Mom: The Popsicle Dispenser

There’s very little in this world more heartbreaking as a mother than to watch your child while he is sick.

From experience, the flu is horrible. I’m 99.9% sure I’ve never had it in my life, but I did right before Christmas. It knocked me on my (thankfully very plush) behind for a full week. And that was WITH Tamiflu. Jason and Henry avoided getting it, thank goodness, but it made for a quiet Christmas for sure.

Yesterday, I had a well-check pediatrician appointment scheduled for Henry. But he woke up not feeling too well. He had a slight fever but was looking pretty good.

We hung around the house until time to go to the doctor, during which time he went back to sleep on the sofa and woke up SICK.

Our well-check quickly turned into a VERY SICK check. Great planning on my part, huh?

After sleeping for about 30 minutes waiting for the doctor, he was seen. The original thought was just the “crud” that’s making the rounds. But a booger flu test was done.

Positive. Of course. 

So we left with a sucker, a sticker, and a prescription for Tamiflu and cuddles.

The rest of the day was spent with him sleeping on the sofa. My child who isn’t still except half the time he’s sleeping (the other half he’s wiggling in his sleep) didn’t move for four hours.

My heart broke.

I wanted to, and still want to, fix it.

I want to do more than give him his medicine and make sure he drinks his gatorade. I want to cuddle him but not get the flu myself.

I want to put him in a bubble so he never gets this sick again.

Thankfully, today’s a holiday from school. It’s now a sick day from work for me. Luckily I can squeeze in a little work from home (and some laundry and dishes that have been 110% neglected lately) and not be too far behind when I go back.

I think all moms will agree that having a sick child makes you feel insanely helpless. I wish I could take his place on that sofa and let my body fight the flu. But alas, I can’t.

I can only provide the care he needs and keep dispensing popsicles at his request.

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Related: He’s grown 2.5 inches and gained only 2 pounds since last February. Talk about shooting up and slimming down! That puts him in the 93rd percentile for height for age 8. And in the 55th percentile for height for a 9.5 year old! HAHAHA!