Rachel and I have been partners in this cold/flu we’ve been suffering through.

She had a fever on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I made it through Friday night, finishing my deadlines and hosting my book club, and by Saturday morning I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Rachel’s fever was down, but she suffered cold symptoms with me through the weekend.

My low point was Saturday afternoon when my husband had to go out to get something and Hannah was napping while I was really sick in bed. Rachel stayed home, since she was still pretty sick, and was supposed to be playing quietly in her room. That wasn’t happening. I asked nicely. I pleaded in hushed tones. And then I snapped, picking her up and putting her into bed, while scolding her with a lost temper. Tears followed. I was too sick to help her through the tears. I collapsed back in bed and waited for her Dad to come home.

Later I took a hot shower, got dressed, and apologized to her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten angry. I was scared that Hannah was going to wake up and I wouldn’t be able to take care of her.”

A mature smile spread across Rachel’s face. “Oh.” she said very seriously, working it out in her mind. “So you weren’t really mad at me. You were scared that you couldn’t take care of Hannah. That’s funny.”

“That’s funny?” I smiled.

“I could have taken care of her for you. I would have gotten in the crib with her and taken care of her.”

Honestly, she probably could have done that, too.

++++++

Last night, Rachel was bouncing off the walls after dinner. At one point I said, “You must have cabin fever.” She asked me to explain it to her and I did.

Later, she was bouncing off the walls again on her way to bed. I raised my eyebrows and asked, “What is going on?!”

“Oh, I have that fever thing,” she answered nonchalantly.

++++++

I think we turned the corner today. Rachel’s appetite came back. I organized two cabinets.

Good timing, because now I’ve got that fever thing.

Hope it’s nice out tomorrow. No school this week. “Ski Week.” It’s a California thing.

Too bad I’m a transplant, not quite Californian enough to have organized real skiing.