On this lovely Black friday, while all others are searching high and low for Christmas presents and fighting for Beatles Rockband, I am lazily resting at home. It is probably one of the first mornings I've let myself rest in a long time. The truth is that I have been pounded with illness this season. And by season, I mean starting the end of September through today. Much of this, I know, is due to the fact that I am in my second year of teaching Kindergarten. Once our class had gotten through the swine flu scare and I thought I would avoid it, (half our class contracted it while the rest was fine) I myself picked it up and was commanded to stay at home till the fever had broken and I was better.
So, I did just that and honestly, it was like any other flu and though the fever was the worst part. I survived quite well. Note: I know this is not the case for all since many with asthma get it pretty bad, but I considered myself lucky. However, things got worse as some left over congestion from the flu stayed till Halloween and then became a sinus infection. When I finally got an antibiotic to take care of that and I was finally feeling better, I felt another cold coming on. This cold has stuck around for more than a week and has moved into my chest and made things ridiculous.
Why do I tell you all my history of being sick? Well, partially because I am pretty angry at my immune system and my sweet kids who I have dubbed my carrier monkeys. And, I just want to complain. But on thanksgiving I began thinking about what I am thankful for and I realized, if it weren't for my family and my husband, I wouldn't have gotten through.
When I get sick, I get really emotionally wacked. Sickness sets me back and slows me down and it is such a problem that I lose all my patience. Plus, even just a week of health at this point would be better than colds and sinus infections overlapping themselves.
Through all of my ups and downs, my husband has been there to help me. He has made me dinner, watched movies with me, gone to church and to Savior of the World rehearsals alone while I was sick at home, and he has loved me inspite of my drastic moods.
I am so grateful for him and his level head when mine is anything but.
My parents and my brother have also been there through everything. My mom and dad have brought me dinner and visited me when I was sicker than sick and couldn't do anything but blow my nose and whine. My brother has been a great friend and has talked to me and made me laugh. And my mom has also listened endlessly to my complaints and said the one thing all women need to hear when they are upset... "oh, I know!" 
I am also so grateful for my in laws. I have been very blessed in the in-law department. My husband's family are the type of generous, loving people that show nothing but sweetness and compassion to me, especially when I'm sick.
All in all, I know this won't be the only time I feel sick in my life. But, I am just grateful for a support system that not all people have. I'm glad there is a holiday that I can reflect and realize what others do for me.
