Recovering from Pneumonia

After having a bad chest-cold since Thanksgiving, I reluctantly made a doctor’s appointment last Friday. I figured I wasn’t getting any better, still had a fever, and I didn’t want it to get worse over the weekend.

An hour later, I tried to cancel the appointment thinking, maybe I’m not so sick, and I really don’t want to spend the money… but the receptionist, who sees me about once a month between the kids checkups and whatnot, convinced me that I didn’t sound like myself and that I should keep the appointment.

While I held Leah, Dr. Meyer listened to my chest. I tried to talk and had the worst coughing fit and turned bright red. It was rather embarrassing, as there wasn’t really anywhere to spit and I couldn’t communicate well. Thankfully, one of the nurses brought me a drink. Dr. Meyer said, “your lungs sound terrible. I’m sending you over to get an x-ray immediately!” “X-ray? Oh great….”

The children had already waited patiently for an hour at the doctor’s office, and I could tell that it would be too much for them to sit by themselves when I went back for an x-ray. From the doctor’s office I tried to reach Tom, but he was away from his desk. I called my mother in law, but she had an interview momentarily and was waiting to be called. She said my father-in-law was home. He was going to take Mark to get some clothes for his job interview, but he rescheduled with him and met me at the x-ray clinic.

It was a long wait, as they had to squeeze in my “stat” x-ray. In the waiting room, there was a large box of many pieces of some sort of connecting toy set. They were brightly colored and looked like dumbbells with tiny, interlocking grooves. I have never seen them before, and have no idea what they are called. The kids built this amazing roller coaster contraption for a large wheel, with several rungs of a complicated support system.

The technician looked at the x-rays and said, “Oh my! How long have you been sick?”
“Just a week.”

The receptionist at the x-ray clinic said that my children were so well behaved while I was being x-rayed and she just could not get over how kind it was for my father in law to meet me there – and how the children listened to him when I was gone. Very cool.

We waited for a while to hear the results – there is a doctor on staff who reads them when they’re marked “stat” – but they were swamped and we eventually went home. I picked up antibiotics and cough syrup with codeine on the way home.

When I got home, there was a message confirming pneumonia from the x-ray.

I had made dinner (which is silly, because Tom would have picked something up if I had asked him to – but I was trying to stay strong!) and as I was putting the kids in bed, I just started bawling. My fever was 102.5 and I couldn’t hardly breathe without coughing. I called Elly, my soon-to-be sister-in-law. Then she, my mother-in-law, and my brother-in-law came over and, with Tom, put the children in bed and washed up the dishes.

For the past week, I’ve rested as much as I have been able.

I am feeling much better – fever is gone – but I do have lingering congestion in my lungs.

Tom took an entire week off of work to take care of me! I wouldn’t have been able to rest without him here. The children have had a wonderful time playing with their dad and working with them on their math. He’s such a good teacher and has a way of explaining the ideas that opens the children’s minds beyond elementary level and makes them hungry for more. He’s also been working on triple-bunk beds for the boys room, and the children seem to be walking taller and with great importance as they carry pieces of wood and help their dad with sanding.

My neighbor, Jen, organized meals for us and they have been delicious. It’s been so nice to see friends each night as they bring dinner.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had pneumonia – but it’s the first time without my mom around to take care of me. Needless to say, running this household is like running a small business that stays open 24/7. I am very thankful for everyone’s prayers and the help we have received.

It’s frustrating to be sick, but I am so very very blessed to be surrounded by people who love me.