The pattern of our life hasn’t been the most exciting recently.  Butterfly was sick, then Ladybug.  then Butterfly.  Then Ladybug.  Then Butterfly.  Then….well, hopefully you’ve been able to figure out what the pattern is by now.  Last night, our beautiful pattern of sickness and health was shattered to bits.  Kelley decided that she wanted in on the action so she gobbled up a stomach bug as fast as she could.  Right about the time the girls were drifting off to sleep, Kelley began her fast roll downhill.  I knew she was sick when she decided just to sleep on the couch.  She never lets me have the bed to myself.

As the sun rose, Kelley wasn’t feeling much better, so I started making some calls.  Two contracts at work needed immediate attention, a midterm was scheduled for this evening, and an important meeting was on the calendar for Thursday morning which meant preparations were required.  Geez, how thoughtless of my wife to get sick at a time like this.  Now I was forced to stay home from this high-pressure situation and tend to my girls’ every need.  How would I make it?

The girls have preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so my first order of business was to get them ready.  I don’t know how Kelley normally does this, but I spent the better part of 30 minutes chasing Ladybug between rooms.  I would have been frustrated, but her squeals of delight every time I caught her softened me quite a bit.  As we walked out the door, Kelley gave her clearest sign yet that she wasn’t well.  She didn’t even take the girls upstairs to change them out of the clothes that I put them in.  Wow…I might better call the emergency room.

After dumping them off for some learning, I ran down to the office to crank out some work.  About three hours late, I met the girls as their classes were letting out.  I was entranced with tails of crafts and games.  We shared a healthy lunch of fried chicken, french fries, and buttery toast (thanks, Zaxby’s!), and then settled down for rest time.  Ladybug napped, Butterfly watched a movie, and I hammered out some e-mails that made it appear like I was still in the office.

The rest of the afternoon, I basked in the joy that my daughters bring.  We shared laughs, giggles, tickles, runs down store aisles, ice cream, and even some songs.  What I was given was far more valuable than the hugs and kisses that I received…though those were much appreciated.  I started this week with a lot on my list that I needed to accomplish.  If I go back in tomorrow, that list will still be sitting there, waiting to be checked.  The time with my daughters, however, will have slipped off into the past.  I am sorry for my wife and her sickness, but I am truly thankful for the time that I got to spend with my girls.  I might have to start taking sick days a little more often.