Tags
car drama, Carleton University, charity, Christmas, Nemo, Netflix, Rise of the Guardians, Santa, Strep Throat, thankful, Twitter, work-life balance
So we’ve been having a bit of a week over here.
My eldest has been home sick since Tuesday, so my husband and I have been trading off days off from work. Today was my second day.
I took her to the doctor’s on Wednesday and they couldn’t really pinpoint what was wrong; guessed it was viral; and told me to come back in two days if she wasn’t better.
By the time we returned today she’d pretty much stopped eating and was refusing fluids and meds and just altogether miserable. They finally figured out it was strep throat and gave us meds for that. But for a bit I thought we’d be heading to the emergency to get her on an IV for fluids. It’s never a good sign when your nurse looks worried (and you should have seen our nurse’s complete lack of poker face when she walked in and first saw my kid). However, I’ve managed to get some Advil into her; and enough fluids that she perked up enough to ask for food and tell me off; so I’m hopeful she’s rehydrating enough that we won’t need to make that trip.
See? Here’s Twitter Hope! Also thankful for the virtual Twitter support from everyone’s favourite Blog Hop Hostess that followed shortly after. It’s appreciated.
So I was all glass half-full; with a partially rehydrated and drugged up 4-year-old dozing on the couch; and about to start my TTOT post… all Attitude of Gratitude despite adversity! Just be Happy! Kady Perry Roarin’! Lizzi Considerer Blog Hop Joinin’! when my husband called to say he’d been in a car accident.
Of course he had. Because, well, THIS week.
He’s fine. The other driver is fine. Minor damage to bumpers.
But it’s a fitting end to this week.
Please. Let that be the end of the week. Please. Let my other kid not come down with strep. Let ME not come down with strep. Let my eldest hydrate enough that we don’t end up at CHEO. Let her heal and be well enough for school on Monday. I know there’s this lovely quote:
No man on his deathbed ever said: “I wish I’d spent more time at the office.”
But by this stage? In this moment? I wish to spend more time at the office.
So, before anything else goes wrong, here’s my list of what I’m thankful for this week.
Number 10
I’m thankful that both my husband and I have understanding employers. I’m thankful for my work colleagues who picked up my work while I was at home. I’m thankful for the home office tools my office provides so that I could still do parts of my job from home.
Number 9
I’m thankful for my mother. I swear, she’s made this list every time I’ve done this. This week I’m thankful because she came and watched our eldest on Tuesday morning when both my husband and I had to be at the office for meetings.
Number 8
I’m thankful for my husband who came home from work Wednesday (my first full day home with our sick 4-year-old) with a 1.5L bottle of white wine and take-out sushi.
Even though it’s for red wine, I drank out of this:
… and after my cup did runneth over a wee bit, life was better.
Number 7
I’m thankful for Netflix and the selection of television it has entertained my poor sick 4-year-old with all week.
Number 6
Related to Number 7, I’m thankful we found Rise of the Guardians on Netflix. What an awesome movie! As I posted yesterday, it totally makes you remember the wonder of childhood and of believing in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy (and, okay, Jack Frost). We’ve watched it on repeat this week. And I was delighted to discover you can follow them on Twitter! And they have their own hastag!
Is that not the coolest tattoo ever?! Photo courtesy of http://kidfocused.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/rise-of-the-guardians.jpg.
Number 5
Given I’ve been more homebound than usual, I’ve had more computer surfing time. I’m thankful for the fun distraction of the Internet. As an example? I discovered I could follow Santa and Nemo on Twitter this week. How cool is that? Oh! And Santa needs you help! Apparently Twitter doesn’t believe in him. I think SOMEONE needs a visit from the Guardians. Just sayin’.
Number 4
I’m thankful to Carleton University, my alma mater, who topped up my donation to them on Tuesday by $100 as part of #GivingTuesdayca. It’s nice to know that my money went just a little bit further than it would have otherwise. I donated to the Swim Team (I use to swim varsity – so many happy memories) and to their new High Performance Athletes Fund. Go Ravens!
Number 3
I’m thankful that, last weekend, before sickness descended chez nous, we had a chance to put the Christmas Tree up. It was a fun afternoon activity with the family.
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- Management – providing some direction to those decorating the tree.
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- Decorating the tree – from halfway down anyway!
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- Finishing Touches: Putting the Angel on the Tree!
Number 2
I’m thankful my husband’s car accident was just a fender bender. I’m hopeful it doesn’t turn out to be too expensive.
Number 1
I’m thankful we’ve finally figured out what’s wrong with my eldest so now we can focus on getting her better. I’m hopeful she keeps drinking and starts eating and we don’t end up at emergency this weekend. I’m thankful that we are just dealing with strep and that she is usually so healthy. I’m hopeful we return to that status quo soon.
Baby Gates Down 
Once my oldest son had a 104 fever, he felt on fire. He was exhausted, but lucid and coherent. I popped him in a cold tub, gave him tylenol, waited and gave him motrin. He screamed bloody murder, but his temp came down to 101 before I was done, and then he fell asleep. The next day I took him to the doctor to be checked. I told him about the fever, and he immediately said, why didn’t I take him to the ER? I explained that it was more important to me to get the fever down immediately and that taking him to the ER would have meant delaying treatment for at least half maybe a whole hour. I was unwilling to delay treating it. Then it came down and he was lucid and tired so I chose to let him sleep since sleep is more healing than the ER. My doctor was satisfied, but I had visions of a call to child services. My oldest almost never gets sick, but when he does, it’s never minor. It’s freaky-terrifying. And of course when someone is really sick is always when a fender bender happens. It throws you off your game. Sushi and wine sounds brill, he’s a keeper!
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104 is scary. We hit 39 Celsius (102ish) a few times this week. That was bad enough for me. She’s getting the Tylenol and fluids down now so I think we’ve passed that bit (thank goodness). We didn’t get to cold bath stage – I can’t imagine how worried you must have been! I know when I saw the nurses face when we first came in that my stomach dropped. It was a combination of “Good! I’m not crazy, she’s really sick!” and “Oh no! She’s really sick!”
As for the car – yeah, I think we’re both pretty beat by this stage of the week. And the wine and sushi are certainly signs I’m keeping him around 😉
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One of my cousins had scarlet fever as a child, and was simple afterwards. It almost killed her, but she was the sweetest, most uncomplicated person in our family. Still, I didn’t want my son to suffer that.
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What an awful thing to have happened to her – but it’s certainly an experience to motivate you as a parent when your child has a fever. Wow. I was just surprised at how quickly things started to go downhill once fever hit and she stopped taking anything. You pretty rationally think you will just, well, give her water. Not quite that seamless.
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Illness can be very scary. I’m glad your daughter is getting better. Warmly, Brenda
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Oh my goodness I just had a flash back to my kids first tree… we only decorated the bottom half and the tree topper and lights… it was fabulously ridiculous looking…I gotta find those photos!
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That’s awesome! I have to admit we decorated the whole tree – but I almost like the idea of leaving it only half decorated. Those must be wonderful photos.
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Hope your girl will feel better very soon! And wine…mum,mmm!
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She’s definitely still not the happiest of children, but I think we’re on the mend. And yes – I think wine was a need as opposed to a want this week. And very yummy.
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So sorry your eldest ending up having strep throat, but just so thankful they did figure it out and get some meds into her. I know the last time my kids were sick they tested for strep first thing to rule it out. But never fun having our kids sick and just wishing and sending extra prayers that she is indeed on the mend now. And also wanted to say, I know exactly what you mean about being thankful for my mom, because I truly feel the same about mine and she literally is always there for us still whenever we need! 🙂
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Thanks for the kind words – I think my eldest is on the mend now. I got a full cup of Pedialite down her this morning and she ate half a waffle. She’s complaining of a tummy ache – but I suspect that is just three days of almost no food (hopeful anyway). At any rate she’s LOOKING better.
As for testing for strep – I think I should have pushed them to do it Wednesday when we first went – but what’s done is done. I will certainly know to ask for that first next time!
And so glad to hear your mother is equally wonderful 🙂 Such a support!
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Good grief! You’re such a hero for doing this list (and very well, by the way) after the week you’ve had! I’m so glad she seems to be on the mend now, and that the car accident wasn’t worse! Sounds as though everyone rallied around you and helped you take care of what needed to be prioritised, so that’s very awesome, and I’m thankful that you had that support network in place.
Here’s to wine, movies and restful weekends of HEALING.
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Thanks again! And yes – here’s to a hopefully restful weekend. I’m off to the clinic again this morning to make sure myself and the youngest don’t have strep (’cause I suspect at least I might) but I figure if we catch it early then at least that minimizes discomfort (for everyone).
And yes, definitely thankful for the supports I have.
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Ack. Did you find out? Are you streppy? Hope not…
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Neither baby nor I are streppy! Yay! I’ve never been more relieved just to be good old regular sick 🙂
Thanks for checking 🙂
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Wow! That you came up with all of that after the week you’ve had is proof of how amazing you are! I am right there with you about the sick child as I just got one through a nine day bout of pneumonia. It’s great that you have understanding employers and help from Mom. What a blessing! I’m glad to hear that your husband (and the other driver) are both alright.
I know we’ve all had weeks like this and it’s nice to know that they pass. Here’s hoping that yours does…and quickly!
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I don’t know if I could handle nine days! Please don’t let this be nine days!
Okay – sorry about that. Thanks so much for the kind words. And really, I think this was day 5, so it can’t be too much longer…
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Wow, you have really had an exhausting week one way or the other. I’m so sorry to hear your little girl has been so sick. Hope she gets better really soon. It’s so great that you can find so many positives in your week despite how much stress you’ve been under. I love “mommy’s sippy cup’! That’s going straight to the top of my Christmas list 🙂
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I actually got my “Mommy’s Sippy Cup” as a Christmas present. I believe it was from a craft show – but I’ve seen them all over Etsy if you want to steer Santa in the right direction 😉
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I hope that, with Saturday and Sunday being, in practice, less rigidly organized, everyone should feel a bit of a relief from the stress. (Not sure why ‘weekday sickness’ is different from weekend sickness but it seems to be).
Hope all are on the mend.
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Thanks! Today was a bit more of the same – but she perked up a bit by the end, so here’s hoping we turn the corner tomorrow 🙂
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Hope that your little girl is on the mend and feeling right as rain soon. Seems like so many children are ill this week.
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Yeah – it’s the time of year. I know strep has been doing the rounds here. Thanks for the good wishes.
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LOVE RISE OF THE GUARDIANS!!! Best Christmas movie they’ve made in a very long time. Arthur Christmas isn’t bad either, but ROTG is just….magic.
so so so glad your lil one is on the mend. You all did have a rough week! Yikes. You did good with the rally to come up with TToT. Lots to be thankful for despite the yucky week fer sher.
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We will have to check out Arthur Christmas on this end. But agreed re; ROTG 🙂 Thanks for the good wishes for my little one!
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Ohhhh, the sippy cup glass is perfect. I want one, too 🙂 I hope your kiddo gets better soon. We’ve once ended up in hospital on a feeding tube because of dehydration, it wasn’t fun… Understanding empoyers are also a plus, and I’m really, really glad that the car accident was not all too serious and no-one got hurt! Hope this coming week is much better for your family!
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Yup! Easily my favourite glass 🙂 As for ending up in hospital – we were actually pretty close to that on Friday for dehydration too. We were basically told at the doctors in the afternoon to pump her full of fluids and if she wasn’t rallying by early evening then to take her into emergency so they could hook her up to an IV. Thankfully that wasn’t necessary – but even the thought was scary!
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If your daughter is telling you off, then she’s obviously on the road to recovery. Or 14.
Glad the car accident was minor.
Your tree is so pretty! I love Christmastime!
And I don’t know what I did to kill time before the internet. Pinterest can keep me going for hours and hours.
Hope the glass of your upcoming week is MORE than half full!
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Haha! Nope – not 14, so I think we’re on the mend. She was MUCH better this morning. So we’re getting hopeful there might even be school in her future tomorrow!
As for Pinterest – I haven’t been there in a while. Perhaps it’s time to find some new recipes….
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What a week you’ve had, and yet here you are, linking up Ten Things of Thankful! I hope that next week is full of health and that your travels are uneventful.
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Me too! Thanks for the kind comment 🙂
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It’s really hard to find things to be thankful for especially when little ones have high fevers and refuse to eat. You’ve managed to find them and what great blessings you have like your mom, husband and employers, especially in times when you most need them. I really hope your little girl is feeling better.
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Thanks very much! She was definitely a bit better this morning – so hopefully that maintains throughout the day. She ebbed and flowed a bit yesterday – so I know we just have to keep on forcing the fluids down her and hopefully she gets better!
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Good heavens, that was a week! I’m glad to hear your daughter is on the mend. The older I get, the more nervous I get about my kids’ illnesses. They can go downhill so fast!
A pretty tree you have there. We still don’t have one, and it’s really getting us all anxious. It just doesn’t feel like December, no matter how much snow and how cold it is outside, until there is a tree in the parlor.
We have never seen Rise of the Guardians. Ill have to keep an eye out for it.
Thank you for linking up on such a rough week.
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I think the rough weeks are the probably the ones where it’s best to figure out what you are thankful for. Honestly, life could be much worse and I have a lot to be thankful for. And when you have rough weeks, it’s important to remember that and have that perspective. That – and wine – make it a bit easier to get through them 🙂
As for the tree – we’re usually much later – so sorry if my photos added to your no-tree-yet-I-have-so-much-to-do stress. I’m sure it’ll get done. And it will be beautiful.
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So many great points. It is the little things — like understanding employers and the fact it was just a fender bender — that are the big things to be thankful for. Here’s wishing you a illness free house the rest of winter.
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Well done you! Sometimes just being thankful for surviving a week like that is enough. Great post.
GirlyK just ran screaming from the room to our Netflix que for Rise of the Guardians. We loved that movie!
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