Pneumonia

Poor Ali has had pneumonia--her mom said she had a seizure early Friday morning and she rushed her to the emergency room. I can NOT imagine what that was like. How scary. From what I know, the doctor said it was probably caused by a spike in fever, and we should give her medicines to keep the fever down to prevent another seizure. She came home with us the next day, and just by looking at her, you wouldn't have known she was sick. She was coughing up a storm, yes, but she wanted to run around, dance, play, sing... I can't remember how many times I had to say, "Ali, honey, you're sick. You need to quit running (or dancing or jumping or whatever she was doing at the time) and rest."

Tired of watching TV, she decided to play school. We set up chairs for her "students," which consisted of a giant stuffed rabbit, Jordan, and a little plastic doll. Oh, and me, of course. I was part student, part assistant, part teacher. We learned our alphabet, had show and tell, and wrote all our numbers. Jordan got in trouble several times for interrupting class with his usual coos, raspberries, and baby giggles, and once because he wouldn't stop touching Ms. Hoppity Hop's foot. Oh my goodness, it was hilarious. Then she kicked Jordan out of the class because he needed a nap, and almost kicked me out too because I said it was time for dinner.

She cried twice that day because she was so sick of being stuck inside. The first time, I caught her in the hallway wearing a dress and a pair of church shoes. I said, "Ali, what are you doing?" She simply said, "Oh, nothing. I was just getting dressed so I could go outside and play." I told her she couldn't go outside and play because it was too hot and she had pneumonia. She was not happy.

The second time broke my heart. I had been watching both of the kids all day while Kris went golfing with some of his buddies. By the time he got home, I was exhausted and needed a break. So I decided to go for a jog. While putting on my tennis shoes, Ali walks in the bedroom and says, "Where ya goin'?" I should have lied. I should have said I was going to the doctor for a shot, and then she wouldn't have wanted to come too. But Honest Abe never tells a lie. "I want to go running with you. I love running!" Then she dropped her head and started pouting. "Since when did you start loving to run so much?" I asked her. "Since yesterday!" she yelled, and then stormed off to her room. It was so funny and sad at the same time. It was like house arrest for her. But I had to get away for a while. When I got back, I thought I was going to die. I'm pretty out of shape. I wanted to sit on the porch for a while and have just a little more time away from the kids, but Ali must have a tracking device on me or something! She came outside, hands filled with books, saying, "Destiny, can we read these?" Out of breath, tired, and feeling like my "me time" had been interrupted, I caved and said yes.

Anytime Ali says she wants us to read, she really mean she wants to read everything all by her little independent self! Sweaty, I let her read to me. And, like always, I forgot all about needing time for myself and just let myself drift off to I-Love-My-Kids Land. Kris came outside too, and since Jordan was asleep, we all just sat there peacefully without a care in the world. We ate Popsicles and even let her play a little game on the sidewalk. It was so nice to spend that time together.

At the end of the day, after several doses of cough medicine, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen, she was tuckered out. Before she went to bed, I told her that if she felt sick or had a bad dream or just woke up missing us, she could come get us right away. She said, "But what if it's too dark and I can't see?" I laughed. "Then you just call out for me and I'll be in here faster than you can say Ms. Hoppity Hop." Ten minutes later, she was fast asleep.