This week has been another in a series of experiments: is it possible for one member of our family to catch a cold without it spreading to all other members?
Poor Jon is just now emerging from a haze of fever and congestion worse than I’ve seen him endure for probably four years. He came down with this cold last Sunday, did battle with it all week, losing his voice almost completely for several days. (See the hilarious video, below.) Gratefully, he is finally starting to feel the upward curve of recovery, but definitely still favoring chicken soup. —continues after 1’04” video—
Meanwhile, I’ve been feeling like a cross between Florence Nightingale and an OCD(obsessive-compulsive disorder) Cinderella. This week, you’ll have found me:
* making batches and batches of soup
* using up my quart-size bottle of hand sanitizer like mad
* doing lots of laundry in hot water
* buying boxes upon boxes of tissues
* spraying sanitizing spray on doorknobs
* constantly washing the hands of all female members of our household
I just had to buy another big bottle of hand moisturizer to counteract the effects of my vigorous anti-microbe campaign. Jon assures me that he is not offended that I follow him around with sterilizing wipes, and I do believe him, but I’m sure looking forward to purposefully sharing his germs again.
Alas, Rosie began sniffling two days ago. Lucy woke up a couple times last night in a fug of aches and mucus. And Mama developed a scratchy throat yesterday morning that has morphed into a very bizarre light-headed limbs feeling. Experiment ends; the Boyds are all sick.
In some ways, it is a relief to yield to the illness. After trying to keep everyone’s germs separate for so long, it is nice to just give in and share them a bit. I can say this easily because it does seem that we girls have contracted a much milder cold than Jon’s version — maybe his immune system beat the daylights out of it before it wandered over to visit the double-X chromosomes in the house. It’s also a treat to indulge in the comforts of sickness — lots of juice, tea with honey, and videos. I even got Lucy to start watching Pride and Prejudice with me today.
Of course, I’m still washing my hands a lot, but I’m not changing my shirt instantly when Rosie wipes her runny nose on my sleeve. And sure, I’ll take a bite of the Goldfish cracker Lucy hands me after licking her fingers. And, yes, I will gladly snuggle up with my coughing, grunting husband. We’re family.
We haven’t had much luck in the keeping everyone else healthy when one person gets sick department here either. We ran a month long course of colds and sinus infections beginning a week after we brought Isabelle home from the hospital. She, fortunately, was fine – probably because not only does she get lovely antibodies from my breast milk, she also doesn’t actually touch anything, so it’s pretty easy to keep her away from the germs. It’s once they start crawling that it gets more difficult!
I hope you all feel better soon!
Ahh get better soon! I’ve come to realize that we will all get sick when one does. Although the degree of sickness seems to vary. Get some rest!
Oh, Ann. We just did this same germs vs. bleach dance in our house, but it was with the stomach flu. The germs won, but now we’re better and our house smells like normal again. I hope you all feel better soon!
It’s just the season isn’t it? We also ran into the family cold, but two weeks after Bethany was home from the hospital. Unfortunately she did catch it, but only the congestion. We found the carseat most helpful in keeping her upright while sleeping at night.
btw – those with babies: did you get the whooping cough booster for moms that is suggested these days?
I feel ya. Lydia is on day three of 103 temp and it seems to be getting worse so off to the doctor for the second time this week. Just a week ago it was maddy. I am so sick and tired of the “sick” of others and my tired self!
Enjoy the movies.
So sorry you got sick, Ann! That’s a bummer. I’m just impressed you worked that hard to avoid it. I’m usually too lazy to be that motivated.
I hope you guys get some sleep at night!