Lesson Learned

I have learned my lesson. Please, can it now get back to normal around here? I would like everyone in my household, including myself, to be healthy and happy so we can get into our regular routine. Thank you.

To go back a few days...On Monday, I dropped the boys off at daycare and went to work as usual. The Mr. had to take another business trip so he left for Tennessee early that evening. Monday was pretty normal for us. However, Tuesday morning I woke up unable to function. I could barely walk around without feeling like I was going to pass out. Once 7:30 that morning came, I tried calling a few of my co-workers, hoping that one of them would be in the office. Much to my dismay, no one was in yet. I was able to get the kids ready and myself looking halfway decent in order to leave the house. We arrived at daycare around 8:30 that morning. I took Thing 2 to his room first (which is unusual as we have to take our shoes off to enter the infant rooms and I don't like to have to help Thing 1 take his shoes off and then put them back on just so I can drop Thing 2 off first). Once we arrived in Thing 2's room, I started crying and asked if I could sit down. The staff in the room gave me a chair to sit in, some water and some crackers. They even took Thing 1 to his room so I wouldn't have to. I felt awful. I have never felt like this in my life. I sat in that chair for about 15-20 minutes eating crackers and drinking water until I felt I could leave. Once I got back out to my Jeep I called my co-worker. She told me not to drive home, only to drive to work so she could take me home (my office is a half a mile from my daycare). I sat in the parking lot at my office while my co-worker gave me water and watermelon. She drove me home in my jeep and had another co-worker pick her up at my home. While at my house, she did my dishes and set me up on the couch so I wouldn't have to move if I didn't want to. She then informed me that she would be back that afternoon to help me pick up the boys. I contacted the doctor and received an appointment for Wednesday afternoon.

Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning I felt a little better. Still not well enough to be at work and it took all of my energy to walk from the bedroom to the bathroom. I contacted The Mr. Wednesday morning and asked if he could try to get a flight back home that day as I didn't think I could take care of myself or the boys effectively in my current state. He was trying. However, since he was in Tennessee, a few towns over from where the debates were, he was unsure if he would get a flight out. By Wednesday afternoon, I felt like crap again. I drove to the doctor, although I probably shouldn't have. Once at the doctor's office I was found to have a fever of 103.8. While waiting for the doctor to come in to see me, I contacted my co-worker again to see if she could pick me up at the doctor's office and help me get my kids. She was on her way. After seeing the doctor, I was told that I have pneumonia. I was given a prescription and told to rest, drink fluids, and I am not allowed to go to work until at least Monday. I contacted The Mr. to let him know. He was able to get flight home and would be home in the middle of the night. I only had one more evening of taking care of two kids and myself. I was relieved.

I was basically told at the doctor's office, that the reason I ended up with pneumonia was because I didn't take care of myself when I had that awful cold (& that I wouldn't necessarily pass it on to my kids). I find I am spending too much time trying to take care of my kids, do my job at work, take of the house, and whatever else needs to be done that I put myself last - even when I am sick. My co-worker told me that I was putting too much pressure on myself and that I needed to not worry about anything and just get better. I felt awful that my husband had to cut his work trip short because I couldn't take care of things around here, that I couldn't take care of the boys or myself. I felt awful that I had to have my co-workers drive me around to get my kids, pick up medicine, and get me at the doctor. I felt like I was bothersome and that I should be able to do all of these things myself. I am so grateful that I have these wonderful people around me that are willing to drop what they are doing to help me. I don't know what I would do without them.

All I know is that I must slow down and decrease my high expectations, otherwise I won't be able to take care of my kids. Next time it could be much worse. I need to learn to take care of myself so I can be a good mother, wife, and co-worker. If I forget, I give all of you permission to remind me about this.

Sorry for the lack of posts. Once I feel better I will get back into my posting groove. I have things I want to write about but I don't have the energy to do so. I am also afraid that whatever I did write wouldn't make sense because of my high fever!