The TToT of Being Sick
I couldn’t think of anything else to call this.
I started my list early in the week and added items as they occurred. This morning I realized that most of my items this week center on my ongoing respiratory issues. So there it is – The TToT of Being Sick. Still.
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Photos…I have none. I haven’t been outside the house long enough to take any. So I’ll try to appease the visual people out there with pictures of soup and tea, since I’ve been consuming large quantities of these things for the last few weeks. Here we have some beet and carrot soup and I think the green was creamy Swiss chard. I know I did a recipe for the beet and carrot on the blog at some point last summer. The Swiss chard has not shown up yet – I’ll get to it. None of these were made this week…hence the lack of a Soup of the Week post.
Moving on.
I’ll start with being thankful for my many blog friends and real-life friends who have sent well wishes, positive thoughts, and prayers my way. Keep ’em coming! I think it’s helping…slowly but surely. I am thankful for people who are nice. Backing out of my spot at the doctor’s office, it was a tight squeeze and I tried not to hit anyone’s car. (Worst parking lot ever, by the way.) A very pleasant young lady about 10 or 15 yards away saw me and caught my eye. She smiled and started motioning to me that I had more room to back up. I was grateful for her help. When I passed her, I waved and smiled and she returned the gesture. It was just nice – people helping people.
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My first and absolute favorite teapot.
Homemade chicken and vegetable stock.
I’m also grateful for the wonderfully competent and pleasant staff at the doctor’s office. These people know their job and know their patients. In a world where it’s all too easy to feel like just one more number to people, it’s nice to be recognized and smiled at and taken care of. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m kind of grateful for the electronic medical records system that our health network is using. They have so much information available and it really is nice not to have to go through every single detail by hand any more. They also checked in with me about things like my flu shot, mammogram, and dental care. Nice. I’m proud to report that I had all items already scheduled. Because I’m good like that.
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I think this one is yellow squash soup.
Thankful for the Hub understanding how lousy I feel. While he’s not exactly taking care of all my chores for me, he is certainly keeping things running and never makes me feel like I’ve fallen down on the job. Rather, he’s more apt to encourage me to rest than I would ever allow myself. He’s packed Zilla’s lunch and hustled her off to school so I wouldn’t have to go out and drive feeling so fatigued.
I am also thankful that Kidzilla has been sympathetic and helpful. She was not too happy to have me back out of our night time reading and bedtime songs due to my sore throat and lack of voice. But came around to understand that Mamma’s voice needs to rest and soon I’ll be back to reading and singing to her every night. In the meantime, she’s done a great deal of reading aloud which is fantastic. It is great practice, she is supposed to do it for school anyway (are there people in the world who really need to be reminded to read every day?), and I love to hear her read.
Creamy zucchini basil soup. Or summer squash.
I am thankful for the colleagues who provided me with fantastic letters of recommendation. I am now officially listed with our local school district as district-approved tutor and homebound instruction provider. I know that the district was pleased with my credentials and those recommendations on paper and via phone conversation are a great addition to that package.
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Good old-fashioned homemade chicken noodle.
Continuing in that vein, I am so very thankful to have the time and attention to devote to Kidzilla’s school needs. Being able to pick her up from school, address the day’s troubles and triumphs, monitor her homework and get some play time in before the Hub gets home is worth every moment of what has led us to where we are today. Being here for her and working my schedule around her needs is already proving to be beneficial for all of us. And while I’ve missed two volunteer days because of being sick, I do quite enjoy being able to volunteer in the school library during her class period and see her in action.
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Italian wedding with kale instead of escarole.
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The Super-Sister makes the list in a last minute addition. I am thankful to her for what may turn out to be my first private tutoring client. She knew someone with a need and she knew a tutor and has opened the door for contact. Thanks, Weez!
I hope your week has been full of things for which to be thankful. You know what to do now…share ’em or link ’em! Have a wonderful week ahead!
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Lisa, a hearty congrats to your listing! Too woot! To more great things next week! And your missing soup-need more soup ideas!
Thanks, Michelle. I did not make new soup this week, but I am hoping to get back on the wagon this week with a lovely cream of broccoli. Keep coming back on Mondays for soup! And you can search the blog for “Soup of the Week” for now. I’m hoping soon to make a separate page for those recipes.
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Oh, Lisa. I hope the doctor’s treatments will finally help you. That and the chicken noodle soup. This was a great list of thankfuls from a situation you just wish would go away, but that seems like the whole point of this link up. All your photos are making me crave soup. Yum.
Come on Mondays for Soup of the Week, Val! I’m hoping to get back in the swing this week if I can finally pull out of this sick. I think the doc’s regimen is finally working…I feel better but not quite normal yet!
I was definitely in a bad funk this week because of being sick for so long and felt like I could just be miserable forever. But I didn’t want to be there, so finding the good things in the whole situation has been very wise, I think. And the truth is that while this is extremely frustrating, things could be a whole lot worse, so putting it in perspective makes me feel better. Having the TToT list in mind is always good for that!
So many yummy sounding soups. Makes me hungry.
Don’t be too hard on yourself for missing something. That is why we have Doctors too!
If you like soup, Erin, come back on Mondays for my Soup of the Week. I revived it…and then got sick and skipped a week right away. I have cream of broccoli in mind for this week!
I CANNOT believe you are still sick! This bug has got you good. I’m glad you went to the doctor. I always feel so much better after a nebulizer treatment, even if I wasn’t feeling wheezy (asthma: one more thing we have in common).
I like how you had soup picks in so many colors! What beauties they must be in the fridge.
Believe it. You can’t make up stuff this ridiculous. I’m glad I went to the doc, too. The nebulizer has been working wonders. I honestly didn’t think I was feeling wheezy, but clearly I was wrong. This morning I think I can finally say I feel some real progress happening. One more thing in common…sisters from another mother or something? Too weird.
The soups really do end up lovely colors. I love how they look in the jars in the fridge. I also love how they look in my bowl and on my spoon…
ohhhhhhhhhh I cant believe HOW long this is hanging on! What a drag! YOU poor thing! I hope you are better soon…. I am not keeping up with the wwf and it may help as a distraction for you … I will try better this week! I love rotten #2… so cute!
Yah. Today is the first day I can say I’ve really felt significant improvement. I can’t say I’m keeping up with the WWF games all too well, either. I try, but I get a headache. Perhaps tonight I’ll be more on my game. Haha – see what I did there?? On my game…,
Rotten 2 is pretty cute. He’s our small boy. Kidzilla thinks he looks like Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon.
Ohhh bless your boots! I’m so sorry you’re still sick. You’ve done an admirable post, and there was not a single thing on here which didn’t merit a place. Well done.
I hope that you get better soon now that the asthma aspect has been noticed. *sigh* At least you have such a good doctor. That’s awesome. And good for your mom for making you go.
YAY new opportunity with the tutoring. And thank goodness you’re not having to struggle through teaching with this respiratory thing! It’s all in the timing 🙂
Today I am finally feeling noticeable improvement. Still not 100% but much more like myself, much more energy. My doc is amazing – I can actually say that she very literally saved my uncle’s life because she spotted something early. And my Mom is an awesome Mom. Always right, of course. The older I get the smarter she gets. 😉
I can’t imagine having to teach with this nonsense…oh, wait, yes I can. I struggled with this every year for several years before my doc sent me to my fabulous allergist who helped get everything under control. This is the first time in about five years that I’ve had anything this bad. Not a bad statistic, really. Teaching like this would be hell – was hell – and doesn’t benefit anyone.
Kind of amazing how things fall into place just as they should.
good list of showing how to best approach the illness thing, i.e. try to fight it off yourself and then, get additional help (from an actual in person Doctor) and follow directions for care and treatment.
(Not that I have ever managed to follow this good advice, but it is a fringe benefit of this blogging thing that I get to see how it’s done and see the benefits!)
It’s always easier to follow advice when it’s for somebody else, right? I’m just glad to finally feel like I can see some progress.
You are a great example of being thankful even during sickness. I’m sorry that you’ve been ill for so long. Hopefully this coming week you will finally be able to kick this bug!
That is the plan, Kristi! It’s ridiculous how long this has held on. Blame my rotten immune system, but still…enough already!
I can not believe that dang stuff is being so stubborn. You’ve done your time. You’ve been patient. It needs to end already!
That’s about where I’m at right now. I had some decent voice for a while today. But we had company for dinner so there went the “rest your voice” order. I’m giving my Hub the silent treatment right now, though, so I should be good for a few hours. 😀
Lisa, you poor thing! I can’t believe you are still sick! I’m so glad your mom insisted you go to the doctor (listen to your mother) and that the doctor was able to pinpoint what it was. Hopefully, you’ll be back to new by this time next week, IF NOT SOONER.
I’m glad Fab Hub is just that – fab – and makes Zilla’s lunch and takes her to school. I always feel worst in the mornings when I’m sick, so that would be a real help.
I really want some soup now, even though my husband and I just came back from a date night where we ate a HUGE dinner.
Even Rotten Cats know when you’re sick and need a furball next to you (or on you) in the bed.
No one is in more disbelief than I am…every day I wake up, try my voice, and think WTF? when it becomes clear once again that I AM STILL FREAKING HOARSE. While my voice has not returned fully and I am still either congested or drippy in alternate hours of the day, I definitely can say I have more energy today and I’m breathing better. That’s huge. My Husband just pointed out that I said I was going to bed an hour ago and I’m still here at the computer. I should really go up but my head is stuffy from crying earlier over completely non-related things.
My Hub and Kidzilla cleaned up the entire living room/dining room area of the house this afternoon in preparation for our family dinner while I made the food. They are awesome.
Soup is amazing. I have good recipes coming so come back on Mondays.
Rotten Cats are awesome. I always find it amazing that animals can sense when you need something.
Do you actually CAN the soup or just use the jars for storage? Because that’s really an awesome idea for storing leftover soup. Easy to pour. Easy to fit in the fridge.
No, I don’t can because I’m a goof who hasn’t learned to do that yet, despite my aunt’s offer to come do it this summer. Never happened…
I use the jars because I went on an anti-plastic rampage at some point and wanted to use only glass. Mason jars are ridiculously easy – fits well, pours well, like you said. And if I deliver some to my Mom or the Hub’s parents, it’s so easy to transport that way.
UGH to still being sick!! I’m glad that your mom prompted you to go to the doctor and that you might be feeling almost all the way better soon. And here’s to being self-employed and having that special after-school time with Kidzilla – that’s big stuff. I’ve been enjoying my after-school time with Tucker since our babysitter quit. While it makes other chores not get done, it’s nice to have that time with him… he’s growing up so fast and I know I will miss these days of being his favorite.
The italian wedding and squash soups look amazing. I’ll pass on the beet one though because beets are the grossest food ever invented. 😉
All good stuff, right? I am especially loving the after-school time with Kidzilla. It is HUGE for us and I just love having that time together before the Hub gets home and the dinner/bath/bedtime routine begins.
I love beets…always have. I think you kind of have to like them to begin with to want the soup, but with the carrot and balsamic in there it could make you a believer!
I hope you’ll be feeling better and fit as a fiddle soon. It is no fun being sick at all.
No, Susan, this has not been what I would call fun!
I think it takes a special kind of gratitude for life to be able to feel so crummy and turn it into things to be thankful for, I’m smiling! So often we use little excuse to grumble and here you’ve used a grumble as an excuse to list thankful thoughts! I am so hoping you can finally attain a full recovery from this nasty bout of illness, having asthma I understand how that complicates any respiratory issue. Your furkids sound much like mine. Two of mine are definitely daddy’s girls, but if daddy is not home I’ll do. Oh to feel so loved! LOL PS – You play WWF pretty well when you are under the weather, hoping recovery doesn’t mean you are going to blow me out of the water with your wise words! :-))
Aw, thanks, Josie. I’m glad you’re smiling. I really do try to see what is best about a situation. I did not always do so and I definitely like this approach better. I most definitely feel better today – much more like myself. Now I just need to get my voice back and I’m all set!
I’ve struggled with WWF – every time I try to take a turn it would give me a headache. I’ll get back into it this week, though.
I think I’d be kicking the universe to the curb right now. How many weeks has it been? Wish I lived nearby to bring you this crazy spicy Vietnamese soup that I “swear” kills any nasty germs right in their tracks. Much love and healing vibes going your way.
It has to be like five (off and on) by now – late August was the first round. I would love to have that Vietnamese soup recipe – send it to me? Or did you post that at some point? I feel like I’ve seen it or you’ve mentioned it before.
Thanks for the love and healing vibes!
Darn, Lisa, I hope you get over this respiratory stuff soon. You’ve been dealing with that for so long now, you definitely deserve a break _ a long one. Still, I enjoy your tea and soup pictures. Looking forward to making more soup once we have actual soup weather 🙂 Have a wonderful week!!
I definitely feel better, Stephanie – a little more each day. The last holdout is my hoarse voice. It’s so annoying at this point!
I’m so happy for actual soup weather! I do make soup all year, but cold-weather soups are a very special thing.
Hey, your first private tutoring client sounds awesome. I’m a tutor too and I love the work. Although I do it through a company, not by myself. Although I think that when I move away from Houston, i might try to go out on my own. We’ll see. Anyway, it’s good to hear that you’re feeling better.
We shall see! I’m pretty excited to get this ball rolling. Being self-employed is pretty scary business here in the beginning. I try not to let myself get sucked into the “what-ifs” that creep in. What if nobody ever calls? What if I’m charging too much? Not enough? What if clients don’t like me and don’t recommend me to anyone?
Too easy to get sucked in. Just gotta keep plugging away at getting my name out there and it will happen.
I am feeling better – finally!
I agree that chicken soup is always great when being sick. I also like to include lots of garlic in my meals for extra immune support. Ginger root tea with lemon and honey will help too and is great for soothing a sore throat.
I use garlic everywhere I can! I’ve done ginger root, lemon, honey, too. Definitely a good one! I also like a good ginger and mint tea for an upset stomach.