Mommies Don't Get Sick

Until now, I think I've left my kids with the impression that Mommies just don't get sick. I've been able to just suck it up and push through with the daily grind of cooking, cleaning and getting the kids off to school, without them even suspecting that I might not be feeling well. Not this time. The laundry which I started on Saturday still sits half-finished on the hall floor (3 days have passed). Some of you would say that has absolutely nothing to do with my illness, but I assure you this time it does. On Sunday I got the early stages of a cold... the dreaded sore throat. The sore throat always lasts longer in Colorado; I suspect because of the drier air. So on Monday morning I woke up as usual and went to work out knowing that the sore throat would eventually pass. Probably was one of the poorest decisions I made that day.

Afterwards, I spent the remainder of the morning on the couch with a blanket and heating pad trying to stay warm. By 2pm it finally struck me that I should really see a doctor. Having waited so long, all the appointments were taken so I'd have to wait until 8am this morning to be seen. The sore throat grew worse overnight and by 8am my voice was weak and I was looking forward to getting to the doctor's office. Throat swab results: positive for strep. As a youngster I was a seasoned pro at strep. I contracted it ALL the time. I remember specifically the doctor telling me (perhaps I was in 5th or 6th grade) that if I got strep one more time, they were going to have to remove my tonsils. This is indeed the first time since my doctor revealed that tidbit that I've had strep. Mind over matter? Perhaps, but either way... having strep is way more miserable than I remember. I spent the majority of yesterday and today in a fog, barely able to swallow and napping as often as possible. Thank goodness for great neighbors and friends who delivered me tea and took my kids for hours at a time. And, Bartee took over the cooking and nighttime routine with the kids. Besides the fact that I felt absolutely miserable, it was a nice mini vacation from Mommyville.