We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

We have truly hit rock-bottom here. Momma is sick. It's the worst-case scenario for sure. I mean, as miserable as it is when one of the kids is sick, the rest of the world can continue to turn while the sick child sits on the couch and is indulged with Sierra Mist and repeated viewings of Barbie's Nutcracker. When John is sick, get this,,, he gets SICK DAYS. That's right ya'll. He gets PAID to be sick. This is still a step down from the kids being sick, because John does contribute to the general order of the household,,,plus, the kids want Daddy to play and read and go for walks when he is home. And so it is a bit stressful when Daddy is sick. But when Momma is sick...well, the world comes to a screeching halt. You know the scenario, right,,,the 5 steps of coping with Momma-illness?

First there's Denial. Momma will plug along and insist that it's "really just allergies" (see previous post). She'll pop Motrin and sip hot tea and keep doing what needs to be done.

Then comes Anger. You'll hear Momma mutter, "I really don't have *time* for this. Why can't John get sick once in a while? He gets SICK DAYS for heaven's sake?" Mom will be snappy and generally irritable as the herbal teas and Motrin don't quite cut it anymore.

Next comes Bargaining- "Please, please Lord, can't I just be sick another time? This is a really, really *bad* time for me to be sick. I don't even have a doctor right now, and the housework is *so* behind, we need a good grocery shopping trip desperately."

Now comes Depression. This hit today....after the good grocery shopping trip, with two kids in tow because Daddy is at work NOT SICK. That's right, Walmart on a Saturday, with kids. Good times. My asthma was kicking my rear end before we even got there. By the time we got home, Jack was cranky and overdue for a nap and, well, so was I. Maria helped me lug in bags. I threw the frozen stuff in the freezer, sucked on my inhaler, and collapsed to nap with Jack, totally dejected as I realized that no cleaning was going to happen today.

And the final stage, of course, Acceptance...well, I would accept it, except I'm feeling a bit better. I think I'll take some Tylenol, brew some tea, and see what I can get done in the kitchen.

Sometimes people have to cycle through the steps more than once...