Morning is Broken

It was probably inevitable that today would be a bad day. Despite successfully falling asleep at 9 p.m. last night in order to attempt to get well from a bad cold, I was awoken at 10 by the rattling back door, and remained awake, snuffling and shuffling for 4 hours. So the 6 am start was more harsh than usual.

Then, my "sick day" to recover continues:
6:45 a.m., take child's temperature (normal).
7 a.m., feed child.
7:15 a.m., prepare child's lunch.
7:30 a.m., get child ready for school. (aka listen to moans and cries about the torture devices known as pants, socks, and coats).
7:45 a.m., drive child to school, and work (unpaid) for 30 minutes to take care of things that cannot wait while I am sick.
8:30 a.m., drop crying child at kindergarten.
8:45 a.m., fill out paperwork to use one of my ever-dwindling sick days.
9:00 a.m., drive home.
9:15 a.m., settle onto couch with hot tea and english muffin.
9:30 a.m., answer work emails.
9:45 a.m., close eyes.
10:00 a.m., answer phone and speak to school secretary about child with fever of 99.9 in nurse's office.
10:01 a.m., call doctor's office to make appointment for relapsing child to be seen by doctor, per printed information provided by school nurse on original fever day.
10:06 a.m., learn that child is not welcome at doctor's office because according to said office, child has "picked up a new virus which should be treated at home unless child appears to stop breathing or spikes a high fever which does not respond to fever-reducing medication."
10:07 a.m., drive to school to pick up child. make cell phone call to mother in order to cry and moan about the unfairness of life and stress of being sick and having sick child.
10:18 a.m., retrieve child from school nurse's office. Note significant lack of signs and symptoms of illness in said child.
10:20 a.m., drive child home in silence while engaging in lengthy internal debate about what to do with said child upon re-entry to the household.
10:35 a.m., take child's temperature. Normal.
10:40 a.m., retreat to bathroom and turn on hot water faucet to the maximum.
10:42 a.m., respond to child's statement of hunger by unzipping child's backpack, removing child's lunchbox and shoving it in direction of child. return to bathroom.
10:50 a.m., decide attitude adjustment is only hope for survival. Throw out concerns that child is learning she can leave school at will and assume child feels like self (aka crap). Give child medicine for headache, a bevy of beverages and instruct child to rest (aka tell child "yes, you can watch PBS kids).Proceed to kitchen. Make buttermilk mashed potatoes and 600 cups of tea. Compose blog entry in head. Set internal timer until bedtime in head.

Flu-Buster

In an attempt to fight off the house full of flu germs, I am downing massive amounts of tea, and washing hands and wiping surfaces constantly. I've been doing some weekend cooking while housebound and have lots of healthy items on hand. Today's lunch: 4 kinds of greens, grilled tofu, and roasted yams and sweet potatoes. Plus a high-dose vitamin C.For the sick one, apple juice popsicles for breakfast, honey english muffins for munching while zoning out to PBS Kids, and a fried egg for lunch. Looks like we're on the mend (I hope!).

Flying School

The day after Halloween we had unseasonably warm weather. We took advantage of the opportunity to spend some time out on the back deck, I with my book and Adelaide with her tent, pencil and paper and legions of stuffed animals. She bustled around setting up a school for the animals, and after they had all spent some time in the tent together they were ready to begin the real work of the day, learning to fly. I'm not sure if it was merely the presence of the clothesline and clothespins, or some internal inspiration, but those animals were destined to be airborne. The vision:A helping hand for take-off:And they're off!As the head teacher and founder of the school, Adelaide realized she needed to recruit some volunteers, so she created a sign-in sheet:
I was recruited, and in addition to documenting the flight, I was asked to teach reading to the friends who were grounded for various issues:Adelaide assisted students in dressing the part:A good time was had by all.

Dinner Conversation

A: Mom, I worship Grace.

C: Oh?

A: Yeah. And Gracie and Kaitlin worship me.

C: That's nice.

A: And Vanessa worships her mom.

C: Mm.

A: Mom, do you know what worship means?

C: Yes, I do.

A: What does it mean?

C: Well, it's when you think something is really, really great. Like it's the best thing ever.

A: Oh. (to her dinner) I worship you, cheese.

Winter Fare

Today's lunch was a combination of some leftovers from the week and some fresh veg from the store. The leftovers were brown rice, 3 bean chili with yams, quinoa and soy chorizo, and tomato soup. The fresh veg was rainbow swiss chard and dark kale. Warm and comforting. And yes, best served with a side of beano.

Reading with Uncle Dave

Uncle Dave came for a visit on Friday and Adelaide read some of her readers to him.

Veteran's Day

Today the kids performed at an all-school assembly to honor our nation's veterans.

Update to Smile Update