Flu the coop

There are really very few drawbacks to life in a large family. I mean, there’s the always-ubiquitous but not-quite-cool super-sized ride (ie, the Big Old Van), and the rush to claim the last corner of the couch on Family Movie Nights. But other than that, it’s really a pretty good deal. Well, except for the flu.

Yes, there are few words as terrible to the ears of a Mom of Many than “Influenza.” (The only one that comes close, in my experience, is “lice.” Utter that one to any mother of more than two children, and you will hear wailing and gnashing of teeth, guaranteed.) The reason is simple: flu hits hard, it spreads like wildfire, and it hangs on forever. That’s a recipe for disaster in any family, and when you have more small people than large ones, well … it’s a hot mess, that’s what.

The music of our holiday season is currently sniffles, sneezes, shivers, and moans. Christopher started feeling off Thursday. By the time afternoon rolled around, he was running a fever and glassy-eyed. By Saturday, John Mark was hit hard, laid low by a fever so high we were left weighing the benefits of an ER visit. Sunday, we watched Phin, Birdie, and Simon slide downhill … and found ourselves awakened by their plaintive cries more hours than we were asleep Sunday night. And on Monday, Mathaus and Jack felt chills creeping up on them.

Which means that right now, this second, two members of our household are functioning. I’m one of them and, to be honest, I am pretty sure I’ll be the next to topple.

Flu rots.

But you know what? It could be worse. Here are the blessings I find myself counting as I wipe noses, track meds, and hand out blankets:

Fever-controlling meds. In many parts of the world, this life-saving bit of everyday magic is unheard of. Here in the US, literally any decent corner store has ample stocks of ibuprofen, tylenol, et al.

Alternatives on hand. We are big believers in elderberry syrup, healing and soothing teas, and other options that supplement over-the-counter interventions and provide relief.

Access to medical care. Friends, as I sat rocking my burning boy Saturday night, I was so, so grateful for the fact that if I needed it, a fully-equipped ER was just down the road. Many Mommas rock through the same horrible moment and have no such comfort.

The ability to give myself fully to the needs of my family. Moments like this make me appreciate even more so the blessing of the fact that I am not stressed over calling out of work, or rushing to find back-up childcare. I can nurse my family back to health, no matter how long it takes.

 

This time next week, God willing, we’ll all be on the mend, and this dip into illness will begin the process of fading into a memory. We’ll return to our normal routine. We’ll move on, and forget what it was to all crowd onto the couch, straining to hear another read-aloud over the sounds of coughing. That ability– to just move on– is a blessing in and of itself. Not so long ago, a bout of influenza was a more perilous thing, even here in the States.

So even amongst the tissues and the sting of the elderberry going down, there is something for which to be thankful. And we are.