Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Plague Redux

Since early May there has been at least one sick person in our family. And just when I thought we were finally getting healthy, Matthew came down with the scourge. He’s coughing and stewing an aggressive fever. His cough is slightly different though. Instead of the wet cough that sounds like a backfiring tuba, Matt has a croupy cough that sounds like a seal on steroids.

What is prolonging this plague? Why couldn’t everyone get super sick at once and then we could be done with it? I’m sure there must be some heavy-duty sanctification behind it, but if I knew what exactly I was supposed to learn I’m sure I could do it much faster.

I’m probably supposed to be more patient, which means I shouldn’t have said, “Jacob, we’re getting really tired of listening to your cough.” Yeah, that was the epitome of tact and motherly compassion. Or, “Matt, you don’t need to announce your fever every five minutes.” After all, he doesn’t have anything more exciting to do. (Though I will state for the record that digital thermometers that measure to the tenth of a degree were created by engineers who had never taken care of a sick, bored pre-teen.) Or, my favorite, “If you don’t cover you mouth when you hack, I will duct-tape your mouth shut.” Okay, I didn’t really say that—I only thought it. Hmm…I see a pattern here. Patience. I need to hurry up and get some.

7 comments:

  1. Watch out, you might be our "grand finale" for sickness. You totally don't want us to come up with 101 uses for duct tape while you have a "tuba-cough." :)

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  2. Hmm.. I thought Matthew was the Mask-Wearing-Cleaning-Every-Just-So-He-Won't-Get-Sick Guy!! It's amazing he got sick!!

    Anyway, you can obviously guess how long viruses stay in the McPherson Family. There's always at least somebody sick around the house around these times.

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  3. When I got sick I was sick for less than 48 hours.

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  4. Backfiring tuba, very nice.

    Guess what, they are making a Percy Jackson movie. I am so *not* looking forward to it! Annabeth is being played by a 20 year old! Puh-leeze Hollywood!

    Grace Duke

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  5. Your kidding? A 20 year old? How will that work?

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  6. Unless it is animated, I don't know. But that is a super bummer.

    Grace Duke

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  7. I grow wearieth of thy expectoration. ....F. Nightingale.

    Fear not, you are not alone in your nursing failings.

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