January 17, 2009

In My Next Life, I’m Coming Back with a . . .

I was completely beat and my leg was really bothering me yesterday afternoon. I had just started making dinner when Mr. BBM called to tell me he was feeling awful. Headache, body aches, fever, nausea. I guess he wasn't going to be able to go to the grocery store for me after all.

He came home, went immediately to our room, changed into comfortable clothes and took up residence on the sofa. Within minutes, he was asleep.

While I certainly have an appreciation for a good stomach virus, I was about to burst into tears. My leg was throbbing and I needed to sit. Now I had to serve dinner, clean it up, get the kids ready for bed, put them to bed, and go to the store, when all I really wanted on my agenda was to sit down and ice my knee.

I cleaned up dinner, even made some quick dessert for the girls (and me-hell, I deserved it), and then headed out the door for the grocery store. I picked up the staples I'd need to get through the weekend. You know, ~~beer, wine, vodka~~, milk, juice, tissues, lots and lots of tissues with lotion in them because Lil C is starting to look like a chapped Hitler from using up about eight boxes of tissues per day. I really hope child services doesn't get their undies in a bunch over her chapped lip or I'm in big trouble.

I was talking to my fantastic friend, Renovation Girl, on the way home from the store and I told her that in my next life I'm coming back with some enhanced anatomy. That's right people, I'm coming back with a penis.

It doesn't matter how nauseous I am, how high my fever is, or whether or not I have a serious case of peeing out the heiney. Life goes on as normal for me. I still have to get up and get Big I off to school. I still have to play the part of a short order cook for Lil C all day long. I still have to help Big I with homework, tend to the laundry and keep the household moving. There are no sick days when you're a Mom.

Even last year, when I was in agony after ACL surgery, I would sit in my bathroom while drying my hair and wipe the counter down. I can barely get people in this household to rinse their toothpaste down the sink when they're healthy. It's frustrating to say the least.

This morning, Big I and Lil C were up by 7:30. I was trying to keep my eyes closed for as long as possible when Lil C tossed two hard backed books at my face and demanded I read them to her. She struck my nose and made it bleed a little. It hurt enough that I teared up, and then, while standing in the bathroom, I just started to cry.

Later, as I was sipping some coffee, Mr. BBM told me how lousy he's still feeling. "Great," I said, "I'll probably get it just in time to start the new semester this week."

"Well if you do," he said, "just lay down and go to sleep it off," he said.

I started to laugh. "Mom's don't get to lie down and go to sleep. That will never happen."

I'm telling you. In my next life, there will be some new equipment to learn how to use.

There are some great new reviews up at The BBM Review, including Wii Fit and some other fitness equipment, the new Incubus CD, plus a website that helps you organize your life. Check them out!