Desperate Housewife

They didn't name the narrator of the show after me for nothing. I admit it. I am Desperate. Desperate for rest, desperate for restored health, desperate for peace, desperate for NORMAL. Because this is not normal:



If you read my blog regularly, you may notice that I try to write mostly about the happy, fun things that go on around our house. The cute, sweet things that Jack does and says and my feelings of love and awe for him. I write about those things a.) because they're all very real and true and b.) because they are the things I want to look back upon (and have Jack look back upon when he's old enough to read this chronicle of his life) and c.) because no matter how bad I think I have it at any given moment, there is always someone worse off than me and I feel ridiculous to complain and finally, d.) because I can all-too-easily become focused on the negative aspects of my life if I don't make a conscious effort to focus on the positive ones. Our life is really good, but certainly not stress or hassle free - and right now is one of those times when I feel like crawling into bed, pulling the covers over my head and pretending nothing exists outside the realm of my mattress. But I can't do that - I won't do that - so I am sitting down here to share my stress with all of you lucky people!

We are sick. We are always sick. Someone in his house has been sick since Thanksgiving. That's three months of constant sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, no rest for the Duncans. I am at the end of my rope. Since Thanksgiving, Jack has had two ear infections, strep throat, a virus somewhere between the flu and pneumonia, a cold and on Sunday was diagnosed with a bacterial lung infection and fluid on his left ear.

I took the poor baby to the doctor on Sunday afternoon because his latest cold just wasn't getting any better. After listening to his lungs, the doc determined that there were some concerning rattles and wanted Jack to have a breathing treatment. (Now that was fun, let me tell you.) After the treatment, his lungs sounded better so it was decided that we were not dealing with pneumonia, praise the Lord. Just a nasty lung infection and some fluid on the ears. We came home with yet another antibiotic and an inhaler. I am grateful for both, but the Albuterol in the inhaler makes him crazy with a capital C-R-A-Z-Y. As I type, he is leaping from the chair to the ottoman and back to the chair over and over again, squealing with glee. (I can hear my mother's sharp intake of breath from here. Ha ha, love you mom.) He is a maniac. Some of the side effects of the drug are nervousness and hyperactivity, so my normally laid-back, low-key child is literally bouncing off the walls (and the furniture).

Add to this lovely mix the fact that I am sick as well, and you have the makings of a bad day. Thankfully, I am taking the same antibiotic as Jack, so we should both start feeling better soon. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

I know that we are not alone. I have a lot of friends with sick kids. But when you are stuck inside without the option of seeing other human beings, you can certainly feel isolated. So this is my shout out of the gloom to the outside world. To all my mommy friends who are in the same boat as me - I am praying for you today. And I would certainly appreciate any prayers offered up on our behalf. Prayers that Jack and I feel better soon. Prayers that sweet Phillip stays well. Prayers for patience. Prayers for Normal.

Oh, and for a good nap this afternoon. Naaaaaaaaaapppppppp.......