March 5, 2008

Crawling Out of the Cave Called Flu

I’m coming out of my antihistamine-induced haze just long enough to say "hello," and that we are all alive. . . o.k. barely before crawling back into my bed. Ahh, my sweet, sweet bed. . . where was I? Oh yes. For the first time in three days, I finally managed to get out of said bed and get a shower today. Actual blow-drying of the hair did not happen though. That was just asking too much, holding up a hair dryer and all. When you’ve had pretty much nothing to eat in three days with the exception of pears, applesauce, and Nyquil, there’s not much energy to be had. I don’t know what exactly Big I brought home from school, but it is one nasty germ.

Big I was home from school for the third day in a row today. She saw the doctor and was diagnosed with the flu and two raging ear infections. The diagnosis for me is a flu that turned into some serious bronchitis and after getting some heavy duty antibiotics last night (called in because I simply could not leave this house), I woke up this morning feeling slightly more human. Slightly, although still not at all well, certainly not well enough to get out of my pajamas and definitely not well enough to talk or breathe for more than two minutes without erupting in a coughing attack that makes me feel like I’ll either a.) barf, b.) pass out from lack of oxygen, or c.) all of the above.

From the violent cough I’ve been dealing with on a near constant basis, I feel like someone has been beating me with escrima sticks all over my torso. In fact, just go read Hanshi’s article and observe those pictures of weapons. I feel like I’ve been beat with them all. I hurt so badly that it was painful to even face the shower stream today. When I was getting out of the shower, I almost looked for bruises before deciding that I’d really rather just get back in bed.

To make matters worse, Lil C woke up with a fever today. She’s spent the entire day sprawled on the sofa or in bed, much like Big I and I did for the past three days. I feel so horrible for her, because I truly can’t recall ever feeling more awful. Big I complained that her arms hurt and my head was pounding so horribly that I had moments where I thought there must be a demon in there eating my brain or something. We won’t even discuss the cough and its "by-products". It’s been a horrible couple of days.

I don’t know if it’s from the medication I’m on or from the actual illness, but I also have the absolute worst taste in my mouth, as if I’ve been chewing up aspirin all day or something. It’s disgusting and nothing makes it go away. Nothing.

If I had to look for a silver lining in all of this, I would have to say that I am going to have killer abs like no other. Sure, they hurt like hell and if anyone pokes me in the ribs, I’ll probably pass out instantly from the pain, but swimsuit season is nearing. . .

. . . and now it’s time for bed for the fourth time today. Be nice to my blog while I’m out sick or I will totally cough on you.