17 Days

17 school days. That was all it took for my generous first graders to pass along their germs. I am officially sick. Ugh. It started as a tickle in the throat Saturday night. It progressed to a full blown sore throat by Sunday. And today, my voice was shot by lunchtime. Lovely. There's nothing more difficult than trying to communicate to a room full of children when you have no voice.

Unless it's trying to communicate to your own child when you have no voice. Poor Violet. Things have been awfully quiet around here since I picked her up this afternoon. It's sounded a bit like this: "Mommy... mommy... mommy... MOMMY...!" Me, trying to get eye contact so I can show her I'm listening. She rambles on about whatever, while I nod enthusiastically. Repeat.

Tomorrow should be a real joy.

Normally I'd be heavily medicating right now with a self prescribed cocktail of mucinex and sudafed with a little claritin thrown in for good measure. Pregnancy has whittled my list of medications down to cough drops, hot tea with lemon and honey, and tylenol when I feel desperate. None of which are clearing my head or bringing my voice back.

What happens if you have a baby when you're sick? You try not to breath on the kid? You're magically cured because your body recognizes you have way bigger priorities?

And speaking of counting the days, here's the latest rundown for those of you keeping score at home.
3: days until the attempted flip
16: days until the full moon
24: days until I'm officially due

Lest you think the only thing my students are generous with are their germs, exhibit a: a new backpack for V from one of my sweet girls. Violet has not put it down since I gave it to her.