Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Thankful in All Things, Including the Flu (271)

2013 is not off to a good start here in the Kannel household. We began with Steve getting sick on his birthday last Wednesday--fun times, right? That developed into the full-blown flu, and at our house, *I'm* the one who gets man-colds, so when Steve acted as miserable as he did, I knew it had to be bad.  I was sick, too, but didn't have the achiness/fever/chills/etc...until Sunday evening, when it was my turn to spike a fever and head to bed at 7PM.

So both of us have been running fevers as high as 102, but thankfully not at the same time, so one of us can take care of food and children while the other shivers/sweats in bed. Meanwhile the boys started coughing again (they have had bad coughs off and on since early November...they hardly ever got sick until we started preschool and the church nursery, ugh!) but seemed to feel fine and had so far avoided the fever and aches.

Then they both developed pinkeye. And then I got it too, because sharing is fun! If you're keeping score at home, that's Flu = 2, Pinkeye = 3, Kannels = 0.

Yeah. So in the midst of all this, I need a gratitude perspective. Every time I get sick, I'm reminded how much I take my health for granted. I fear that my kids will get the flu and wonder how parents of kids with cancer even begin to cope. I whine about how awful I feel and wonder how those with chronic illness and pain make it through each day. And I realize that even in the midst of this small trial, I have plenty of reasons to give thanks.

Today, in between blowing my nose and putting drops in my eyes, I'm thanking God for...

4593. Steve's salaried job, where missing a few days due to illness is not a crisis and does not cause a reduction in income...cannot overstate this blessing!!
4594. Steve being home with us since December 21--certainly not how we'd like to spend his time off, but have to admit it *is* nice to have him here 24/7 :)
4595. ibuprofen and tylenol
4596. heavy blankets for when I can't get warmed up
4597. clean clothes to change into when the fever breaks and I wake up sweating

4598. soft kleenex
4599. honey lemon cough drops
4600. getting the giggles with Steve at 3:00AM after he was talking in his sleep (usually I am the one who does this)
4601. the hilarious "man cold" video that never fails to make us laugh
4602. the body's ability to fight off infection

4603. this tangible reminder of the consequences of sin (not that my specific sin caused this specific sickness, but rather just realizing that in general, the flu would not exist if sin had not come into the world...this should make me *hate* my sin!)
4604. vitamins to boost our immune systems
4605. the knowledge that this trouble really is so light and momentary in view of the eternal glory that awaits us
4606. the Great Physician who heals not only our bodies but also our sin-sick souls

5 comments:

Danielle said...

Awww, get better soon!

Zoanna said...

So sorry you're sick and miserable . Pinkeye and flu?? Wow.
I like the way you found things to give thanks for.

Ali said...

Sounds like a miserable week! Praying you feel better soon and can get back to normal life. Btw, we've seen the correlation between nursery/school and illness too. That's the main reason why Jesse has NEVER been in the nursery. I'm just not willing to get all 7 of us sick for an easier morning at church.

Amy said...

I kept Jude out of the nursery as long as humanly possible...we stayed in the nursing mothers' room past 18 months, long after everyone else had left. When you put it the way you do, the nursery does seem like a bad choice...but when our church service is usually two hours, keeping an energetic 2yo with us is miserable in its own way. We keep him with us for an hour of Sunday school, so two more hours after that is torture for everyone--Steve and I end up feeling like we might as well not even go, for all we get out of the service :/

Anonymous said...

wr wrebru[url=http://www.shopnorthface.co.uk/#73135]North Face jacket[/url]
[url=http://www.shopnorthface.co.uk/#North-Face-Sale]North Face Sale[/url]