Day 4 Housebound

James is now feeling ill too, just in time to start the four day weekend and join our quarantine that has reached day four.  Day 2 (Tuesday) saw Caitlin's spirit's rise as Ashley, who seemed to be recovering, slumped again and had an earache by bedtime. The day was mostly fine. Ashley missed school and dance class but we happily hung out and, not only managed to not get on each other's nerves but, actually had an enjoyable day. My inability to sleep due a combination of bunged up nasal passages and irritating cough meant Day 3 started with me feeling extremely tired and irritable. The girls were certainly experiencing cabin fever. Wednesday is usually our library day. It's tough for them to miss story time. Ashley dramatically proclaimed she was bored early on and I tried to use it as an opportunity to teach her that it's okay to be bored.  This turned into another example of why life instruction is often best shelved until everyone is in a good space, particularly the instructor. I worried for my sanity until Maylynn called later in the morning. Having read my previous blog, noticed our absence at pre-school the day before and then again at library storytime she figured we must be pretty sick and decided to call. Just our brief conversation transported my mood. It reminded me that there is a world outside our house, our sickness will pass and we will again join our world populated by people we care about and who care about us. Maylynn took a shopping list from me and delivered some very basic and useful provisions that have gotten us through the last couple of days.

Day 4 however has been a mixed bag. After a very restless night due an earache I developed, James took care of the girls this morning. I finally managed to get a few hours sleep and didn't get up until shortly before noon. Our continued illness meant we had to cancel our plans for Thanksgiving dinner with Christian and Jennifer. When we called to cancel this morning we discovered that they had stocked up on peas and corn, practically the only vegetables James will eat. Its details like these that show the love between friends :) We were feeling pretty sorry for ourselves for a little bit. Various other friends had called offering to bring food around so that we wouldn't miss out on Thanksgiving altogether. These were such generous offers and we were also reminded that this is one of those moments when it is very helpful being Irish. James and I have no attachment traditionally or emotionally to the Thanksgiving holiday. I realize we'll have to do something about the holidays in coming years as we are raising two little Americans now.

I have to mention the person who works in the Deli department at Ballard Market. He was so caring when I called to see if he'd be able to sell the cooked Turkey we'd ordered. We were fine with getting it anyway but thought if it could just as easily be sold to someone else then we wouldn't have to leave the house in our weakened states. Eric told us not to worry about it, they couldn't sell it now but they would just turn it into a turkey salad or something and sell it that way. He just told us to stay at home and get better. I could tell the four days of confinement were getting to me. I had been feeling so dejected about canceling dinner with Christian and Jennifer and this switched to being nearly tearful at the kindness of friends and strangers. James found it very amusing to watch my emotional fluctuations.

Ashley and Cailtin experienced a little more of the Thanksgiving mood when we watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving video, which Teri had given to the girls as a gift (she also gave them a Halloween Charlie Brown and I believe she has a Christmas one for them too.) Shortly after it was over it dawned on Ashley that she wouldn't be having turkey for dinner and she seemed rather disappointed about this.  Then she decided that she wanted pancakes for dinner instead and Caitlin seemed equally delighted with this idea. So James and I decided, "Why not?" So that's what we had for dinner tonight, pancakes, followed by apple turnovers and ice-cream for dessert (you have to have ice-cream when you're sick. It's a rule!) By 6pm their day was over and they went to bed. Later tonight Pauline dropped around some turkey dinner that we'll share tomorrow. Ashley will be pleased.

So, in the end, today was a fairly short uneventful day of hanging out, playing sedately together, reading together and sharing pancakes and ice-cream. We experienced the kindness of friends and strangers, although we didn't leave our home. It was also a day of remembering that we have family and friends whom we care about and who care about us. It turned out to be not such a bad Thanksgiving after all.