Sunnier daze
In my dream, it is bright. My eyes squint as I lift my head off the sand and look toward my daughter. Her fair, milky skin gleams in the afternoon sun. She runs over and sends flecks of sand sprinkling my legs.
“Mommy, can we go into the ocean now?”
I slowly stand and untie the sarong from my hips and gently toss my hair to shake out the sand. This sends the little feet beside me dancing, anticipating the splashes to come.
The shock from the chilly sea jolts me back to reality.
I am actually in my living room, sitting in an armchair. I must have dozed off momentarily while my daughter sleeps on the sofa.
My body sits still as my head continues to swirl.
It wasn’t really a dream. It happened.
Six months ago in a warmer place, during a more carefree time.
When the only temperature that mattered was the atmosphere outside, and thermometers were rarely placed under a tongue.
Where living is done outdoors, and no age limit applies to getting drunk on the sun.
A time when sunshine fueled the energy of my child.
We are coming up to day 7 of sickness in our house. My daughter’s fever continues to linger and is taking its sweet time to taper down. This is the longest she has ever been ill, and I’m sure her hacking cough will persist for weeks. I am keeping a close eye for any pneumonia-like symptoms.
Her pediatrician says she most likely has H1N1 (her official diagnosis today after dodging our calls all week).
We have been cooped up inside since last week Friday. In that time, the temperature outside has dipped down and a new batch of leaves blanket our yard.
When we look out the window, the tree in our backyard is just about barren now.
Every leaf fallen, leaving an arbor ghost.
Each one gone, except one.
Awww. I really hope Babisodes feels better soon.
Joyce-Anne´s last blog ..A Meme
November 20th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Oh no, I’m so sorry she’s still sick! Hopefully she’s watching lots of fun movies (aka Bolt) to keep busy!
Alana @ The Good Girl Gone Blog´s last blog ..Wish List: Free People
November 20th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Beautifully written although I’m sorry your little one is sick. Bundle her up and y’all go get some sunshine at least sitting in the backyard. It will be good for both of you. She doesn’t have to run around but she might want to and in your own backyard you are not going to get anybody else sick. Fresh air does wonders for the body and the soul!
Marie´s last blog ..Dad’s Helping Hands
November 20th, 2009 at 12:54 am
I hope your sweet baby child gets better soon!!
Jameil´s last blog ..Do Me A Favor: DON’T Relate
November 20th, 2009 at 1:00 am
And then it falls, and life begins again.
We finished up our little H1N1 battle about a month ago, I hope everyone is felling better soon.
Chris´s last blog ..Photostory Friday: Shadows
November 20th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Bummer Babisodes is still sick! Hope she feels better soon and doesn’t pass it on to mom.
Angela at mommy bytes´s last blog ..PSF – Happy 9th Birthday Adam!
November 20th, 2009 at 2:09 am
hope babisodes is feeling better by now. your picture of the falling leave is superb.
agnes´s last blog ..Products of Philippines
November 20th, 2009 at 2:13 am
Poor little girl, I hope she is better soon. For both your sakes. You must be going insane cooped inside?
Veronica´s last blog ..Blood test results.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:04 am
Really hope she’s feeling better soon, poor wee thing, and poor you too! *hugs*
Marylin´s last blog ..Little bits of this and that
November 20th, 2009 at 8:26 am
I have 4 children…it tool us over 3 weeks to get through the H1N1 mess. I pray that your family is well much sooner!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:37 am
OH, I so hope she starts feeling better soon
That poor little one!
Heather´s last blog ..The Great Interview Experiment
November 20th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Very pretty writing and photo. Sorry Babisodes is still sick.
Dot´s last blog ..Comment on The World of Dotitude by Cath Lawson
November 20th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I hope the sickness leaves soon. Also, I hope you get to spend some winter time in the warmer place. Also known as my back yard! Sorta…
Hockeymandad´s last blog ..Management Training
November 20th, 2009 at 11:07 am
That photo is so beautiful.
I just can’t believe your doctor didn’t want to see her, listen to her lungs and make sure they are clear. How scary. The flu went straight to my lungs and now I have bronchitis. A little one having bronchitis? So scary. I really hope she begins to feel better soon. I wish I could send some chicken soup your way!
November 20th, 2009 at 11:13 am
I hope that Babisodes is feeling better soon.
Emily/Randomability´s last blog ..Thursday 13: the 5K race
November 20th, 2009 at 11:57 am
So sorry. Sending happy healthy thoughts your way. I too am dreaming of warm places where living can still be done outdoors
MBonn´s last blog ..#PrayersforAnissa
November 20th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Poor Babisodes! My heart goes out to you guys. I hate being sick!
Mishi´s last blog ..Drivers hate Cambridge cyclists, but killing them is a little extreme
November 20th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Hopefully she’ll feel better soon.
The Mother´s last blog ..Madame Trota Tells it All
November 20th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
When I first starting reading this I was like, “What? isn’t she on the east coast where it’s cold?” lol.
Sorry to hear she’s still sick. Poor baby! Poor you too! I hope it’s not H1N1. I just heard a story on the news this morning that thousands of cases they THOUGHT were swine, were actually a new strain of the common cold. Mimiking swine. Hopefully it’s that.
sheila´s last blog ..Aloha Friday! Teaming with Excitement!
November 20th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Nothing worse than having a sick child. Hope she feels better soon. Hope you are holding up ok emotionally. I know I get really down when my kids are sick.
Carrie´s last blog ..Why I stay at home
November 20th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Poor Babisodes! I hope she feels better soon! Are you (and Babisodes #2) staying healthy?
Lauren´s last blog ..PSF and New Moon
November 20th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Your poor sweet girl…I hope she gets better soon!!!!
Muthering Heights´s last blog ..The Gift Is In The Giving
November 21st, 2009 at 12:43 am
Oh, man. I’m so sorry. Poor little Babisodes. If it makes you feel any better, we have that sunshine but have just got done being sick for a few weeks — my husband had the swine flu. I really sympathize. I hope her fever breaks soon and your whole family will stay well this season.
November 21st, 2009 at 12:52 am
Oh, Sandy..I’m so sorry that your daughter is still sick. It’s so hard to see them so helpless like that.
HUGS & PRAYERS,
Alicia
Alicia´s last blog ..FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK
November 21st, 2009 at 12:56 am
Sorry to hear that the hini flu has hit your house. Those who I know who have had it seem to get pneumonia afterward as just part of the same thing. I hope Babisodes doesn’t have to face that. And I really hope you don’t get it, too. Hugs and kisses for both of you.
Eve´s last blog ..TGIF !!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 2:12 am
hope your gorgeous girl is better really soon.
Smootches babe.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:25 am
Poor Babisodes. I hope she is feeling better very soon, and that sunnier days are just around the corner.
Tara R.´s last blog ..SkyWatch Friday ~ season 4, edition 19
November 21st, 2009 at 9:31 am
Oh no! Hope she feels better soon.
Asianmommy´s last blog ..The Road Home
November 21st, 2009 at 11:12 am
love this post – sorry your girl is sick.
Elle´s last blog ..Harvest 2009
November 21st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Yikes! THat is a long time to be sick! I hope she is feeling better soon.
Glad to hear that you’ve managed to stay healthy.
Cookie´s last blog ..Sick Again
November 21st, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Bummer. It is never fun to have a sick child. And even less fun when you’re pregnant too. Bless her little heart…I hope she’s feeling better soon.
Brutally Honest´s last blog ..Genius or Plagiarist?
November 21st, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I’m sending you lots of healing energy in hopes that your sweet girl gets better soon. Nothing is worse than a baby girl that you can’t really make better quickly.
Jessica´s last blog ..A HearthSong Wish List
November 21st, 2009 at 10:52 pm
I hope she’s getting better, especially on time for Thanksgiving.
That photo is beautiful.
Susan´s last blog ..road trip
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 am
I’m so sorry about Babisodes! ((HUGS)) I hope she’s feeling better ASAP!
How frustrating that your ped was dodging calls, and I hope her diagnosis is wrong. (Since she hasn’t actually seen Babisodes, maybe it is! Although I suppose being on day 7 it doesn’t really make much difference what it is, you just want it gone.)
Jac @ Wuzzlemakesthree´s last blog ..Weekly Winners
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Beautiful words. I really hope she gets better very soon. It is a terrible feeling when your child is sick. Please take care of yourself as well.
Loved the picture.
Maria @ Conversations with Moms´s last blog ..Sunday Jokes – Thanksgiving humor
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Poor Babisodes and POOR YOU!! I’d go insane if I had to stay home for seven days. I hope she’s better today!!
Rachel @ Grasping for Objectivity´s last blog ..Week of Firsts: a Fail and a Win.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Geez, I’m sorry she’s still so sick. That must be really unnerving, especially when you don’t seem to get much feedback or support from her doctor. I hope she’s at 100% soon.
The photo you included with this post is totally stunning. Makes me wish I had a single iota of talent at photography.
MCM´s last blog ..Fetal Karate
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I really hope your daughter is getting better soon! 7 days sounds agonizing. It’s tough when you send your kid to school where there’s so many other sick kids.
Make some jook for her, that’s what my mom did for me
Candy´s last blog ..Utah and Arizona
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Man that sucks for your little one. Being stuck inside can’t be much fun either. Nice picture, my daughter would be envious…
Mike´s last blog ..The End Is Near…
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 am
Poor Babisodes! I hope she feels better ASAP.
dysfunctional mom´s last blog ..Weekend WrapUp
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:40 am
Get better soon! The swine flu ran through my house and so far, I’m the only one who is not a casualty of it.
Puna´s last blog ..November 23, The Days Ahead
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
Sending Babisodes some hugs! Hope she’s better now.
Mariposa´s last blog ..Mariposa’s Tales Turns 4 Years!
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Hope your sweet babisodes gets better soon, Sandy. This sickness is the worst!
The flu hit us hard too (times two!) – we’re pretty sure it was H1N1 but no cough… just the GI stuff and super high fever.
Karen MEG´s last blog ..Weekly Winners – Blondes, bikes and boots
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Oh no! I hope she gets better soon!
Cascia @ Healthy Moms´s last blog ..Abdominal Exercises For Pregnancy- What to Do and What Not to Do
November 24th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Poor Babisodes! I hope she feels better soon!
November 24th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Well, since I’m reading these posts backwards, I’m glad to know Babisodes is feeling better. NOT FUN!! That’s a great shot of that tree.
Grandy´s last blog ..That’s What She Said
November 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm