Total Pushover

A slight cold has been stalking our household.  Laura started up with a cough last night, and it sounded kind of harsh, but I thought there was also some hamming it up involved.  As though she were looking for a Victorian fainting couch to throw herself onto.  After a while, all the coughing really did seem to irritate her throat and increase the coughing. You know how it goes.  I made her drink lots of liquids and then gave her some cough suppressant at bedtime.

This morning at 6:30 she appeared in the gloom at my bedside.  "Mom, I'm still coughing and my throat is sore."

"Okay," I said.  "You can stay home today. Go back to bed."

If you guys have anything to ask me and you think I might say no, 6:30 is a good time to ask for it.  I will agree to whatever if it will make your face stop making noise.

Then 8:00 rolled around and Hank climbed into my bed.  He said, "Mom, my cheek hurts," and then dozed off again.  I thought about that and then dozed off again too.

By 9:00 we were working on getting Hank ready for preschool.  Laura had taken her own temperature, reported it to be normal, and was in her room dressing an American Girl doll.  I should have made her get ready for school right then.  But I was dealing with Hank, and he was putting up some resistance, saying he didn't want to go to school, and complaining of his cheek pain.  I couldn't see anything wrong with his cheek, inside or out.  I took it to be a fictional complaint manufactured in response to the awareness that his sister was staying home.

I got him fed, dressed, and actually in the car, and he was still a little whiny.  Usually by that point in the day, he has realized the inevitability of school and has gotten with the program.  But he continued to droop.

Then at our first red light, he said that his ear hurt.  It dawned on me: "cheek pain" could equal ear pain and/or sinus pain.  Hmm.

Then, his clincher.  He said, "Can I sit in your lap?"  He has never asked that in the car.  I said, "Baby, I'm driving."

He said, "But I'll be careful."

"That won't work, sweetie."

He said, "But I just NEED SOME MAMA TIME!" and burst into tears.

Okay, one second and one illegal U-turn later and we were on our way back home.  No problem.  It is not in me to refuse a cri de coeur like that.

After the car was pointed the other way, Hank perked up something considerable.  He continues to seem draggy, but says his ear doesn't hurt.  I will still probably take him to the doctor tomorrow.

Laura has made amazing strides back towards wellness this afternoon.  I guess she is having a mental health day, really. Which is fine with me, she never tries to get out of school.  She's more conscientious than I am.

If you guys have anything to ask me and you think I might say no, ask to sit in my lap.  While I'm driving.

Wishing you health,
xo
b