The Passing Storm

Our little family is getting hit hard by a very nasty bug.  Nick and Christian got it first, and I followed a few days later.  I thought that Tessie was going to make it through with just a runny nose, but yesterday the other shoe dropped.  It seemed that out of nowhere, Tes was suddenly very sick.  She was burning up and achy.  My poor girl, there wasn't much I could do besides give her Tylenol and hope it passed quickly.  Last night she went out like a light, and I hoped she would get a great night's sleep and wake up refreshed.  Early this morning I realized we weren't going to get off the hook so easily.

I was awakened at four this morning by mumbling coming from Tessie's bed.  I crept over to find her incredibly hot, breathing quickly, and babbling nonsense.  None of these things seemed like good signs, so I scooped her up and carried her to the living room.  After a lot of convincing, I got her to swallow some Tylenol and then drink some cold water.  I pulled her hair back from her face and lay her on the couch under a light blanket.  Then I put on Tinker Bell, and lay down next to her.  After a while, her breathing slowed, and she fell into a deep sleep.  I curled up next to her and didn't leave her side until morning.

It was apparent this morning that she still felt awful.  She was flushed, lethargic, and super sensitive.  Since I wasn't feeling so hot myself, we just lay around on the couch all morning and watched movies.  Both she and Christian fell asleep early, and slept until well after lunch time.  I even napped a little myself.  After lunch it seemed like she was a little better, but she was still hot and definitely not herself.  After another dose of medicine, I was surprised that she fell asleep for a second time.  This time she slept for a good three hours.  Just before dinner, she started to stir.  I reached my hand out to smooth the hair back from her face, and breathed a deep sigh f relief.  Her forehead was cool, and damp with sweat.  Her fever had broken.  Even though I was sure she would still wake up a bit under the weather, I felt that the storm had passed, and we were sailing in much more beautiful seas.