Day 118: The Day After the Bug

...and it was!

Tuesday I awoke feeling a lot better.  My stomach was still tender to touch, though.  I ate foods other than oatmeal and they stayed where they were supposed to.  Yes!

I still felt a little weak, but I managed to get some laundry done.  I worried about my class because I didn't recognize the name on the substitute list on the e-mail through work.  (We use a system called Aesop to fill our slots for subs, and she wasn't on my list of preferred subs.)  You know how it is.  We worry that the kids will get everything while we are out, or that we will have to reteach everything when we return.

My physical therapist did see me that day; I figured I had better get in because I hadn't been in for four days and I was starting to ache a bit.  (I go three days a week.) They went a little easier on me because my stomach was still tender, but I got a good session in anyway.  They have me doing stretches, exercises to build up my muscles, STIM (muscle stimulation through electrode patches) sessions, and X-taping.  The latter is my favorite because it's like a permanent brace on your leg and supports your muscles.  The tape goes from your thigh to your calf, crossing behind your knee to create a support. The first time they taped me, I was able to go up and down the stairs with no pain for the first time in six months.  I get taped once a week, and it stays on for about three to four days before I have to take it off and let my muscles relax a bit.

Oh, and speaking of my knee pain, they finally figured out the culprit.  I have back problems that have affected the nerves in my leg, which are affecting my knee joint and the muscles around it, causing the weakness and pain I've been experiencing.  Quick backstory: I injured my back when I delivered my son a few years back.  The delivery also caused my pelvis to be out of line for several months before it was caught and supposedly remedied.  Enter a car accident less than a year later.  Several years down the line, here I am, trying to get put back together again.  I feel like Humpty Dumpty.  The good news is that I should be back to my old self by summer vacation. Can't wait!

Day 117: Stomach Bugs and Other Unpleasantness

Oh, what a way to wake up.

Last night I went to bed feeling fine.  A little tired, perhaps, due to the fact that I had just finished another weekend working at my other job.  I woke up feeling quite a bit less than stellar, thanks to the rumblings in my stomach.  Cue several mad-dash-type trips to the bathroom before leaving for the day.  (Leaving for the day, you say?  Yes.  I had no time to request a sub, especially for a Monday morning.  Deadline for that was 5:30 a.m.  I was still sleeping, oblivious of what was to come, at that hour.)  I took some medicine to help keep things under control and went in to work.

Somehow I made it through the day with no true incidents.  I did fight off nausea off and on all day, but I kept that at bay with ginger ale.  By the end of the day, my sub was requested for Tuesday and my plans were ready.  Cue the second sick day of the year.

I canceled physical therapy and spent the remainder of the evening in bed, sleeping away whatever it was that was attacking my body.  My meals of the day consisted of oatmeal and ginger ale.  I know, sounds fabulous!

Tuesday should be a better day...

Day 91: There's Something Going Around

My poor custodians.  They have been shuttling back and forth these past few days dealing with various issues from sick children.  It seems that no room is immune.  In my own class, I have one out with pneumonia (and another that sits in her group who is sounding about the same way).  I also have a student with a double ear infection and another out with the flu.  I have still two to three others who are in various stages of coughing/hacking, sneezing, and stuffy noses.  Needless to say, I have been even more frantic about my students using tissues and washing their hands--as if my usual frantic-ness about all that isn't enough! I have also been spraying down desks, tables, carpets, etc. with Lysol before I leave each day this week.  (My favorite scent is Vanilla and Blossoms.  Smells good and isn't too strong.)

Of course, I'm sure the crazy weather has not helped matters.  Yesterday was 8 degrees when I left for work; today it was about 24.  By the end of the day, the temperature had dropped again, thanks to yet another cold front that is moving into the area.  By dismissal tomorrow, the local meteorologists have forecasted 3-4 inches of a slushy wintry mix.  The evening is supposed to be topped off by snow. 

So what do I do?  Seeing as I don't know what my district is going to do yet, I have two sets of plans for tomorrow: one for a regular, full day and one for a day with a possible early dismissal.  I also have a backup in case there is (dare I say?) another delay on Thursday morning. 

Ah, the joys of winter.

Day 43: Sniffles, Sniffles for Everyone

It's spreading like wildfire.  I came in today to find that three children in my room were out sick.  One had just returned from being out for the previous three school days with an ear infection and bronchitis.  As I surveyed my room, there are two more I suspect are in the early stages of whatever is going around.

While I thought briefly for a moment that I possibly infected these poor children, the attendance report showed that this must be a building-wide thing.  There were a LOT of children out today!  Could be from the crazy weather we've been having (We've had a range of temps, from 71 degrees to 30 degrees at night in the past week.  I'm sure that didn't help matters.), trick-or-treating in the cold, or the bug that's been running up and down the halls of the building, infecting all in its path.  Who knows?

I just know I'll be getting my flu shot this year to help ward off any unwanted germs.  I'm already fanatical about washing my hands and wiping my desk (the custodians wipe the student's desks).  I don't want any more illness this year.  I know, I know.  When you work with small children, it's an occupational hazard. 

There is no school tomorrow because it's Election Day, but I'm hoping all of my class will be well and back so we can continue on track with what we need to do.  It's always harder to give make-up work than have the children present and learning.  I like my students to be there.  They get more out of their education that way.

We'll see what Wednesday brings.

Day 41: Warm Blankets, Tea, and the Remote

This day saw me at home, warm vanilla caramel tea (with milk) on my nightstand, the Cooking Channel spouting delicious-sounding recipes from the television, and me, well, snoring.  Loudly, thanks to my stuffy nose.

I literally had to drag myself out of bed that morning to get my kids off to school.  My husband leaves for work by 6:30 a.m. so it's up to me to get my two out the door on time.  On this day, my oldest got off to school without a hitch.  And then to my amazement and delight, so did my son.  Usually he rides in with me, but since I was home sick, I drove him to the bus stop--which is up the hill and around the corner from my house--and waited until the bus came.  Then I came back home and went right to bed.  That was about 8:30.

I slept for more than three hours straight, waking about two minutes before my husband sent me a text at 11:49 to see how I was feeling.  I told him I slept.  Soundly.  Wrapped up in all of the blankets on our king-sized bed.  I might have even drooled.

If you know me, you know I don't take naps often.  I am one of the first people up each day, and usually the last to bed (the bane of most mothers, I think.) I whirr nonstop all day, just to crash and repeat the following day.  So if I sleep that hard, for that long of a time period, something is up.  Just so happens this something was the cold I was fighting.

After a lunch of I don't know what (really, I don't remember what I ate that day), I went back to bed and dozed off and on for the next two-and-a-half hours.  I made myself get up at 2:00 so I could get a shower before my daughter got in from school.  I did feel better, though.  Not 100%, but much better than I had.

I decided to go in on Friday, which was Halloween parades and parties.  There is no way in good conscience I could ever leave a sub--on purpose!--with that kind of a day.  It's just cruel.

On my way back folks!  On my way!

Day 40: I've Caved

Well, I went in today, aches and all.  Not a good thing.

I should have known better.  I should have listened to one of my best friends and taken today off (she sent me a text as soon as I posted last night!).   Let's just say I'm glad to be back home.

I'm sitting here with the full realization that I will not be going in tomorrow.  In fact, I put in my request for a sub just after lunch today.  How is it that no matter how well planned you are, it always seems to take longer to plan for a sub to come in and cover your class?  I just don't get it.

Oh well.  I'm off to wrap up in a blanket and take a nap.  Sweet dreams to me.   

Day 39: First Cold of the School Year

Ugh.  Today I woke up with what feels like a rock in my throat and one stuffy nostril that whistled when I breathed.  I'm sure my husband thought I was sexy then.

I had a pretty good idea this was coming.

One of my colleagues fought the battle of the germs and lost about a week and a half ago.  He is still recovering from the effects.  My colleague next door to me started her day much the same as I started mine today.  She had a sub when I walked in this morning.

And me?  I believe in the power of positive thinking in regards to my health.  That is, I am rarely sick.  Even now, while my symptoms throughout the day have progressed to sneezes here and there, coughs, the feeling that I have an elephant sitting on my chest, and a voice that resembles a bullfrog, I keep thinking it could be worse.  I could be back to my first year teaching in this district when I caught every severe cold that entered the building between November and March.  The worst part of that time period was when I thought I had a bad cold and cough for a month, only to find out I had walking pneumonia and was off for a week.  This, the week before Christmas break.  I know, I know; I can hear the groans from here.

Back to the present.  I bought some snazzy reusable hot beverage cups at Target so I can put my hot tea in them to sip throughout the morning.  (The ones I bought came in a two-pack and have cool designs on them.  Couldn't find the designs on the manufacturer's site, though. Sorry!) I have my ginger ale at hand and have taken a nice little nap after dinner tonight.  My prayer is that I don't get any worse than this so I can finish out my week with my students.  You know what I mean; sometimes it's harder to be out sick than it is to stick it out and be in the building.  If I call off, then you KNOW I'm sick. 

That said, I'm going to find a comfy spot in my bed, watch a little TV, and drift back into sleep. 

See you tomorrow.