It's disgusting. My throat is still a little tight and sore, but hey, I can deal with a sore throat over a sore, aching ENTIRE BODY any day.

There are some wonderful people in my life who have called us and checked on us and put us on prayer lists and just really, really touched me in how worried they've been. This means so much to me, and without all of these beautiful, wonderful people, I think yesterday would have repeated itself again today. A little medication and love and prayers can do a family good, yanno?! I'm so blessed in that aspect of my life.

Here's to healing!!! I say bring on the fat guy in the red suit!!!!!!!