Our family's been struggling with illness this month. On Sunday the 10th of January, in the afternoon, Esme started to complain of an upset tummy, and started throwing up about 6 pm - a few minutes before her daddy did the same. Jim and Esme were sick pretty much all night, and Esme stayed home from school on Monday recovering and watching movies in her room. She was all better on Tuesday, but as she'd had a fever on Monday, we had to keep her home one more day. It took Jim about a week to recover completely - but he didn't get a flu shot this year, and the rest of us did. Thankfully, Aidan and I didn't get sick.
About a week after that episode, Aidan and I both came down with mild colds - annoying, but nothing that kept us home or in bed.
Last Thursday the 28th, Aidan came home from school feeling fine, but within a few minutes was feeling sick to his stomach. He went up to bed to rest, and was throwing up by about 7:30 pm. This continued for some time, but he managed to sleep most of the night. He stayed home from school on Friday watching movies in bed, and was well enough to be up and around on Saturday. He is doing great now, a little weak and tired, not willing to eat his usual massive quantities, but well.
We're hoping that's it for the flu among the Lowry family in 2010. (And every future year, frankly, but we know that's not likely!)
Aidan had braces "installed" on his top front 8 teeth on Tuesday 26 January. He was able to choose his band colors - maize and blue, of course - and will have a chance to change his choices each month when he goes for a new wire and bands. These will be on for four to six months, followed by a retainer for some time, and no more orthodontic work until all of his adult teeth come in (and his child jaw grows into an adult one, Lord willing). He was very uncomfortable for about two days, and now he claims there is no pain at all.
Both children are hard at work learning all sorts of new things at school. Esme continues to read up a storm, both at home and at school, and is hopefully dealing well with the snottiness of little girls her age - and also hopefully not making this attitude her own. Why are little girls so mean? It's not like things have changed...little girls were awfully mean in 1979, after all.
Aidan's class is doing long division in math, studying Michigan lighthouses in social studies, and studying electricity in science. He's loving it. He had to miss the Reading Counts pool party on Friday because he was sick, but we promised to make it up to him in Legos. :)
I have been trying a lot of new recipes in an attempt to shake things up in the menu department. I've become acquainted with the local Indian grocery, and in addition to trying a few new Indian dishes, I'm also trying several new French dessert recipes. The kids are a little shell-shocked, but they'll get used to it! Jim and I are very much enjoying it.