My tale of woe

I sort of make it a practice not to talk too much about my health. Mainly because I fear you'll find it horribly boring. I know I do.

Also, you know how you just don't want to talk about certain things, lest they come true?

Or don't come true? Either way? The jinx factor. I believe in it.

A week ago Sunday -- the twenty-first -- as I got ready to go to church, I was thinking: I have GOT to get something up on my blog. It's been ten days. They'll think I died and forgot to tell them about it.

I felt wonderful, though; as far as I knew, nobody was gassing up a hearse for my funeral.

(And just so you know, the reason I had not posted in so long at that point, is that my blog server host was having technical difficulties. That is why if you commented on my last post -- the one about bridesmaid dresses -- I never saw your comment, or anybody else's either. So I was reluctant to post again until the problem was resolved. It's fixed now, but the comments were lost.)

We had a great day at church. Outside it was beautiful and balmy, as late January tends to be in the Midlands of South Carolina.

As I walked into the auditorium for Sunday School, I greeted some ladies who are my friends. We hugged and exchanged pleasantries. Then one of them said it (to me): How are you feeling? No sign of that flu going around?

I laughed and assured her I was feeling fantastic. Not a smidge of the flu at our house, haha, knock on wood, fingers crossed, et cetera.

(The flu has hit South Carolina hard this year. Nine people died from it in our state only last week.)

After a peaceful afternoon, TG and I went back to church that night. Later in the evening, we were sitting in our TV room watching a movie.

I began to notice that every other time I took a breath, I had to cough. You know: that tiny tickle down in your chest that triggers the reflex.

During the night, it got worse. By the next morning, I still felt okay and I told myself just to get busy and not worry about it. Probably nothing.

As I worked around the house however, doing laundry and whatnot, the coughing became much more ominous. I began to feel rough around the edges. Finally, in late afternoon, I faced the possibility that my goose was most likely cooked.

Barely one month after my Christmas cold, I was coming down with (I thought) bronchitis.

But I was wrong; what I really had was the flu. In comparison, a cold like the one I had in December is like a day at the seashore. The kind where you don't get sunburnt and nobody kicks sand onto your towel.

For several days I was plagued with persistent fever. Chills. Headache. All-over pain. Cough. Malaise. Absence of appetite. The total package. Did I go to the doctor? No. I was too sick to leave the house. Besides, there's nothing any doctor can do about the flu. It is a virus.

And that is how I lost an entire week of my life. Appointments had to be canceled and moved to this week, where they'll have to be accommodated along with others that were already on the calendar.

TG's birthday came and went on Thursday. I managed to drag myself around the kitchen (wearing disposable gloves) and made a German chocolate cake, which I sent with TG to Andrew's house that night, where he celebrated with three of our four kids plus Dagny. They grilled steaks.

Meanwhile, folks at our church are still dropping like flies. Fist bumps instead of hugs and handshakes? Not getting the job done. It isn't funny any more.

And now my TG is sick. His version is a winter cold and cough -- not flu (we don't think), for which I thank God. But TG gets sick so seldom. Yesterday it rained hard all day. He stayed under his blanket on the couch instead of going back to church for evening services. That hasn't happened since Skippy was a pup.

I didn't go at all yesterday; I am still coughing so much that the thought of being confined in a pew, unable to splutter and hack loudly and at will, practically brought on a case of the fantods.

As for my schedule, in addition to playing catch-up with appointments, wedding planning will switch into overdrive as we are now only a few weeks out from Andrew and Brittany's big day, followed by Erica and Chad's.

Between those two events, in late March, I will undergo my second (of two, haaahaha) total hip replacement.

The first one -- last March -- was so easy, it was hardly worth mentioning. Recovery was swift and I never felt like a sick person at all. May history repeat itself.

I still don't know what I am wearing for my Mother-of-the-Bride outing in May. I ordered a dress which came last week, but I was so deathly ill that I have yet to do much more than hold it up in front of me.

But I don't think it's going to work. Maybe I'm wrong; I hope so. Because if you think I looked at hundreds of bridesmaids dresses online? I've looked at thousands of MotB gowns. I'm sick of the sight of them.

Meanwhile I think at least my blog is fixed. If you comment on this depressing post, I'll likely see it.

I hope all is well in your world and that neither you nor your loved ones have the flu. Or a cold.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Monday

Comments

[Judy]

I remember reading your other post--you felt sick, but you just kept going, cleaning, running around.
You appear to be a bright woman, but now--I just don't know.!!! LOL
Better to treat the cold immediately, go to bed, run the vaporizer, spread Vicks on your chest and forehead. It will be over faster than if you ignore it. AND--even if it is a virus, the doctor has meds that help make it more tolerable and get gone quicker. You're as stubborn as my kids!!!!!

[Jennifer]

@Judy ... to repeat what I said before -- I had a cold during Christmas week, with a houseful of company. I'm not a martyr but it wasn't an option to go to bed and ignore them. This time, I had the flu. It was ten times worse than that cold. And the flu is a virus; going to the doctor isn't going to change anything. It takes rest and time. This go-around, I stayed in bed because I had the blessing of being mostly HOME ALONE. Also because I was so sick, I could barely walk around. Much better now, though. xoxo

[Mari]

Oh no! I also had the flu a few weeks ago and was totally miserable. Bob said I had a "man cold". I just don't usually get sick and if I do I can carry on. Not this time - I spent two days on the couch!
Glad you're feeling better and I hope TG recuperates quickly.
Sorry about the blog issues. I remember the post on bridesmaid dresses. I told you good job! I did the same for Heathers wedding and it's not easy to find something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, is modest and well made! I found hers on line too and we were happy with it. Now I wish you well on that Mother of the bride dress. I found mine at Macy's - on sale!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... I'm glad you're better. When I was sick in December you told me that Bob said a man cold is what I had. This flu though? It's from the devil himself. I did find my dress for Andrew's wedding on sale at Macy's. A more formal gown for Erica's day is proving elusive but I'll track one down. xoxo

[Sally]

Awwww, Jenny! I had a feeling that something was wrong. I had gone back a couple of times and saw that you hadn't responded to comments which you are so good at doing.

The flu is horrible! I'm so sorry you had that, and I pray that TG's cold will get better. It's such a difficult time lately, as you mentioned about that strain from which people have died. So very sad.

I remember the worst flu I ever had, it was so bad that I still remember and that was in l997. It was the last Christmas with my beloved brother who passed the next August. :(

Take care, and keep well. I'll be praying the hip replacement will go as well as the first. I do love you, you know.
xoxo

[Jennifer]

@Sally ... and I do love you right back. Thank you for your prayers and whatever you do, don't get the flu. Hey that rhymes. xoxo

[Barb]

Oh Jenny, sorry the flu came to visit. Glad you recuperated, and it didn't go into pneumonia which is what happened to some of my friends. Bob and I are trying to be very careful about enclosed spaces. It seems slightly paranoid, but there are so many tourists here from all over the world who also bring germs. We've warned our kids not to bring sick grandkids to visit which is how Bob got sick last winter. We figure if we can make it through March we'll be safe. Hope everyone is now recuperated at your house.