Thursday, February 24, 2011

Brief update

Hi folks:

Patrice here. I cannot even begin to thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. Don's delicate reference to being "under the weather" hardly touches on how ill I've been with the flu. I can honestly say I haven't been this sick in a decade. I've been melded to the upstairs couch (which became an unofficial sickroom) for the past four days, alternating between bone-chilling fevers and drenching sweats. I've had nothing to eat since Sunday night except a little yogurt to swallow down the ibuprofen/acetaminophen combo that knocks the fever down to manageable levels (for awhile).

Don and the girls have been stupendous, pitching in on all the housework and barn chores, especially in light of the amount of snow we've received this week which (at the moment, until someone can plow our road) has us snowed in. I'm blessed to have such a wonderful family. Thankfully everyone else seems to have escaped the flu, perhaps in part because I've been isolated upstairs.

Needless to say I'm miles and miles behind on my emails. Please be patient, I don't yet have the brainpower to read anything. (Don's been posting blog comments but I haven't read them yet - he's been telling me about them.) I'm not over this by any stretch and expect it will take me a few more days to feel anything approaching normal. In fact, after I post this it's back on the couch because I'm weak as a kitten.

But I wanted to take a moment to thank you all. Your kind wishes and prayers mean so much.

23 comments:

  1. Praying you are feeling better sooner rather than later. Sounds like a nasty flu!

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  2. Dear Patrice, I as usual got it exactly backwards. I didn't send anything thinking you'd be buried in emails, and I wanted to be the hero, and not add to the pile. But, now, having a TINY little tad of something, AND having spent my life alone I NOW realize -- I hope not TOO, TOO late -- how important hearing from one's friend's is. So, I pray that you will soon feel better, and become un-stuck -- great old word "meld" -- from the couch, and rejoin the living!

    We LOVE You!!
    Bill Smith

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  3. You need more vitamins, LOL, as most mothers would say......stay hydrated, that's important, cuz dehydration is NOT fun at all......

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  4. no matter what kind of flu it is always nasty...but you will be back on your feet in no time....

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  5. Patrice,
    Hope you feel better soon! I love your blog, read it daily, but have enjoyed your hubby's posts, he's a hoot.
    Mary B in GA

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  6. All we care about is you getting better! Now just get better then drag it out 2 more days so you can have a little vacation from being sick, then gradually get back into the groove!

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  7. What Bill says.

    Welcome back!


    Steve Davis
    Anchorage, Alaska

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  8. Glad you're finally on the mend, Patrice. Yeoldfurt and I both had it (consecutively, not together, thank goodness!) and it has hung on for almost three weeks now. We both missed 3-5 days of work and are still fighting the coughs and congestion. We are just grateful to finally be feeling this much better!

    I'm glad the family pitched in to do your chores. Not in the least surprised, but glad you have that support group. Now take it slow until you get your strength back!

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  9. Patrice, so sorry you have the flu. I avoid people this time of year so I won't get it. How do I avoid them? Bad breath, stinky feet, and an absence of deodorant - works every winter!

    While you've been sick, I've been keeping track of the good news so I could pass it along to you. Here's a list of the good-news stories that have been reported within the past week:



    Yep, that's the whole list. Impressive, isn't it??!!

    Get well soon. But don't rush it, we can wait.

    Anonymous Patriot
    USA

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  10. Save the Canning JarsFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    Patrice,
    The old retired nurse in me remembers that the flu has a rather lengthy incubation period (as long as 14 days IF I remember right) so the days ahead will tell whether Don and the girls have escaped this. At this point it's cover when you cough, good hand washing, disinfecting the phone, door knobs, spraying a little Lysol, making sure the kleenex hit the trash can, and most importantly, pleading the blood of Jesus over everyone!

    We're battling something similar, so having to take my own advice.

    May God's mercy, peace, healing, and grace cover you all!

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  11. Patrice, I also "ditto" what Bill said. Prayers for your speedy recovery and thanksgiving for your wonderful family.
    Lisa/dragonfly.garden

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  12. Get well prayers from me too. You are blessed to have such a great family that lets you rest. Don is good at "holding down the fort" with the blog. Take care.

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  13. Patrice my prayers go out to your speedy recovery. I suffered the same bout last week, and my loving husband took good care of me. Rest is the best medicine, and you will soon be up and running just take it easy!

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  14. So glad you are feeling better.Wanted to also let you know I enjoyed your Tatler article in the new Countryside.

    Richard

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  15. Hey Patrice,
    There's no great loss without some small gain. My daughter had a terrible flu at Christmas and lost 9 pounds! She couldn't eat much for a week! She was already a stick, too. There's a homemade Gatorade recipe you might like to try from "101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care." It's: 1 level teaspoon of salt, 8 level teaspoons of sugar, and 1 liter of clean water. Optional: add 1/2 cup fruit juice, such as apple juice. My daughter is now taking Ensure Plus and is much better. Hope and pray you get well soon!
    K in OK ><>

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  16. Oh dear! Patrice, I am so very sorry to hear how dreadfully you've been feeling of late. I had the flu not long ago, for only about a day and a half, and I couldn't believe how miserable I was--I'd rather give birth than have to go through that again. I remember thinking, "I can't believe that I'm so sick, I can't even SLEEP." ugh!

    Glad to hear you are slowly but surely on the mend. I am looking forward to having you back, I've missed you. :) Many Thanks to Don for holding down the fort while you've been out; and thanks, too, to your dear girls, for being such a blessing to their Mom and Dad.

    With prayers for a speedy recovery,
    Birdy

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  17. Oh my. I had heard that this year's flu is a booger. Sounds like you have gotten all of the bugs and given them a place to party!! Goodness. Sure hope you are feeling better soon. It is so not fun being sick!! And blessings on your precious family that they might stay healthy while they are taking up the slack!!

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  18. Patrice, stay on the couch and let your body get better. I have no doubt your family will gladly take care of things. When someone you love is sick, the only thing you want is for them to get better. Take care of yourself; you will be shoveling cow poo soon enough!!

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  19. You are in my prayers for your quick healing

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  20. Patrice,
    It is good to hear from you. I hope you are getting all the rest you need. This year's strain of flu has been especially nasty.
    I look forward to reading your posts. Your husband's contributions have been hilarious, as he fills in for you. I hope you are feeling 100% again soon.

    Judy V.

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  21. Hope you feel better soon!

    Here's a hydration tip that works as well as an IV in our experience:

    Rub oil on your belly, back, and thighs (olive oil is fine) and then sit in a warm bath, submerged, for 20 minutes. The oil helps your body absorb large amounts of water in a short period of time, directly into the tissues that need it. You can add a mineral rich tea to the bath water as well. (Like alfalfa or oatstraw.)

    You'll be amazed at how quickly this breaks a fever, cuts down on aches and pains, and just generally makes you feel better.

    I searched for years to find something other than Tylenol to deal with kid's fevers... this is it!

    God bless, and get well soon.

    Ruby

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  22. Get well Patrice you are loved out there and I for one am worried about Don having to do it all. I am kidding. I know you will be up and running soon. With a circle of support like you have it would be like a vacation to sick. Later

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  23. Hi Patrice,

    I've been reading your articles on WND for years now. My personal experience with flu's are to get olive leaf extract with an eyedropper, drop in 30 drops into 4 oz. of any kind of milk
    (I prefer Rice Dream) 3 times/day. Ask a nutritionist or hemeopathic person and find out the wonders of this remedy that help me get cured quickly every time....Peter from New York

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