She was fine when she woke up, but a few hours later there was a fever of 102 and vomiting in her pretty pink bed. Birthday parties and splashing in the pool will be missed, a summer’s day spent huddled under heavy covers in her bathrobe.
“Mama, Norah will be so frustrated!” she cries. “I have to go to her party! Oh, I don’t want to miss it!”
Her mouth turns down, the corners almost reaching her chin, which trembles. I know she has hundreds of summer days and birthday parties in her future, but she doesn’t—she lives entirely in the present, with only brief forays into the past and future. Remember when I fell at the library because I was running? Soon we will be at Cape Cod and I can collect seashells!
But mostly, she is rooted in the here and now.
Bed linens and sleeping pals tumble in the washing machine while she watches Scooby Doo in a double bed. The riotous flowers on the duvet cover mock her sleepy, sick countenance. I sit by her side, ready to hold her hair and rub her back. In my hands is a pink pillowcase I am stitching just for her.
Mommy, put my name on it. Will you please sew my name on it?
I will, just as she has stitched her name on my heart.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
The poor baby. Why do things have to happen on the days you have plans, couldn’t just be sick on some other summer day with no plans! Feel better soon.
Poor Poo. We feel your pain. Sam developed a fever last night and has spent the past 24 hours fitful and sad. Luckily for us, we didn’t have any plans today, and it’s rained all day long. We’ve been watching a lot of movies here! I hope she feels better soon!
(((hugs))) feel better soon.
P.s. I totally LOVE that bedding set!
I hope she feels better soon.
Poor girl. One thing I will ALWAYS remember from childhood is how my mom took care of me when I was sick. I bet that pink pillowcase won’t be forgotten a long time from now.
So sad – being sick especially sucks in the summer! Hope she’s better soon.
Get well soon!
poor little bit
Sick little children are the saddest little things in the world, yet they recuperate so nicely and forget all about it and go running off into the sunshiny day as if they never had a fever at all. I hope she gets better soon.
Must be something going around. Pippi and I are both sick with fevers this weekend. Ick.
Those high fevers are scary. Hope she’s doing okay now and that you all had a great Father’s Day.
ps I have that Garnet Hill print duvet cover for MY bed. Needed some cheering up one winter.
Oh Mrs. Chicken – your note today made a tear spring to my eye. My daughter – now 12, still is fiercly possessive of a particular Pooh bear blanket (purchased day’s before her birth) that was used at nap time when she was small enough to attend day care. I stiched her initials into it along with a red heart and told her that was so she would know it was hers, and the heart to know how much I loved her. You just brought me back to those days and her wee 3 year old face, and I realize how that seems a lifetime ago. While she is too old to admit it out loud, she will not allow me to get rid of that blanket. It sits high on her bedroom shelf – amidst a riot of pre-teen paraphenalia… ah – I miss those days.
Thanks!
So sorry your girl is sick!
(Love the sheets though.)