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Oink

Ahhhhh, the dreaded swine flu. Now that I have experienced it, I understand how people have died from it. I definitely had moments when I thought it just couldn't get worse, and then it did, making me feel like the end was near.

Let me tell you, I like to be babied just as much as the next person, but when there is so much to do, and absolutely no energy to do it, I just got mad. I know, mad at who...right? Well, angry at this bug, to tell you the truth. For the first several days, I was more stubborn and refused to let this bug tug me down. I still kept up with the kids, and most other duties around the house....I did it all with such an attitude, like out of spite, I was telling this illness, 'You can't get me down!'

Well in hindsight, perhaps I pissed off the bug enough to take new refuge in my throat and lungs, and it sought to destroy what was left of my voice. While I attempted to keep going at full speed, I just wasn't getting any better. Once again, my Hero Husband came in to save the day. Over the course of this weekend, he just took over. He let me sleep when I was exhausted. He made sure I took my medicine so I could at least attempt to swallow a bite or two. At times, he just hugged me and told me it's almost over.

So the pig flu was more stubborn than me....for a few days, that is. He might have won that victory, but today I feel as though I won the war. Today, I am hungry for the first time in a week. Today I can swallow. Today I am not on the couch. This morning I made the kids' lunches, breakfast and actually laughed at their newest jokes.

It is so hard to relent, sometimes, to give in, to allow the needed rest and force the medicine, the liquids and a few nutritious bites. In the end it's what ultimately made the difference in a week's illness compared to a month's illness.

Stubbornness and pride only gets you so far in battle. To win the war, at times, we must relent, admit our weakness, allow someone else to care for us. It's really tough at times, when as the mom, you're always the one to comfort others.....and then all of a sudden, the family surrounds you to comfort you, love you....it's humbling....truly a humble thing to admit we aren't perfect, we aren't independent creatures. We require the love and comfort of those around us at times. It's here in the home, they get to practice that self-less love, even for their mother.

I had two of my kids ask me if people in the world had died from the same illness I had. What was I to say? Yes? Do I explain only people who had other complications, or respiratory problems, or a compromised immune system were at fatal risk? Knowing their ages and level of understanding, I simply said, mom will get better, please say a prayer for me.

And here I am Monday of a new week, gaining in appetite, having energy and starting to disinfect the entire house. Whose oinking now?
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