Sick Timmy

It seems that the family virus has now stopped on Timmy. He was playing happily throughout the morning and afternoon but suddenly stopped and asked me to leave the playground. He fell sound asleep during the drive home, and when I carried him into the house I noticed that he felt warm. He spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening on the couch, sleeping and hot from a fever.

I worry more about Timmy's ability to fight off and to rebound from an infection.  Whereas Robby tends to bounce back quickly, Timmy has a hard time fighting back when he becomes sick. His immune system is still not as strong as it should be for his age. He tends to become sick quicker and suffer more severe symptoms which last longer than they would in a "typical" child. 

His high fever coupled with his lethargic affect worried us so I slept in his room last night. It is too generous to describe our activity as sleeping though because neither of us rested well.  Today, and probably much of the weekend, will be spent pushing liquids and cuddling on the couch. I feel so helpless when he is sick!

Drop-In Play

Even though my ear was ouchy and I wasn't feeling my best, I could tell that Timmy was in desperate need for an outlet for his boundless energy. Instead of using my somewhat limited energy reserves being a playmate, I decided that it was the perfect occasion to cash in a Groupon I've been saving. (I had been saving the Groupon for an emergency and I figured my being sick and desperate for a break met the self-imposed qualifications.) So after dropping Robby off at school, Timmy and I headed to drop-in preschool.  

Because Timmy isn't officially enrolled in the preschool program, I was required to stay nearby which was actually my preference because I don't like leaving him with strangers. Even though he was in a new situation he melded in with the class quickly. After a few weary minutes he was busy playing, climbing and jumping with his new friends. I was glad that I was expected to stay because I was able to hear his peels of belly laughs and giggles as he chased his new playmates around the "garage." 

Before I knew it Timmy was playing tag, bouncing basketballs and riding a balance bike. He mounted the bike and took off with a confidence that led the teacher to believe that he has one at home. She was even more impressed when she learned that he had never before been on a bike. I guess Santa has something to add to his list because he certainly enjoyed tooling around the room.
 
He had a fantastic time playing with the young classmates, and I was able to sit back and watch him having fun. This Groupon paid for itself in spades, and we will definitely take advantage of this program in the future. The playmates and stimulation are good for him, and the break is most definitely good for me!

Ruptured ear drum

Earlier this week I wrote that I was feeling better. It seems that I was overly optimistic with my declaration of health. Yesterday my ear pain returned, prompting another visit to the doctor.  My left ear is now clear and healthy, but my right ear drum has ruptured. Ouch! No wonder it hurts so intensely.

I am frustrated by the nagging discomfort, and aggravated that I don't have more energy. I realize that in the grand scheme of things my issues are minor, but that knowledge does little to stop the nearly constant ear pain I've been experiencing. Appreciating that I am not in a more precarious health situation does not negate the way that I am feeling right now, and at this moment I feel sick.

I am on a stronger round of antibiotics coupled with a new type of ear drop. Between the medication and time, soon I will again be on the mend. In the meantime I'm nursing an ear ache while feeling sorry for myself. I figured I am entitled to a mini pity-party, even if I am the only guest invited.  

Nutty

I love the crisp autumn air, lounging around the fire pit during the evening and playing in the leaves with the boys. After the sweltering heat of summer, the shorter days and cooler temperatures are a welcome change. The Fall leaves in Virginia are gorgeous and leave me feeling upbeat and invigorated.  

Of course, the season is not without its own perils. In my neighborhood, Fall also heralds hickory nut season. In case you are not familiar with these hazardous projectiles, hickory nuts are encased in a hard pod when they fall. They can grow to the size of ping pong balls, and fall from heights of 60-80 feet. Our hickory trees are fully loaded and are ready to drop an air assault at the slightest breeze. Let me assure you from experience, hickory nuts hurt when they hit you. 
 
We have a wonderful yard, but right now it is simply too dangerous to play outside. I worry that Timmy would be injured if a nut fell on his head, so we run to the car and escape to the park when we want to play outside. Unfortunately running across a driveway littered with nuts while wearing a prosthesis and carrying a toddler presents its own issues. I feel like I'm navigating a mine field while trying to dodge a bombardment.  
 
Hickory nuts not only keep us inside, but they pose a danger to anything in their path. Over the weekend we left the car parked in the driveway. We woke up on Sunday to discover that a nut had pelted the back window, shattering the glass. Sigh. That was an expensive nut!


I love Fall, but I could definitely do without the nuts. Between worrying about being pelted from the air and slipping on one when I walk, time spent in our yard is anything but relaxing. I thought I was keeping my nutty frustrations to myself, but Timmy has called my bluff by screaming out "damn nut" every time we see another one bounce on the ground.

Feeling Better

Finally, after nearly a week, I am starting to feel normal again. My ear pain has lessened to a stuffy sensation, providing welcome relief from the near constant stabbing I was experiencing last week. I am feeling better, and stronger, each day. Thank goodness because I'm fairly certain that Timmy wouldn't tolerate any more quiet days. Over the past week his little trampoline has been a godsend, allowing him to jump to his heart content while I convalesced on the couch. After several days inside even his preferred activity is growing old and he is ready for an adventure.  

This weekend was low-key. It was rainy which was fine by me because I wasn't really up to playing outside.  Timmy spent a lot of time alternating between his trampoline and his trains. Considering that he is three, he did a fantastic job entertaining and playing by himself.  I don't want to jinx anything, but I am noticing that his destructive throwing stage seems to be waning. Although I still wince when he holds up toys it is more reactionary than protective. 

We are in for a day of steady cold rain, meaning that we are relegated to indoor activities. I'm going to try to find an indoor playground, but I'm not overly optimistic that I will find anything appropriate. Most playgrounds are closed on Mondays and those that are open will probably be busy because today is a holiday. Much to my little Hamlet's chagrin, we may be destined for another day at home.