This Too Shall Pass

Getting into the swing of 2012 has truly been a challenge for me.  Partly because I spent the last two weeks of 2011 with pneumonia.

Along with preparing and getting through Christmas, we had great plans to do lots of things as a family whilst on our holiday.  For those of you who frequent this blog, you know we have an active life beyond school despite the many setbacks we face when Mr. Blue Barn goes through a spell of illness. We always manage to find an activity we all can do as a family that keeps our strength and courage together during this time of continued recovery.

It's one thing to have a sick kid.  And the ups and downs of Mr. Blue Barn's recovery are everyday occurrences.  But when I found myself sicker than I have ever been in my whole entire life, I was facing an all together new kind of challenge.  What happens when the primary caregiver is so sick that she can't care for anyone else let alone herself? Whilst this illness has only been a temporary obstacle in our day-to-day activities and cannot compare to the debilitating illness we have experienced in the past four years, I have faced many practical concerns that our family has yet to deal with in the short-term - what happens when Mommy is sick?

Since having pneumonia pretty much flattens you - and in many cases - can command a few nights in your local hospital - I spent many days moving from fever, nausea, flu-like symptoms and the ever present cough and chest congestion. Having a husband around who can make sure the kids are fed, bathed and entertained, I was grateful that the boys were having a good time while I stayed holed-up in my room waiting for symptoms to pass.

Truthfully, I was pretty clueless or maybe just too delirious to think about what was happening beyond my reach. And at one point, I am not sure if I dreamed it or not, but I think I heard someone mumble that they had just watched a full season of Blue Mountain State.

Stumbling down the stairs to confirm this admission - I was greeted with a tower of pizza boxes and crushed soda cans. Scanning the kitchen counter, I set my eyes on half eaten Subway sandwiches, popcorn and chip wrappers and several empty Skittle bags - jumbo size.  Wow. It must be Friday night at the Frat house.

This is when I learned my big lesson about illness. You just have to give into it. That's right. Unless it will stain the carpet, bleed out or run away - you have to leave it for the next day. Or in my case - until you are conscious enough to deal with the bulk of it all.  Clutter, laundry, dishes and even homework will have to wait until Mom feels better.

And now that a good three weeks have passed since my last round of antibiotics, besides not feeling good, sickness brings out something else.  You start to realise the most precious activities you wish you could do once you feel better require the least amount of energy such as a decent meal, a trip to the library for a good book and a bowl of ice cream.  All of that other stuff that was planned, intended or scheduled will be taken care of in due time even if it has to be rescheduled. Because at this point, the main thing is to stay healthy and keep family harmony. And mark my calendar to remind me of a flu shot next year. . . . Oh. Well. Live and learn.