Working and Bronchitis

I went back to work today. Can I really say back if I was only gone one day because I was sick? Whatever. I went back. When I woke up this morning, I felt okay to work. Physically and in terms of the bronchitis. Yeah... I got through the day but it wasn't easy.

By about nine I had a really bad headache. It wasn't even the kids. The kids probably didn't help, but I was coughing so much and so hard that I'm fairly certain I gave myself a concussion. That one time, I pretty sure I felt my brain touch my skull... Okay, that didn't really happen, but that's how bad the headache was. It was at that point that I decided I might as well try my inhaler. I have to say, that was not a pleasant experience. I shot my tongue and it was kind of numb and prickly feeling for a few minutes. Although, I think the kids did get a kick out of my confused expression. Miss Daily comes out of the closet (literally. We keep our personal things in a closet) making stupid, unexplained faces. I would probably laugh too.

At the end of the day, after being out in the sun for a good hour, I went and sat on the carpet where the majority of the kids were playing. The usual suspects came to sit around/on me. The one kid who is rather possessive of my lap flopped down (giving me a much greater respect for chairs) and sat there for fifteen minutes. We didn't do anything. I was leaning against the wall practically falling asleep. He was leaning against me, idly spinning the wheels on a toy car. Good times. You know that line in The Help (the movie) where Abilene says that babies like fat? Absolutely true. The fatter you are the more they love you because there's more of you to sit on. That way you can sit upward of four kids in your lap and avoid a lot of fighting. My record is three but that's one kid per leg and one sitting between my legs. Try reading a damn story book then. Samuel L. Jackson, where were you when I needed you?

The following contains strong language. View discretion is advised.

No... I've never thought that...

And in between those times, I was either coughing or sounding like a prepubescent boy. My voice kept cracking and changing volumes on me. It was super fun when I had to raise my voice to call kids.

"BOBBY! stop EATing SAND! no PUT the SAND down, not IN YOUR MOUTH!"

On top of which, one of my ears is sort of plugged so I have a hard time hearing. I asked a kid to repeat herself about four times before I just nodded and enthusiastically said: "Oh yeah?" Felt bad but she smiled and skipped off.

If this all sounds rather awful, I did have a good day. One of the little ones who's usually quite the mischief maker was extremely well behaved today. I was really proud of him. And two kids who probably inspired the above reading were really quiet and respectful of their classmates during nap time which impressed me.

Alright... I'll admit it. We got ice cream for a snack today. Are you happy now?

Lauren.