Family Sick Day

I planned to keep my schedule as close to normal as possible even though I knew that the likelihood of going into work was minimal. To that end, I was up at 5:50am even though I would’ve preferred a longer bout of sleep. I could tell that the Tamiflu was working, but still felt achy and still had that cough. If I had a fever, it was minimal. I took the full compliment of flu meds before getting my exercises underway. It would’ve been really easy to push them aside but figured that as long as I could do them I should.

My lower back ached as I completed my sit-ups, and for the first time in as long as I can remember they took my wind away. If nothing else, I took longer breaks between sets. My push-ups might’ve been the toughest. My shoulder and elbow joints were stiff and ached to the core, but somehow I made it through a set of fifty. Lastly, I completed forty dumb bell curls. They were the easiest of the three sets.

I felt much like a zombie as Ykraps and I walked the neighborhood. I took note of the star filled pre-dawn sky. It looked like a lovely day on the horizon. Back at home I made a cup of coffee more out of habit than anything else. I didn’t crave it like usual. But I suppose that was to be expected given my condition.

Those that know me best would expect to learn that I still set out on my run. I left with my head in a fog around 6:50am. It was a difficult run from the standpoint, my muscles weren’t at all limber. Instead, they were stiff and unresponsive. My legs felt like two-by-fours. Plus, I lacked my usual energy store. And I wasn’t at all surprised when my upper respiratory tract began to pain me as well. I did my best to stay in the moment and dismiss the mild discomfort. In the end, it was an excruciatingly long run, but I finished.

I know from experience that for a good thirty minutes after finishing a run I lack any signs of ongoing illness, whether it’s a cold, hangover, or even the flu. Today was no different. I spent the next 20 minutes logging onto my work laptop, and then sent a message to my boss, peers, and team alerting them that I would be out today and most likely tomorrow with the flu. Calling off has never been easy for me. I suck at it. I feel so dirty! I got over quickly, however. I knew my body needed the rest, and the truth is, I was looking forward to a couple days of unproductive downtime.

I was in no hurry to wake the family either. No one had to be anywhere. Instead, I kept to myself. I did spend a little time logged into work reviewing a few emails and even sent a response to a couple.

Mindy & Bella were up somewhere close to 9:00am. Mindy was up at least twice in the night with the kids – Jacob both times, I think. He wanted to be sure his momma knew he was way too sick to return to school. I spent an hour or so on my home PC writing in my blog. I felt good having run and having the “triple play” of flu meds running through my system. But come about 10am I got to feeling woozy again. I craved nothing but the sofa. I found my path there quickly.

I slept for a good hour or two. In the meantime, the kids were up and the sun was shining brightly. It was deceptively beautiful. Mindy commented that it looked warm. I informed her that it was only 41 degrees. We both got a chuckle out of Bella, who requested we go boating. She was dead serious. Mindy sent her to me for an answer. Rather than say no, I told her that if it got to 80 we’d go. J

After yet another nap on the sofa, this time with Bella, we got up and spent some time on the deck and in the sunshine. Turns out, it got a little warmer than expected. It made it into the low 50’s. The sunshine was warm but the air cool. I even took my guitar out like it was summer time. Everyone came out – the kids and Mindy. That eventually led to some light backyard activity. I pushed Bella on the tree swing and even threw the baseball with Jacob. He needs the practice given that we’re signed up for coach-pitch baseball this spring. His catching and throwing are far behind his hitting. But I have no doubt that he’ll pick it up quickly. He’s naturally athletic.

I went in after being outdoors for almost an hour. While were outside, Mindy took a shower. I didn’t take one all day. Thankfully, that only happens once or twice a year! I noticed a post-it note upright on Mindy’s laptop screen that had daughter Courtney & Chad’s names scrawled on it. That piqued my interest to say the least, especially given my recent concerns for her well-being. Mindy also had a video loop running of a SWAT bust. My heart sunk, immediately linking the two incidents. I took liberties with her laptop and replayed the video a few times. There was nothing there to prove or disprove my hunch. I thought about seeking out Mindy while she showered but decided to leave her in peace.

She came downstairs around 4pm after her shower. After a few minutes passed I asked if there was anything that she needed to share with me. There was. Seems both Courtney & Chad got themselves arrested on Tuesday for separate misdemeanor offenses. It’s another dagger in my heart to be sure. I wish there were something I could readily do. But short of prayer and positive thinking, there’s little I can do to change their current path. Mindy and I talked about it a little bit before Jimaken came by to visit the kids.

Any other Wednesday this would’ve been a Mindy Wednesday, and he would’ve taken the kids to dinner. But since we were all sick, he decided to simply visit them at our MASH unit. To make Jimaken more comfortable, I left him alone in the family room with the kids and Mindy while I went to my PC. He must’ve stayed for about an hour. In the meantime, Mindy was in the kitchen slowly starting our dinner – leftovers. I found it somewhat comical listening to their interactions.

Around 600pm I left with Ykraps for his evening walk. It was a nice spring evening that brought out many of the neighbors. I noted Jimaken driving by as we walked back towards the house from the west. I waved but don’t thik he acknowledged me. There are those folks that don’t have the same peripheral vision that I have. I could tell that I needed another dose of flu meds. I was beginning to feel the virus’s ugly effects return. I chose to put that on hold until after dinner. We had steak, tacos, and cream of chicken over rice available to choose from. Jacob and I chose tacos, Mindy - a taco salad. Bella had frozen pizza. I later learned that Jacob had the cream of chicken, too. No one had the leftover steak. Maybe tomorrow. After dinner the kids had mini-popsicles. Even sick, they’re little eating machines.

Mindy made sure that Jacob got a shower since he hadn’t had one since Monday night. Usually that’s my chore but because I was ill she gave me a break. God bless her! The kids and I played some Wii after they were in their jammies. Mindy made sure that they were in bed by 8:30pm. Mindy & I tuned into Family Guy until American Idol at 9:00pm. It was elimination night. Craving some popcorn, I popped a bag. We headed to bed around 10:15pm. I convinced Mindy to turn on the bedroom TV as a sleep aide since I felt wide awake. After all, I slept for 3 or 4 hours during the day.