If you are a friend over on the Facebook page, you will know that I am recovering from an intense bout of the 'flu. It has been a hard 10 days or so. I've had plenty of colds, and allergy-related flare-ups, but nothing like this for a long time. Matt says I was the sickest he has seen me (in 9 years of marriage).
The first couple of days, I was literally dragging myself around the place. If I didn't have kids to attend to, I would have been prostrate on the lounge for at least 3 days straight. The aches, the 24/7 sinus headache, the coughing, the sneezing, the sweats, the fitful sleeps... the continual testing of my pelvic floor muscles... I will never underestimate when someone says they have the 'flu again. It is terrible.
Although I don't think any of the kids were quite as bad as me, Miss 4 was pretty sedate for a couple of days - playing for a little while, then quietly heading in to lie on the lounge. Not like her at all. A few days later, Mr. 2 was coughing so hard he was vomiting... gah. Neither Mr 2 nor Miss 1 slept well overnight (though Miss 4 slept WAY more than usual, so that was a bonus!). Not being a generally sickly family (although we ALWAYS have runny noses), after a week or so came the fear that we might continue on the cycle of sickness all winter, or even, all year.
Although I don't think any of the kids were quite as bad as me, Miss 4 was pretty sedate for a couple of days - playing for a little while, then quietly heading in to lie on the lounge. Not like her at all. A few days later, Mr. 2 was coughing so hard he was vomiting... gah. Neither Mr 2 nor Miss 1 slept well overnight (though Miss 4 slept WAY more than usual, so that was a bonus!). Not being a generally sickly family (although we ALWAYS have runny noses), after a week or so came the fear that we might continue on the cycle of sickness all winter, or even, all year.
What a blessing it is to feel (almost) healthy again. I always forget how wonderful good health feels until I don't have it.
While we were sick, we were blessed with some kind gestures from our church family. 2 ladies brought meals around for us (funny that they were both exactly the same dish... chicken casserole with rice and vegetables). Another lady bought us three bags of groceries, saying she 'didn't have time to cook'. I was overwhelmed. She bought us enough for almost 5 easy dinners (and some snacks too!). So kind. It meant I didn't have to drag myself to the shops, I didn't have any labour-intensive dinner preparation, and we were still well fed. Though the food wasn't what I would normally buy (lots of frozen, pre-prepared stuff) due to both cost and taste, it was perfect for a sick family. I will be sure to remember this gesture for other people in future (though perhaps our budget would allow one or two such meals, not 5).
In case you are looking for some ideas to serve a sick/ grieving family/ family with a new baby etc, and you are low on time, here is what she bought/ we ate:
Day 1: Ready-made lasagne with microwave-steam vegetables
Day 2: Frozen chicken nuggets (for kids), chicken kiev (for Matt and I), frozen chips and microwave steamed vegetables (ours was not as well-presented as this!)
Day 3: Pre-made chicken and sweetcorn soup (heat and serve) with bread rolls
Day 4: Latina pasta ravioli and sauce (heat and serve) with microwave steamed vegetables
Day 5: A combination of the above that we hadn't cooked - pasta, nuggets, potato wedges, vegetables
Have you ever bought groceries/ something else in lieu of a meal? What are your best tips for looking after those who are sick or in need in your immediate circle?
