This morning we woke up, as usual. Tamie got up, as usual. I got up a bit later. As usual. Layla was reluctant to even consider getting up. As usual. Seemed like another normal weekly Wednesday.
Today, however, was not as usual as it should have been. Layla’s reluctance to get up was followed by a reluctance to eat or even move. A quick check of her temperature showed a steamy 38.4 degrees under her sweaty armpit. (Japanese thermometers go either in your ear or your armpit – consider yourself warned if you ever find yourself in a hospital here. Do NOT stick it in your mouth). Luckily she’s not coughing at all, so it shouldn’t be asthma related. I hope.
So I took the day off to take care of her in her time of need. Taking care of her mainly consists of being a comfortable place for her to lie down on while she watches Sesame Street (over and over and over and over again), sleeps and sweats out the fever. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
By noon, Layla finally woke up and was starting to get a bit house-happy, if not hungry, so I took her out to get some air. We went down to Vina Walk (the local shopping area) and killed some time running up and down stairs and escalators. Even sick, she never slows down.
I tried to get her to eat something, but everything I offered she refused. Then she said she wanted ice cream. Who am I to argue with a sick kid? Especially when it’s 40 degrees outside and I know Baskin Robbins is having a sale this month. So we got an ice cream snowman with a very, berry strawberry body and an orange sherbet head. Unfortunately, Layla only had a couple bites and I was forced to eat most of it (wouldn’t want to waste food now, would I?)
Some time after the lunch that we didn’t eat because Layla still refused to eat anything, Tamie called. She felt guilty for abandoning us and decided to come home, so we met her at the station and went for lunch. Soba and tempura for us. 13 soba noodles and three and a half dangos (small balls made of some kind of rice) for Layla.
After lunch we did some quick shopping before coming home. Layla was ready to pass out again, and Tamie got over her guilt fast enough to want to go jogging. So I was relegated to being a cushion again while Layla slept, this time without the sesame street!
Once Tamie got back, she went about making dinner while Layla went about trying to get comfy and I did my best to make her comfy. We ate. Layla watched. I think she might have had a couple grapes, but I can’t say for sure. I do know she refused to drink the strawberry-banana concoction that Tamie whipped up — made me wonder who’s kid she was because I certainly didn’t turn down the cup of delicious!
After Tamie finished eating is when things got even more interesting. Her stomach started doing somersaults and she crawled to the couch to lay down and die. Layla, ever helpful, thought it was a good time to practice tickling her mom. Mom didn’t laugh much, but I sure did. I can still hear her creeping up on Tamie saying ‘tickle, tickle, tickle‘ the way I do to her. Makes me so proud. I just hope she doesn’t ever plan on being a doctor with that bedside manner.
Shortly after that, I sent both girls to bed. I’m left here alone and awake, wondering if I should risk my own health by going over to the other side of the apartment with the feverish little one and the gut-wrenched wife. I guess I should… at some point.
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