Random Notes from the Slightly Sick Life

1.  Owen is REALLY good at being sick.  He moans a lot and his head droops as he walks haltingly across the floor.  The other day he had to explain to Ernie, "Dad, if my head is hanging down it's because it's hurts so bad and feels heavy."  Ernie told him he understood and wouldn't be alarmed.  A little while ago Owen looked at me from his spot on the daybed, curled up in a blanket, and said "it's fun being home from school but it's really not fun feeling like this...."  I nodded from my spot on the couch three feet away, as I lay curled up in a blanket.

2.  Last night:       

one queen size bed
one 6 foot 2 husband
one not-so-svelte wife
one sturdy blonde child with a high fever lying in between the above two
one big-headed (literally not figuratively) child sleeping across the foot of the bed
one large, fluffy, gingery manx cat who periodically attacked feet or walked on top of everybody

Can you imagine what that was like?  Well, yes I DID have this song going through my head as I laid awake.  It is unheard of for Leo to want to sleep with us though and he was so cheerful and pleased to be there that we both just tried to hang our feet off the side of the mattress.  Owen was miserable with his fever and couldn't sleep and finally HE chose to go to his own bed.  Leo just happily slept on but it was a little easier with one less person in the bed.....  Leo has ALWAYS refused to sleep in our bed....basically since he stopped having a bottle in the night so......for coming up on a decade!  I remember when he was just two or three and if there was a thunderstorm he would come in our room but refuse to get into the bed with us.  He'd just stand there stubbornly, getting so sleepy that he'd almost tip over....at which point he'd finally go back to his own bed.  So to have him want to sleep with us and Owen just seemed like he was screaming I LOVE YOU AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY.....so what are you gonna do?  Tonight though....both in their own beds....

3.  I agree with Owen.....it's nice to be home but not nice feeling like this. 

4.  My mother is coming home today.  They kept her for a day or so to give her some blood as her hemoglobin was low.  Ernie's borrowing his brother's car and is on call to go get her whenever they finally have her ready to go.  Ready for the next adventure I guess.....

5.  My baby laptop is happily back on the arm of my chair where it is supposed to be.  I finally got the power cord I'd ordered off ebay.....  I am whole again.....

6.  The other day I made Marcella Hazan's tomato sauce with butter and onions after seeing it on Smitten Kitchen.  Possibly the easiest tomato sauce ever and amazingly good.  HIGHLY recommended.  Made me think I need to go back to that cook book and pull out some more things as every single thing I've made out of it has been wonderful.  The recipes are WRITTEN so well----makes a huge difference.  I like reading Mark Bittman recipes for ideas but I think the recipes are written so poorly that the results are a toss up....  Of course then I didn't want to waste it on us so just used some for my poor sick little sweet pea on pasta and then saved the rest.  What the hell is wrong with US having good tomato sauce?  Geesh.

 

7.  Nothing better than buying some nice pattern glass.....brought home a water pitcher and a milk pitcher in a nice 1870's pattern the other day.  Of course I'm still waiting for a milk pitcher in Leaf and Dart....as I have been for uh, some 30+ years.....sigh.....

 

8.  Yesterday Leo and Ernie went to visit my mother at the hospital and check on her cat at home.  Owen and I assumed our positions laying down in the media room.  When Ernie and Leo got home they'd taken the opportunity to go out to lunch so Leo was glowing with happiness.  He came in to see me, put his hand in his jacket pocket and looked shy.  Ernie prompted him and then he sweetly said, "Happy Anniversary Mom" and pulled out a box of earrings that he had picked out.  I had FORGOTTEN that the day before was the something-somethingth anniversary....oh, o.k., o.k....the 29TH anniversary, of the day Ernie and I met!  Ernie mentioned it at lunch so Leo suggested getting a present for me.  I cried.  Yup.  I just cried.....my beautiful, beautiful boys.....

9.  Speaking of boys I love....my beloved Jim Eyre is in the hospital after an unexpected surgery.  It sounds like all is well but I still worry.  At least he took my mind off of my OWN family...HA!  Get better Jim and don't worry Diana and me like that.....