Eight Hours, Now What?

The news that my husband was going to be gone for a week to do some exploration on a couple of mining projects was very exciting.  Sure, he'd miss our son's confirmation at church, and I would be on my own for a whole week, but how wonderful that he had this opportunity.  An opportunity that speaks volumes about their company taking off and starting to become what they have worked so hard for.  We knew that if this was successful, it would definitely be worth the sacrifices.

I cataloged my challenges in this chapter of adventure and how I would be able to manage them.  Crutches, but I was happy to assure my husband that I'm at a lower level of pain then I had been in quite a long while.  Not healed, but not so badly affected that I yell about aliens like a crazed escapee of Area 51. I've been hobbling around the house rather effectively lately, so if I'm careful, I'll be ok.

The broken washer.  We dug out quarters hidden from the last time the washer went out.  That will get a midweek washing under control.  The kids might think its fun to go to the laundromat.  Or at least we'll fake that its fun.

The kids' schoolwork, no problem there, although the more I thought about it, we could play hooky, maybe take the dogs out somewhere?  The plans were coming together nicely.

Poor school.  Well, there has to be a gray cloud somewhere, right?  The girls are capable of being left alone, but I might just drag the boy along with me to make sure there is no fighting on a school day.  He might like an outing. This challenge could be easily dealt with.

My princess daughter woke up early.  She took a long shower and laid on the sofa.  She then threw up.  No problem, it was probably a different manifestation of the tummy bug most of us had last week.  She'd stay home from church and then everything would be ok.  We've got this.

Two church services, and more walking about than normal.  I was tired, but that was ok.  My eyes started to tear up and feel hot.  Perhaps I was very tired.  The other kids and I took care of the daily chores.  I had forgotten how many little chores there were.  My husband has taken care of the little chores since I was hurt, and we split them before.  I felt colder than normal, so I found my favorite "old man" shirt to wear over my teeshirt.  I was still cold, so I added a coat.  Something might not be quite as ok as before.

The princess looked flushed.  I took her temperature, and then for fun took everyone else's.  She had a fever.  I gave her an acetaminophen.  I had a fever.  I took some too.  The other kids were fine.  She said her legs hurt.  I offered that it was because she had laid on the sofa all day.

My joints were starting to ache.  The major joints that are affected by my use of crutches, were hurting even more.  I made dinner early, not sure if I'd manage later.  At this point, my husband had been gone only 8 hours of a 6-7 day trip.

Only a few more tasks for the day.  Drop a child at church to work.  Pick her up.  My head aching.  My joints hurting.  My knee unexpectedly gave out completely.  ALIENS!  By the 12th hour of solo parenting I'm in agony.  My injured leg now contracting painfully as the rest of my body gives in to the illness.

This is not starting out as a glorious week of adventure.  Unless the adventure involves taking a left turn to a special circle of hell.

I plan a war on the illness via medication.  I'm not going to fail at this.  I warn the kids about the extra upcoming challenges to this special adventure week.  I've come to the conclusion, this could be worse, but I'd very much rather it not be.