To this in less than 24 hours?
Let me back up to the last couple of "normal" days of my life. Friday night, March 15th, Ryan and I joined the FBC group for the awesome Winter Jam concert. Sure, our seats were directly behind the stage, bottled drinks cost a small fortune, and I had no napkins while inhaling my chicken tenders. However, it was an amazing night of worship, and I was thrilled to be there.
At around 11:00 Ryan and I decided to take the worship party to my car. Poor Ryan had little sleep the night before and desperately needed rest. After all, my parents were coming the next day to visit my aunts and uncles.
The next morning I woke up with a painful throat and didn't feel quite right. As usual, that didn't stop me from making breakfast, going on a shopping spree at Bi-Lo, and spending over $75 on an oil change at jiffy lube.
They saw me coming from a mile away. "Ma'am, while you're here we're going to change your air filter, fill you up with bubbles, and paint polka dots on your engine." ??? As far as I'm concerned, that's what took place under my hood.
The 'wonder' is in the price.
After a marvelous Saturday afternoon visit with my family I knew something was not right. But I had already planned to attend church in Dillon and a wedding in Florence the next day, and I was sticking to that plan.
My Mom drove me to Dillon while my phone-less father followed us, and by the time we hit Camden I was already crying in pain. After numerous stops from the pharmacy to Longhorn to-go we finally arrived home late that night. I got three hours of sleep.
"If I can just make it through the service..." I was already running a fever on Sunday morning, and several people told me they noticed I didn't feel well.
While writhing in back pain, sobbing, and running a high fever that afternoon:
Mama: "Katharine, honey, you've got the flu."
Ryan: "Katharine, be positive and stop overreacting. Flu season is over."
Imagine this guy with blonde hair and we have a self portrait:
On Monday I went straight to the doctor. Other patients were literally moving away from me in the waiting room.
The doctor ordered lab work, took a look at me, and then had me take a flu test. After being swabbed in the nose with a q tip that I'm pretty sure touched my cerebellum I was asked to sit back in the waiting room. That's when I heard it....
"Katharine Moody?"
"Yes?"
"You've got the flu."
I've always dreamed about my coronation day- when I'd be told I was a princess and could go live in a castle. Somehow that flu mask wasn't quite what I had envisioned.
But, but...
Where are the jewels?
***HANNIBAL LECTER KATHARINE MOODY, THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW***
Aside from the doctor's office, I went nowhere for the next six days. I couldn't go back to work or even back to Columbia, because I couldn't drive. Plus Ryan was flying to Atlantic City that Thursday for Aaron's bachelor trip, and he couldn't afford to get sick. My parents took turns sleeping on the floor in my room upstairs, because my fever kept getting so high during the night that I had to be monitored.
No matter the age of the child, parenting is never over.
During one night of misery I woke up and saw a dark, black shadow coming toward and hovering over me. I screamed at the top of my lungs and began shaking in fear.
The horrifying monster turned out to be my mother, and she promised that we'd laugh about it later.
The number one thing to do while sick is get plenty of rest, but lucky me- the job I have can't be turned off. No out of office message will cut it when catastrophes are taking place. I was literally having my blood drawn (and resisting the urge to scream bloody murder- pun intended) when my phone was going off non stop about an issue at work.
Can't I be SICK without being bothered with work related nonsense? Nope. At this point I'm pretty sure people would be knocking on the casket at my funeral wanting something.
Yes, hi. Katharine? Are you in there? Listen, I ordered a product a couple of weeks ago, and it's not here, and I'm really in a bind. Please get back to me ASAP.
Not even the out of office angel could drive them away.
One of the positive aspects of last week was being in town with Daddy for his Birthday influenza extravaganza. Granted, I wasn't much of a companion, but when Ryan came through Dillon before his flight we did manage to have cake and give him some gifts.
Daddy easily wins the male nurse award on his Birthday. He spent his entire Spring Break tending to me, and Mama did a great job, too.
To avoid getting sick my Mom told Ryan that he was welcome to sleep in the guest room that night. Five minutes later he politely declined her offer, because my porcelain dolls in there scared him.
I can't make this up!!!
:::twilight zone theme:::
So Ryan settled on Jay's philosophical abode room. He was all tucked in when he yelled out across the hall for me to come in there and listen. Sure enough, some kind of animal was running around in the walls and chirping. The following morning Mincey's Pest Control showed up faster than I usually devour a bag of Cheetos. The man wasn't quite sure but he thought it might be bats.
Ryan, take your pick: do you want to sleep in a room occupied by dolls or bats?
I don't know what was funnier that evening. Bruce the Bat flailing about or seeing Ryan fast asleep amidst a myriad of Jay's philosophical books.
How many points were on that deer head?
Joy called on Saturday and asked if I was up for an outing. After being shut in the house for several days, it was a welcomed trip. She picked me up for lunch at King's, followed by seeing the "Oz" movie.
Consider me intrigued as I wonder why I can't sit in that one particular seat.
On Sunday I was well enough to attend church. I love FBC more than I can say!!! I was so glad to be mostly back to normal and afterwards enjoyed a fabulous Birthday lunch for Anna : D
Now that I'm much better the lack of sleep has caught up to me, and I am SO tired. All I want to do is rest.
I am so grateful for my good health. This week really reminded me to be thankful that I only suffered for a short while. I am healthy and able, and with that privilege comes great responsibility. It is my duty to serve him in my good health- to go places and do things to further His kingdom. And that is what I intend to do.
Without question this year is flying by like I can't believe. With Easter Sunday right around the corner, it made me stop and consider one of life's most important facts: the empty tomb. Whether you're suffering with sickness, financial troubles, death of loved ones, physical or emotional abuse, damaged relationships, are unhappy in your career, whatever the case may be nothing can change the fact that the tomb is still empty. And the man who walked out of that tomb did so in order to free you of and pay for your sins- no matter how big or how small they are.
Do you know why we can't compare ourselves to others when it comes to sin?
Take two cups of water. Put one drop of food coloring in one cup representing one sin. Put fifty drops of water in the next cup and you'll end up with the same result- something unclean and impure, regardless of the "number" or severity of those sins/drops of coloring. The fact is that we all fall short of the glory of God but can become new and clean in Christ through His gift of salvation. It is the most important decision you'll ever make. Have you made a decision to follow and surrender your life to Him?
I hope that in Easter 2013 you will accept His gift of eternal life, follow Him wholly, or renew your relationship with your Creator.
I now leave you with some giggles...
Happy Easter, my beloved friends,
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