First Snowfall

After a difficult few days for the boys everybody seems to be feeling better today.  Robby and Timmy both woke up full of energy and smiles, sights and sounds I have not seen or heard for almost a week. Now the battle begins to keep them both from overdoing it as they bask in their good health and rediscovered energy. (Reminding my kids that they need to take it easy is akin to talking to a brick wall about the weather, but I feel a maternal obligation to do it anyway.)

Even though Robby is feeling better he continues to have a low grade fever.  Scott and I have decided to keep him home again today with the hopes that a few solid days rest and some more antibiotics will help to kick this virus for good. I don't think it is fair to Robby or to his classmates and teacher to send him to school when he still has a fever.  I'm going to visit his school this afternoon and pick up some work for us to trudge through this weekend. Hopefully the homework drama keeps to a minimum. 

This has been a difficult week. Between work stress and sick kids, all of my holiday spirit has been zapped. I'm looking forward to the weekend so I can try to resurrect some cheer. The fact that we are supposed to get snow tonight will certainly help! It is so much easier to feel festive when we have our own winter wonderland falling outside.  (Assuming that we don't have to drive of course.) 

Sick Koopa

I took one look at Robby yesterday and knew that we were destined to visit the doctor.  He has been battling a fever for nearly a week and has not been showing signs of improvement. Although he has only complained about his head hurting, I decided it was time to become a little more aggressive by seeking medical input. 

Packing him up for the doctor I was preparing myself for the condescending look I always sense from the doctor as a common cold is diagnosed. I hate that look! I always leave those appointments feeling oddly ashamed for bringing my child to the doctor for a simple ailment. I am not a mother who overreacts and is prone to panic, but I feel that the doctor judges me as doing both after those sick visits.

Willing to risk the condescension, I trusted my gut that something deeper was plaguing Robby. It turns out that my instincts were correct. Although he hasn't complained about his ear hurting, my poor little Koopa has suffered a ruptured ear drum in his bad ear. 

Robby is now on strong antibiotics and today I'll be working the phone to get him an appointment with his ear specialist. With his hearing issues I am not going to take any chances. While I'm saddened that my instincts were correct, I'm glad that I trusted my gut and took him to the doctor. I wish I had taken him earlier!

Elusive Dress

Next week I'm heading back to San Francisco for a few days of meetings and to attend the company holiday party. Since I work remote, it has been a long time since I've attended a company party and I'm feeling a bit out of my element. Wanting to cloak myself in confidence, I headed to Kohl's with a wallet full of Kohl's cash (from our Black Friday extravaganza) with the mission of finding a holiday dress that would make me feel attractive, confident and young.  

It didn't take long before I became underwhelmed by the options before me on the racks. Apparently holiday dresses have been replaced by long sparkly sweaters and leggings. I'm a 43 year old pudgy one-legged woman who has birthed two children. Trust me, there would be nothing festive about seeing this bum squeeze into leggings!

Skirts were non-existent in the store and the only dresses I could find were pencil cut, an incredibly unflattering design against my curves. It was becoming clear that my simple black dress was elusive. Unless I wanted to wear something covered with elves or snowmen, I was coming up empty. 

I shopped for more than an hour and went through every rack several times before waving the white flag. I admitted defeat and begrudgingly accepted the fact that my attractive, confident and young transformative holiday dress was going to remain an enigma. Instead of finding a garment to help me reconnect with my youth I accepted my fate as a middle aged mom and spent my Kohl's cash on a new mixer.  

Cookie Fun

I am so happy to again have a little baker in the house. Every afternoon Timmy runs into the kitchen, grabs the mixing bowl and asks to bake cookies. With such enthusiasm and a smile that brightens my heart, I just can't say no!  Scott's students are lucky this year as they are the recipients of most of our creations. 

Robby was home sick yesterday as he continued to battle a nagging cold. He had a fever and a headache, both of which were quickly eliminated with Tylenol. Unfortunately as soon as the Tylenol wore off both returned, knocking him down until the next dose took effect. I don't think it is fair to him or to his teacher to send him to school when he is sick, even when the fever is eradicated by the medicine.

In between doses he felt fine and even ventured into the kitchen to help with our baking. (I only let him crack eggs because I didn't want the goodies contaminated.) I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed having both boys helping me in the kitchen! If Robby hadn't been fighting a cold, the moment would have been perfect.

Low Key Weekend

This weekend was relatively laid back. Neither Robby nor Timmy were feeling fantastic, so we avoided grandiose adventures and opted instead to play at home. They weren't outright sick but were battling the sniffles and feeling blah. 

Instead of going to local community events we worked to turn our home into a winter wonderland.  Robby decorated the house and watched Christmas movies on the couch. Timmy and I baked cookies (one of his new favorite activities) and watched the Polar Express (numerous times). When the boys were busy playing I managed to cut and bake the pieces for our gingerbread train (minus cinnamon). 

It was nice to just relax and hang out with the kids. I wish that they were feeling a little stronger, but I am thankful that they weren't sick enough to have to stay in bed. Sometimes we all just need a low key weekend to rejuvenate, which is especially true when our lives are so hectic. 

Today the work week chaos resumes.