Luppa Luppa Lo

This week I've felt a bit under the weather with what I assumed was just a cold. Then yesterday morning I woke up feeling absolutely horrible. I took my temperature and was shocked that it was 102 degrees. I cannot recall having that high of a fever in my entire adult life.

I stayed in bed all day yesterday, in a kind of feverish haze (although my brother was disappointed to hear that I did not hallucinate even once), and then at about 4:00 in the morning my fever broke. I woke up this morning with no fever, but I'm extremely weak. The nurse I spoke with at Urgent Care told me to stay away from people for 24 hours after my fever was gone (with no medication), so I'm still in bed, trying to regain my strength and praying that the fever will not return. I haven't seen my kids since yesterday morning!

For as miserable as I've been (if this is the swine flu, get your flu shot!), I can't help but be grateful for a wonderful husband who has taken such good care of Jonathan and Clara. They've baked cookies, gone on walks, gone to the park, done crafts... I've hardly heard any crying--and the kids have been calm as well! Jeremy has delivered all of my medications, kept me well hydrated, and forced me to eat a bit even when I didn't want to. He's definitely top shelf.

Here's my favorite craft project to come out of my illness:


It's a black and green pig (for the swine flu), and the speech bubble coming out of it says "Luppa Luppa Lo (Because Mommy will love it)." I guess Jeremy was trying to prompt Clara to have the pig say "Get well soon" or something, but she said that I would love it if the pig said "Luppa Luppa Lo." I totally do.

And on the back of the pig are two little orange hands--one of which is missing some digits. Sometimes little orange hands need their fingernails clipped.


I miss my family.

Job News

Last Friday night I was sitting on the couch, crocheting, in my nightgown, when I received an unexpected phone call from the English Department Chair at Onondaga Community College, who phoned to offer me a job teaching a section of Freshman Composition this fall. (I applied to teach about six weeks ago, and figured that since I hadn't heard back nothing was going to happen. Apparently I just needed to be patient!) I went in today to get officially hired, and she actually offered me two sections of English 103. And the best part is, as an adjunct I'm not even required to hold office hours! What a boon! (When I taught at Montana State, I sat at my little desk for hours and over two semesters had maybe three students visit.)

I'll be teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays in the mornings, will probably be gone for about three and a half hours, and Jeremy has arranged his schedule so he can be with Clara. It's a win-win-win situation for us, and I feel truly blessed. We'll see how I feel when I get my first batch of papers to grade...

Autumn in August

Those of you who know me well know how much I love the fall. I take after my mom in this way (Jeremy likes to tease us for our love of "The Harvest"). While August 16 is perhaps a bit early still to think about autumn, Clara and I nevertheless decided to hitch our hopes to the nearest wagon and drive out to apple country to see what we could see. We were not disappointed! Although the trees are as lush and green as ever, the apples are starting to ripen! We picked up our first peck of the season: five pounds of Paula Reds, fresh from the trees behind the farm stand. Oh, how I love the taste of a freshly picked apple. If I could wax poetic, I would. Speaking of wax, did you know there is NO WAX on a freshly picked apple? Just dirt and deliciousness--just how God intended.

I should stop before I get carried away.

As if the day wasn't magical enough with the apples, my second surprise of the day was when Jeremy came home with a pristine copy of Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, which I have long wanted to read and which was waiting, full of kismet, next to the recycling bins near our apartment. This day was meant for me! Has there ever been a happier girl?