Words of an Ailing Husband

I know I have much more pressing things to do at this moment than post a blog entry, however being in the moment I just couldn't pass it up. I sit here with 20 minutes before I have to pick Madison up from dance. YES, both girls made it to school today and for FULL days! We only got rain and none of it freezing which means Madison's 4th grade musical as well as Kennedy's talent show are both on the docket for the evening. I sit in the midst of 6 boxes piled high in my office needing to be unpacked so that 14 orders can get bagged up and shipped out by tomorrow AM. The dust bunnies are still congregating and I wonder if I will possibly survive until next Monday. Yet, what an appropriate time for a blog entry. Call it procrastination!

I know tonight will be a late night trying to close up my office before heading out of town tomorrow. I still have 10 women to reach for the 3rd clinic that needs to be rescheduled for the weekend. Bags to pack, wash to be done and I am guessing the bunnies will get to play all weekend long! They seem to be multiplying each time I come home! But then again, I guess that IS what bunnies do!

Mr. Milo is SICK. This morning as I was getting ready to leave for an early day, he was on the docket to drop kids at school. Now remember in the last 10 years, that has been my primary responsibility come cough, cold, flu, broken limbs, bum backs, and crutches.

From the depths of the covers came a very WEAK and wispy voice, 'J..i...l...l....I don't even think I can drive..cough, cough, cough....'. I rolled my eyes and immediately began to comply the long list of times that no matter what illness, disease, symptom, or broken limb; a mom just did what a mom had to do. Knowing it would do me no good to retaliate in that manner, I quietly encouraged him, 'O! honey....I am pretty sure you will be able to drive. You just have to get up and move around a little bit.' This was followed by more groaning and moaning.

Sure enough the kids made it to school safe and sound and the afternoon was filled with more moaning, groaning and cries of 'Help me...I just can't get warm. What should I do? Should I take a hot shower? Would you get me some more blankets? Check my temperature would you? What do you think is wrong?'

Even the girls didn't moan and groan as much as he has in the last 48 hours!

While I try to smile, be empathic, and put my BEST I want to help you get well face on, if you are a woman reading this may be you feel my pain! I love my husband DEARLY, but the likeness/patience level drops just a bit on the meter during times of flu-like symptoms? You see the reason he is ONLY ill like this intermittently is God KNOWS I can only handle it about once every 5 years!

And so it goes.....I am woman, hear my roar! I best run. Madison needs fetching, supper needs to be prepared, concerts to attend, hair to curl, wash to be done, orders to be filled, and bags packed.

AND.....'I AM NOT GETTING SICK!' or am I?

Edible?

Do you NOT want to just EAT this amazing floral arrangement?

It is screaming HONEY DEW!

Japenga House Illness Update

Influenza A & B = negative

Strep Throat = negative

Walking Pneumonia = negative

1 1/2 hours in the doctors office = positive

90 kids out sick at Kennedy's school today = positive

Mr. Milo showing signs of the 'crud' and beginning to enjoy watching marathon epidsodes 'What NOT to Wear.' = POSITIVE!

Still SICK!

My babies are still sick this Tuesday morning. Yesterday I had a day full of appointments and Madison was begging me to stay home. Before December 10th, I would not have even questioned it. After December 10th, has given our family a whole new set of options. Milo had no appointments yesterday so he was deemed the 'sit on the couch cuddler, Kleenex and water runner' for the day. I will have to say that in the last 10 years that has NEVER happened due to the restrains of corporate America and my flexibility of being self-employed.

He COMPLETELY enjoyed himself! He built them a fire and they watched movies all day. This morning, with a slight tickle in his throat I question if he isn't heading in the same direction. Both girls are extremely down and out. I haven't seen either of them this sick for quite awhile.

Madison had RSV as a baby and still to this day, any upper respiratory bug causes her to cough and cough and cough, all day and all night. We take turns sleeping with her, because you don't get a lot of sleep. I feel so sorry for her, going on 72 hours of that has to be exhausting.

Yesterday Kennedy ran a high fever into the night, 101 degrees and was weak enough to need assistance to the bathroom. Gatorade and Popsicles are on the docket for the day!

So today we will tag team in between my schedule and his schedule snuggling and lovin our babies to health! The ONLY good thing about having a 13 and 10 year home sick, is even at that age you can still score some pretty good snuggle sessions!

Weekend Infirmary

My infirmary consisted of the following.

1. Sore throats

2. Coughing & Sneezing

3. Body Aches

4. Bottles of NyQuil

5. Sleepless Nights

6. Fevers and Advil

7. Marathon episodes of Sponge Bob

8. Sleeping in until 2:30 PM

9. Lots of couch snuggle time

10. And homemade ice cream to soothe the sore throats of my two sick girls.

NO school on Monday and MUCH needed!

Bitten Again?

How could I have possibly been bitten AGAIN?

Over Christmas I had a flu bug that bit and lingered for about 8 days. Not enough to confine me to the likes of my bed, but just enough to be ever so annoying. After 8 days of getting accustomed to feeling run down and nauesated, upon returning to a state of normalcy one realizes just how rotten one felt.

To my demise, yesterday I woke once again feeling as if the bug had wiggled its way back into my life. Sure enough by the end of the last song at church I was counting the minutes until I could crawl safely into my bed and pajamas.

I did not pass GO and I did not collect $200, I went STRAIGHT to my room the second my feet walked through the door. I quickly shed my clothes and replaced them with my WOOL socks, PJ bottoms and sweat shirt. I couldn't do this quick enough as the chills soon began to rage through my body. By 1:30 I had visited my adjourning bathroom and again at 2:00. I laid in disappointment, completely missing an entire day in the WOMAN CAVE! I laid in complete peace knowing that the entire rest of my to-do list had been accomplished the day prior. There was NOTHING preventing me from simply taking care of myself ALL DAY! The kids were occupied with friends and Milo was glued to the TV for an entire day of AFC and NFC play-off games. I also knew that the goulash I had planned for the evening meal could easily be replaced by a frozen pizza. All I had to do was succumb to the aches that were completely engulfing me.

The one challenge to the entire day, was trying to discern if my legs and butt ached due the nasty bug or the over zealous amount of lunges performed the day before. Putting the two together in combination with a lack of movement, resulted in trips to the bathroom needing to be planned out in advance, a bit challenging given my circumstances.

Other than a trip down stairs to refill my water glass, me and WE TV spent the ENTIRE day and night together. Between 'My Fair Wedding', 'Rich Bride, Poor Bride', and finally 'Platinum Weddings'; I have both girls' weddings completely planned and organized. See the entire day wasn't spent in vain?

As dawn broke and my crusty eyes (left over mascara. YES. You know I was sick) peaked open, I laid there wondering if even the slightest movement would trigger a flare up of symptoms or if that naughty BUG had really left for good. I gingerly rolled over (so far so good), sat up and placed my feet on the floor. Legs and buns were still screaming (definitely the lunges) and made my way to the bathroom. Downstairs to make some tea, better start a little slower this morning. Made note of the sink piled high with dishes. Then in my office to find out what I missed in the cyber world yesterday.

AND here I am. All in all, better than yesterday! Could Mr. Bug still be lingering, I think so. So the debate begins. What to do for the day? Phone calls, office work, a hair appointment, and a color clinic on the docket.

To be continued.......

Merry Christmas

Fortunately the flu bug at our house was about a 24 hour bug, although both Kennedy and I are still a feeling a bit punky today, however NOTHING like yesterday.

We both went back to bed at 11:00 and slept until 3:30. After attempting to get through most of my to-do list yesterday in preparations for leaving for Christmas in NW Iowa, I was back in bed at 8:00 and slept until 7:30 this morning. I was plowing through my last minute Christmas cooking obligations, lemon bars, stuffed chicken shells, and chicken noodle soup early yesterday evening, sipping my 7Up and counting the minutes until I could go back to bed. Mr. Milo came up to ask (bless him, he did do my grocery run for me) when we were leaving tomorrow morning. With 6 loads of wash still staring at me, I collapsed in his arms and said when the wash is done and the rest of this list is checked off. He lifted my head into his hands and said, 'Do you feel as bad as you look and smell?' I smiled and said, 'worse!'

Although I must admit with not having combed my hair all day and I don't know if the teeth got brushed, after a full nights sleep the night before and another 4 1/2 hours that day, I am guessing he was right on the money. He still kissed and hugged me and said, go to bed.

Waiting on a few more loads of wash to wrap up so we can finish packing then off for a week in Sanborn, Iowa! Both Milo and I grew up in Sanborn. Milo's brother and sister-in-law just moved back there this fall. We will be staying at their house for the week, as we are able to bring the DUMAN with us. Grandma and Grandpa do not allow pets in there house, so every year the DUMAN has to stay home, but not THIS year! Poor Maxi-pad will be all alone for the week, except for his kitty-sitter checking on him daily.

I hope to blog daily, but who knows, the schedule will be tossed out the window for the week!

Merry Christmas!

Jill

Christmas and The Flu

Well, the flu bug has bit at the Japenga household. Kennedy got sick this morning and I believe I am heading in that direction as well. YUCK!

I am guessing after I get this blog posted, I am heading back to bed for the rest of the morning, even though I have a to-do list staring at me in the face. Breathe in, breathe out, who said we HAD to leave tomorrow for Sanborn!

We had our family Christmas yesterday with a bit of a spin on things. I had tagged all of the gifts to the 'wrong' person. They thought they were so smart thinking, they had figured it all out. Then once we handed out gifts, Milo said there had been a slight twist to things and their gifts were not REALLY their gifts. I loved the instant 'panic' look on their faces! I then shared that they should flip the gift over and look for a VERY faint pencil marking of the initials of the person, who's gift it really was.

This year, everyone was given $100 to by three gifts with. There was the option to go to another family member and suggest they 'combine' funds to get that person, one BIG gift.

Kennedy scored a heated blanket from her dad. She is always cold!

The new Twilight soundtrack from her sis and a new back pack from mom.

Madison landed a snow tube for sledding from dad, a new favorite book from mom, and $30 dollars to use towards a New Year's Even lockin party with friends.

Milo received a new leather motorcycle jacket (a GREAT ebay find), a bottle of Crown, and a movie rental.

Jill got the ONE and ONLY thing on her Christmas list.....a Nintendo DS! ROCK ON!

There was a slight air of disappointment with the girls, as each had wanted ONLY an iPod!

They didn't say a word and the day rolled on. We had friends over last night for dinner, THEN Santa made ONE last drop late last night!

Madison was up first this morning and discovered Santa's surprise and was elated with her green iPod! She kept saying, 'I just can't believe I got an iPod!'

Kennedy rolled out an hour later (a bit green) to the unveiling of her purple iPod. Her comment after opening, 'Boy I think my stomach feels better!' Then 20 minutes later, she landed in the bathroom.

So with play list set up and new songs being downloaded off of itunes cards, mama bear is headed back to bed! I have videos of the iPod reactions, however you will have to wait until later in the day to watch. Nausea is getting the best of me right now!

You know partner, I will do ANYTHING it takes for us to win the weigh in challenge the week!

Blizzard warnings and wild winds are whipping up a blustery day!

See you soon!

Jill