Thursday, January 26, 2012

I'm only mostly dead

Which means, of course, that I am still a little bit alive.
So do not go through my clothes, looking for loose change.

See, you haven't heard from me, but I've been busy, battling the influenza. For nearly two weeks. Whatever I had in my life before and called the flu, wasn't this. This was no getting out of bed for 11 days, with a chaser of sinus and ear infection, and something I can only describe as adult onset asthma. In my spare time, I've been doing a little light reading on the Spanish flu of 1918. (Because I really like disease histories, especially if I am stricken with the disease.) More than half of the millions and millions who died between 1918-1920 from the flu, probably died from pneumonia and other secondary infections that could have been cured by antibiotics.

I love antibiotics. Even more than contact lenses. And that is saying a lot.

Sadly, my dreams of Olympic gold in London this summer have been shattered (cuz now I'm on the 'roids.) But I love the steroids, too. Because I really enjoy breathing.

The highlight of the last two weeks? Sunday nights in bed with Downton Abbey, on Percocet left over from Joey's birth, plus three Advil. I could escape the body aches for a few hours, even though I was worried I would become a drug fiend (I didn't).

Another casualty of the flu: my favorite bra. I neglect her for a couple weeks, and she disappears. So now I have to wear the ones that ride up my back, or have the too-stretchy straps.

And as for flu shots: I am now a zealous convert.  Jake got his, slept next to my hacking, feverish, infected self and is still perfectly well. I only hated him a little bit. Mostly I loved him, cuz he kept doing the dishes and taking care of the children I was neglecting.

Also, in the midst of my pain, my eldest child turned 13. Which makes me an anciently old woman. Luckily, he is pretty much the best kid ever. One consolation for getting old is that you get to see your kids turn into really cool people that you want to hang out with and take to Benihana.

7 comments:

jt said...

They said you were sick but i didn't want to ask if you were prego, cause i know that's never a good question. so maybe that's one step above being sick with the flu, that you aren't with child. And I completely agree, Ross is the best! And not only because he was my first nephew ever! And if 13 makes you ancient, what am I? My child is going to college!

Hailey said...

Wow, that makes my regular January blues look like a day at the beach. I'm so sorry! Thank heaven for Downton Abbey and Maggie Smith. Welcome back to the land of the living!

Barbaloot said...

I'm glad you're starting to feel better! At least, I assume you. You are, right?

Unknown said...

Ooooh, Downtown Abbey on percocet. That would be interesting.

Kari said...

Eleven days! Good grief, woman, that's ridiculous. I was out for three and declared to the heavens that if it lasted one more I wanted to die. (I'm glad you didn't make the same proclamation.) I hope that you're up and kickin' it in your pretty weather--too much longer in bed and it will be over 100 again.

Hildie said...

Poor you! But is it The Great Influenza that you read? Because I love that book. So satisfyingly horrible.

heather said...

Just gave you an award on my blog. :)