"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2



Monday, December 5, 2011

Three Days in the Trees...


In the trees - from my bedroom window
Photo by Loree Huebner

Last Thursday, I left work early. By 6 pm, my body was not my own anymore. Pain shot through every molecule of my being. Every muscle and joint ached with such intensity that it was difficult just to move. My insides decided to turn outside on me…yep, at both ends. I was trapped in a horrific case of influenza with no way out. This isn’t happening!

On Friday, you would think it would get better after my stomach finally settled...nada chance. I lay in my bed, burning with fever, feeling like I had been run over by a truck. I had two brief moments where I struggled to sit up enough to pop open my lap top, check email and blogs. Yes I can do this…a no I can’t. That would be it. No writing. No reading. I couldn’t sit up for more than ten minutes at a time without my head spinning and pounding. The TV was on, but all I could do was stare out at the beautiful bare trees from my second floor bedroom windows. The view is quite a lovely sight—it’s like being in the trees.

As Friday slid into Saturday, the pain and misery only got worse. I remember thinking at one point that people have died from influenza. I understood the seriousness of it. This case of “the grip” had me wondering if I should go to the hospital. I think myself to be a strong and healthy woman, but I was no match for this “grip” thing. I remember starting to remind my husband where the important papers and life insurance documents were…you know, just in case. Eric smiled and quickly hushed me, as he put a cool rag to my head. I would doze, dream, and wake to be in the trees again.

Late Saturday afternoon, I began to feel a turn for the better—ever so slight, but a good turn. I was finally able to eat some toast and drink down some tea. Eric sat down on the bed next to me. He looked out the window and said, “I love looking out of the windows up here, it’s like being in the trees.

Sunday morning, nearly 48 hours after I got sick, Eric got the flu. Now he’s in the trees.

Ever get the flu so bad that you were just totally incapacitated? We're you ever left as weak as a kitten by an illness? Ever use an illness, or describe a sickness in your writing?  

Since Eric is “in the trees” - this week's The History Corner post will not be included in this post. It will be posted next week. He also is going to change the name of his posts to The Civil War Bivouac. Please visit next week for his post, along with my regular post.


Also, take care, there is a wicked flu monster on the loose out there. 

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree


29 comments:

Sandra Orchard said...

Oh Loree, how horrible. So glad to hear you've recovered and will pray for your hubby's speedy recovery! I remember a year my husband and I came down with it sooo bad at the same time and had three children under five. Thankfully, a dear family who'd already had it run through their house, kindly took in our children for a couple of days! Ugh, I wrote about the flu in one story, but not a book that's been contracted. :) Now, my heroines get shot at and poisoned and run down by cars. LOL

Anonymous said...

Oh, Loree! I'm so sorry you're ill! Our family takes flu shots faithfully each year, but this year, our son got a nasty case of the flu despite getting the shot. (He'd probably already caught it by the time he'd gotten the vaccine.) For five days, he ran a 104 degree fever, complete with body aches and chills--not a good thing when he was trying to do his student teaching.

Sometimes physicians can prescribe Tamiflu(though a bit costly) to counteract the duration of the flu itself. I believe you must be diagnosed within a two day period.

Sending you a hug and a virtual cup of hot tea with honey and lemon. Oh...and chicken soup. Be well! :)

Keli Gwyn said...

I'm sorry you were so sick, Loree, and that your hubby has the bug now. I hope you're both feeling 100% again soon.

Jeanette Levellie said...

SO sorry to hear this! Glad you are better this week, but how awful for Eric! I will pray a speedy recovery for him.

Cindy R. Wilson said...

I'm so sorry you got sick! That flu bug is a mean little creature. I hope your hubby feels better soon.

Melanie N. Brasher said...

Sorry you got sick, Loree! The line about people dying from influenza just jumped out at me. Wow, we take health for granted sometimes, don't we.

Mel

Cheryl Linn Martin said...

What a nasty journey, Loree! Glad you're feeling better, and at least you'll be able to totally sympathize with your husband.

I missed Christmas--a WHITE Christmas, even, because of the flu. My family went without me to my brother's house which is at a higher elevation, so they got to experience a very rare Pacific NW white Christmas--without me. : (

Brandi Boddie said...

Sorry to hear you caught the flu bug, Loree. Glad you're feeling better today. I'll pray for Eric.

I remember getting the flu multiple times each school year as a child. It would take me two weeks to feel better.

Get some rest and drink your hot liquids!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

I had a 24 hour bug last week, which was bad enough. A sinus infection followed on its heels. I'm grateful I didn't get the flu.

Hope you and your hubby are feeling better and can resume your normal activities soon.

Blessings,
Susan

Marji Laine - Faith Driven Fiction said...

So sorry your hubby is sick! I'm not sure which is worse, being sick myself or hubs being sick. (He's not "Sweet Hubby" when he's sick!) Glad you're feeling better! Love your trees!

Charlotte Brentwood said...

You poor thing! Hope you're back to normal soon.

Loree Huebner said...

Sandra: Thanks so much for the prayers! I love your heroines! LOL!

Cynthia: Loving the hot tea with honey and lemon...and the chicken soup...thanks!

Keli: Thanks. I'm feeling better, but Eric is still pretty weak.

Jeanette: Thanks for your prayers! So sweet!

Cindy: Thank you so much for your well wishes. It means so much...

Melanie: Welcome here! So nice of you to stop in! We really do take our health for granted sometimes.

Cheryl: I can't imagine having this kind of flu at Christmas. Thanks for your well wishes.

Brandi: Thanks for the prayers! I did go back to work today. It was rough. I'm still pretty weak. I just hope it doesn't take too long to feel back to normal. One nice thing is that I lost 5 lbs...lol.

Susan: I'm sorry that you weren't feeling well last week. Sinus infections are not fun. Feel better!

Marji: LOL..."Sweet hubby" did disappear when he got sick! Thanks for the well wishes! It means a lot.

Charlotte: You are so sweet. Thanks!

Thank you all for popping in!

V said...

Saw your twitter post. I hope you are feeling better today! :)

Sarah Forgrave said...

I had a nasty bug a couple weeks ago. No fun! I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, Loree, and hope your husband is on the mend soon.

Unknown said...

Aww, I'm so sorry to hear you were sick, and I'm praying for Eric's quick recovery. Having the flu is no fun. I think the last time I had the flu was back in '02, and yeah I'm a big whiny baby when I'm sick. Take good care of yourself and Eric!

Deana said...

So glad you are feeling better. It really is the worst feeling to be like that. I'm sorry, though, that Eric is down for the count now:(

Loree Huebner said...

Tori: I loved your get well tweet!

Sarah: Sorry you had a bug too. Feeling much better today.

Gwen: Thanks for the prayers! We're both feeling a lot better today. I admit, I was a bit whiny...and weepy while I was sick.

Deana: Eric is exactly 48 hrs behind me in the flu. He hasn't eaten normal foods yet, but I have. It's funny, I can't believe I feel good again.

Tori, Sarah, Gwen, Deana, thanks for stopping in!

Jessica R. Patch said...

So glad you are better and hoping Eric feels better soon! See that may be one perk I have since I don't write historical novels. I have no clue how serious anything is! :)

Two years ago my son had the flu, then my husband got it, and pneumonia, and then I got the flu at the same time. It was HORRIBLE. Friends brought us meals and took our kids to school.

And one year, I got mono. That was terrible! I couldn't move. And yes, I've used those experiences in my writing.

Jessica Nelson said...

Oh my goodness Loree, so sorry to hear about that yucky flu invading your house. :-(((
But happy you're on the mend.
I haven't had the flu since I was in high school. *crossing fingers*

Stacy Henrie said...

So sorry to hear you were sick! Hope you're both feeling all better real quick.

I do actually have a character in my WiP who gets the Spanish influenza.

Carol Riggs said...

Ugh, the flu. Love the tree photo though! What a nice view. Hope Eric is feeling better. I haven't gotten the flu that bad for years. Hope I don't!

I've read about character sicknesses but haven't written one. :)

Heather Sunseri said...

Don't kill me, but I'm not sure I've ever had the flu. I've been sick before, but never that week-long, can't move from the couch kind of illness. But I know people who have had it around here already this year. Feel better soon!!

Terri Tiffany said...

Oh Lorree--I once had the flu so bad, that like you, I was sure I was going to die. I have been getting the flu shot ever since just in case:) So glad you are improving!

Loree Huebner said...

Jessica P: Mono would be bad too. I've never had it.
You and your hubby were very blessed to have such good friends to take care of your kids while you were both down with the flu.

Jessica N: Yucky was an excellent way to describe it. You've been very fortunate not to catch the flu for a while.

Stacy: I'm interested to know what the difference is with the Spanish influenza?

Carol: Thanks. We are feeling much better as each day passes. I still get tired quickly.

Heather: You must have a super anti flu gene or something. I do know people who say they've never had it. I guess you build up a natural defense.

Terri: Thanks for your well wishes. At one point, I did think, if this gets any worse, I could be in trouble.

Jessica P, Jessica N, Stacy, Carol, Heather, and Terri, thanks so much for dropping by!

MTeacress said...

I'm terribly sorry you've been so sick. Yes, I've been that sick before. Miserable. Blah. At least you had an interesting view out the window. ;)

Loree Huebner said...

Steve: Thanks for the invite. I'll check it out.

Michelle: Blah and miserable are the perfect words for it.

Steve and Michelle, thanks for stopping in.

troutbirder said...

Ouch! "Run over by a truck" pretty well sums it up. Although since having retired I miss my students terribly, there are several good things to be said for the move. Not being cooped up in a small room in the winter with little fresh air means I dont have thirty children breathing, coughing, sneezing etc. on me. I haven't have a cold or the flu since..... :) Happy Holidays to you and Eric. We're off the Arizona to see the Grands.

Loree Huebner said...

trout: Have a great trip and visit with the Grandkids!

Anonymous said...

Sorry that you got sick. Hope you're feeling better now.