Sick Snag

After months of a relatively healthy Nessa Bessa, we hit a snag.  She has been out of school for a week now with a cough and a fever that has just decided to linger.  It has been frustrating to think she's getting better only to watch her wilt and wither, fever inflicted. . .again.  Her diet has been a steady stream of applesauce, chicken broth, and popsicles.  Because, let's face it she eats what she wants when she's sick and I'm okay with that.  I'm happy she takes down anything at all! She just looks so sad and so sickly!  We've ruled out pneumonia and have started a new antibiotic regiment so I hope she's on the mend.  She will stay home with me this week too, and truth be told, I don't mind a bit.

One day sooner than later, if she's anything like my Lene Bean I will have to practically beg her to stay home with a fever because she doesn't want to miss a day.  True story.  about two weeks ago, Anjalene was the sick one.  She stayed in bed Sunday and Monday (President's Day)  with the same cough and fever.  Rather than  rest and not push herself, as I wanted. . .she went back to school so she can keep up with her studies.
Junior high life, I tell ya!

We spent a lot of time in the doctor's office.  Two appointments and an x-ray to rule out pneumonia.  We like to keep ourselves busy as we wait drawing fun things and Janessa is into documenting it.  So there's that.

We've kept caught up on school work and read a ton of books.  Mercy Watson books, as well as Piggie and Elephant are our current favorites.  A sweet girl from her class, dropped off a library book for her to read, and her teacher gave her some love and stopped by with a gift today: love letters! She has received text messages from dear friends and the teacher's aide.  It feels so good to be loved and to see her light up because she genuinely loves school!

There has been plenty of down time.  So much so we might have finished a whole season of Fuller House. Not completely age appropriate, I know.  But most of it goes right over her head or she was asleep through.  And it was my favorite for so many years  a long, long time ago!

Did I mention Ernie is sick too?  Not that he has allowed it to slow him down either.  He worked every day last week, the weekend, and finally took a half day today to go see a doctor.  I guess I never had to worry about letting my crew down when I was sick and in education.  There were subs who could follow your plan so you didn't lose a whole day of teaching time.  His job is different.  If someone isn't there, it makes the job more difficult for the entire crew; hence, he doesn't miss much.

So, here we are at the start of March and my new normal hasn't really started yet.  But it's okay, the luxury of my job now is that I just go with the flow and pray I don't succumb to sickness!

Road Trip: Girls Only Day 3

This was the last leg of our journey.  The girls had been looking forward to our adventures at Hearst Castle so we started off with another dining legend in Cambria, which did not disappoint.

Lene woke up with a slight sore throat but she had tea with her breakfast and got a delicious meal in her tummy.  I had stocked up on straws, so she was able to drink, but her poor lip was swollen and still bothering her. But we headed over to the castle.

Once we had our tickets in hand she complained of her aching legs and asked if she could go to the car to lie down.  So we missed the 45 minute movie and she slept the whole time in the car.  When she awoke, she said she was ready for the tour.  I kept questioning her because she didn't look a hundred percent but she insisted.  Once up the mountain, she was like. . .I have to walk?  Yes, love you do.

She went from this. . .

To this. . .

To this.  My poor thing faded fast and when she asked if she could sit down in a museum exhibit chair, I knew I had to get her out of there fast.  Within minutes of putting us in a private room she was fast asleep.  I was texting Julia to explore without us and an hour went by that my girl got to rest. And rest she did! But then we still needed to make it down the mountain.

I was worried about my poor girl. It was at least a 4.5 hour drive home.  She would sip water but between her lip and throat, she wasn't feeling her best.

She slept the entire way home though fitfully.  On her arrival home, her temperature was 102.5. And daddy brought a smile to her face with his thoughtfulness.

I think it was a combination of dehydration and a virus because two other littles are down with fevers and sore throats as I type this.  Despite this day, our trip was amazing.  I would love to see it a tradition that the girls look forward to.  Spending one on one time with my girl, the conversation, the no fighting with siblings, the exploring new places and food. . .it was all a memory none of us will soon forget.  Our first road trip with my tween who is a teen in a year!!!!