Thanks for your patience with the delay between posts. The blog was down last week and I had to spend some time online with a Very Smart Blog Person getting it fixed. I am hopeful the problem has been solved.
Last Wednesday night . . .
I was already in bed when Steve came crashing through the door in a state of agitation. Not quite at a full roar, he said, “I’m burning up! I’m freezing! My arms and legs are stiff! My stomach is upset. Everything hurts! It just started all of a sudden. I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” (Some of you may remember this post and know that I take his charging through-the-door events seriously.)
I got him into bed and at his request, piled on a few blankets while he shivered and shook uncontrollably. After a few minutes, he said, “This is probably the result of the shingles booster shot I got today.”
After doing a little Googling, I realized that was indeed what was going on. I gave some Motrin and eventually, he settled down and slept fitfully through the night.
The next morning before work, I made him an egg but he was shaking so badly he could barely eat it. I told him I could stay home but he told me to go on. I gave him specific instructions to check in with me frequently and let me know if he got any worse.
I texted him at 9:30. No reply. I texted him at 10 a.m. No reply. I called him at 11 a.m. No answer.
Now you have to know that Steve is never far from his phone. He reads the news and commentaries, he texts family and friends or listens to teaching and lectures on various subjects. It seemed highly unlikely to me that he hadn’t so much as glanced at his phone since I left the house at 7 a.m.
Since I wasn’t getting any response, I thought about leaving work to check on him but filling my front desk position on a busy workday is not an easy thing. (Although I knew my boss would let me go if I asked.)
Instead, I called Sarah to see if she and Gage might be able to drive over to our house. She said Gage was spending time with some friends but, once she told him the situation, he quickly cut that get-together short, detoured home to get Sarah and the two of them took off on the half hour drive across Charlotte. By that point, it was 11:30 and I was getting extra worried.
Sarah texted to let me know when they were about five minutes from the house; I told her to call me as soon as she arrived. And then . . . just a few seconds later Steve texted and said, “Sorry, I didn’t see your messages. I was asleep.
BIG sigh of relief.
I let Sarah know I had heard from her dad and she said they’d continue to the house to see if he needed anything and to spend some time with him. I so appreciated them dropping everything they were doing to check on him.
Many of Steve’s original symptoms have lasted several days; he has been downright miserable. He has eaten very little and has spent a lot of time in the bathroom, and many hours in bed. Today, though, it seems as though he has turned a corner and is starting to get some strength back.
I have to add that although it was a hard week for Steve, Tippi enjoyed it quite a bit. Whenever Steve threw the extra covers off onto the floor, Tippi was right there to take advantage of the unaccustomed comfiness.
to go watch the grandkids on Thursday so that Nathan could work. (Meagan was out of town for three days on a teacher’s retreat.) Obviously, that was no longer an option so on Saturday morning, I told Nathan I could come over for a few hours so he could get some of the work accomplished he wasn’t able to do Thursday. (He’s a contractor for Duke Energy and works from home.)
Part of my time there involved playing a rousing game of catch with Andrew. It was 180 degrees with 4000% humidity so not exactly my favorite weather. But hey, we grandmas will do anything for our grands!
We found a patch of shade under some slides and tossed a mini football back and forth for a few minutes. Football is definitely one of the areas of life in which I shine. (ha)
Of course, I had to take a few pictures of Andrew . . .
and he had to take some pictures of his grandma.
Instead of taking one or two and calling it a day, he took about thirty. That’s my boy!
After he had witnessed the unnerving sight of his grandma melting into a pool of grease on the playground sawdust, we decided it was time to go home and make macaroni and cheese for lunch. (The other kids were otherwise occupied so it was just Andrew and me for a while.)
Andrew got a stepstool so that he could be in a better position to supervise the operation. He was not short on opinions and obviously thought that there was no way I could possibly make this dish without his help.
As we started the cooking process he solemnly informed me that, “In our family, we use this pan” and “In our family, we put it on this burner,” and “In our family, we don’t use a lid when we make macaroni.”
When we finally got the macaroni to the table, he had a spoonful halfway to his mouth when I said, “Let’s pray over our lunch!” His spoon hung precariously midair while I said, “Dear Lord, thank you for our lunch. Amen.”
When I opened my eyes he fixed me with a mildly reproving glance and said, “In our family, we say more words when we pray.”
I giggled a little and didn’t have the heart to tell him that my prayer was extra short because his spoon was moving extra fast on its way to his mouth.
After lunch, we read The Jungle Book together. About halfway through, he got a blanket and put his blond head on my shoulder as he listened. Oh, the joy. He drifted away for a nap on the couch, while Nathan and I sat at the table for a quick lunch and conversation before I headed home.
As I pulled away, I thought about Andrew and his words, “In our family.” I loved his boyish confidence that he had the scoop on his family’s traditions and habits and I was grateful for his strong sense of self, and his strong sense of family.
Football, macaroni and cheese, The Jungle Book, a nap and a conversation. It was a good day . . . in our family.
What about you?
Have you ever had shingles? How about the vaccines? What was your experience? (Steve had shingles a few years ago and was not in favor of that happening again; this was his booster shot.)
Do you remember cooking things with a parent or grandparent?
What was your favorite book to have read to you as a child?
You are AWESOME for handling that humidity! I’ll be visiting NC in late September and hope it will be less than the current 4000% ! I love that your grandson loves to cook (supervise cooking) with you! That was one of my favorite things to do with my grandson when he was young. Now at 14 years young, he cooks a really good meal!
I had a mild case of shingles (half dollar size on my arm)…then when enough time went by I got the original vax. A few years later, I got another mild case ( quarter size on back), and then got the newer vaccine. So far so good. I did have an awful reaction to the vaccines and took 2-3 days to get through…still better than an active case of shingles no matter how small! It’s hit or miss with me on how my body reacts to any vaccine.
Guerrina,
Congratulations for helping your grandson be comfortable in the kitchen. Cooking is a basic skill that every person should have and you have equipped him well.
I’ve never had shingles but from descriptions like yours and Steve’s, I know they are tough to deal with. Even though the vaccines have their own set of side effects, 2 or 3 days is a lot better than the weeks/months shingles can last. I’m glad your vaccines are doing their thing!
Andrew, you are so cute! How wonderful to make mac and cheese together – from his point of view. My mother was a great cook but did not show any of girls how things were made, yet we all are pretty good cooks.
My favorite book “Little Black Sambo.” Now there was nothing about black and white to me, but what I looked towards the end was all that butter dripping down the sides of those pancakes and I thought he was so lucky to have them. I do have the book – although a little worn. My favorite secular books are now Nancy Drew – Hardy Boys are okay, but enjoy Carol Keene’s Nancy Drew. They also come in PC games.
So glad Steve is getting better. He doesn’t seem to need to lose any weight so hopefully he will be back to his “old” feisty self?
Sharyn,
Oh yes. Pancakes are one of my favorite things so I can see how that would be one of your favorite books!
I don’t know if I remember reading many Nancy Drew Books. I read that the first one came out in 1930 which is pretty amazing! They must be great to have stuck around that long.
Steve woke up with more stomach issues this morning so these symptoms don’t want to seem to leave him alone. Little by little . . . he should be back to his old feisty self. (Feisty is a fun word.) 🙂
I’m sorry Steve had such a severe reaction to his shingles booster. Fortunately, I’ve never had shingles (although I DID have chicken pox as a child). I did get my vaccine and booster because I had heard how bad they were and wPhen I got the original vaccine the nurse kinda scared me with all the warnings about possible side effects from the vaccine. I’m so thankful I didn’t really have any reactions.
I don’t remember “helping”, but I remember my grandma making homemade mac & cheese with chunks of colby cheese in the oven. At that age, I didn’t like cheese so she always made a bowl of the noodles with just butter for me.
And I think I may have mentioned it before, but beginning in 2nd grade, the Trixie Belden series was my favorite. Prior to that I was a big fan of the Bobbsey Twins.
I hope you ALL have a wonderful week!!
Sue Ellen,
I had forgotten all about the Bobbsey Twins until you mentioned them. I used to love those books!
Home mac and cheese with Colby in the oven? Oh my. Be still my heart. Nice of your grandma to leave out the cheese for you. 🙂
Those side effects warnings are a little scary; so glad you didn’t have to experience any of them.
Luckily I have never had a reaction to Shingles or Covid. I hear some people have awful side effects. Hubby and I both had 0.
Ellen,
Zero side effects is a VERY good thing!
I guess I was lucky. Among people I know, I’m pretty much the only one who had no side effects from the shingles shot and booster. I was told it could happen though. I wonder if having the “original” shingles shot many years ago may have had something to do with it? At any rate, I won’t complain. I’m glad Steve is feeling better!
Patricia,
Yes, those side effects are a tough deal, for sure! I’m glad you escaped them.
Steve is about 90% so we’re grateful for that after almost a week and of feeling poorly.
I had shingles 3 weeks after my second COVID vax. My PCP has been pushing me to get the shingles vax, even though she did say that the COVID vax has been known to cause shingles. I finally gave in a couple of months ago. Felt horrible, just like Steve, and my arm swelled up for a week. AND my awful insurance only covered half the cost, so I had to pay $340 out of pocket. I won’t be getting the second one! Ugh. I’m glad Steve is OK; does he plan to get the other one?
Pam,
After reading your comment I realized I hadn’t specified that this was Steve’s booster shot; he already had the first one. I added that info to the end of the blog.
What gets me was when they were giving him the shot, they never even mentioned that he could have some really troublesome side effects. That’s why we were caught a little off guard when they hit him so hard and so suddenly.
Sorry your insurance didn’t pay more on your vaccine. That’s disappointing!
I have had shingles once, and it was pretty horrible. I am allergic to most vaccines, so I am living on the edge there. I never had a Covid vaccine and still haven’t had Covid, so maybe I’ll dodge shingles again too.
I love how Andrew knows what his family does. That shows he pays attention and it’s important. I am the only person in my extended family who knows my grandma’s turkey stuffing recipe. We still stuff the turkey in our family. I love making it every year and I think of her telling me why she did certain things and showing me how to measure. Making memories with grandchildren is so important.
Lisa,
How cool that you have the stuffing recipe AND the memories of making it with your grandma. I know every year is special as you make it again with her voice in your head and her memories in your heart.
You’re right. Making memories together is so important as they accompany future generations all through their lives.
Poor Steve! I had a COVID booster last Friday and as usual had about 24 hours of being quite uncomfortable, but luckily I was able to sleep for about 12 of those hours. I have never had a shingles vaccine, but I did have what my doctor believed was shingles when I was 23. I had it only on my face, but it was not fun! I will definitely get the vaccine when I am old enough to qualify.
I cooked and baked everything under the sun with my grandma when I was growing up. We probably baked 200 batches of cookies over the years, and it was one of my favorite things to do. When I got married, a very generous family friend gave me a Kitchenaid mixer and informed me it was time I took up my grandma’s mantle of cookie-maker-extraordinaire. During WWII, my grandma organized the ladies in her neighborhood to start Operation Cookie Lift which sent boxes of homemade cookies to soldiers around the world. Grandmas are God’s best invention 🙂
Robin,
Operation Cookie Lift. I love it!
I can just imagine how those solders felt opening a box that smelled like home and carried with it so many memories of life back in the USA.
Glad to know you have put on the cooking baking mantle. Your grandma would be proud.
Glad all worked out. Yes, I had shingles and it was the worst. I got the shingles shot as soon as I was able. I had a similar reaction and was down for 3 days.
When my sister would be at her scout meetings, my mom would let me pick a new recipie to try. It was fun, even though some didn’t turn out.
I loved a book that I still have, about a white dog that got into a pile of coal, tar, and paint which turned her black. “Snowball” It even had real fuzz that you could feel for it’s fur.
Patti,
I used to love books that had items you could feel. Your description of Snowball makes me want to read it. Such a creative concept!
When you said the making new recipes was fun but some didn’t turn out, I had to smile. I’ve had plenty of recipes that haven’t turned out the way I wanted but it’s always a fun adventure to try something new. And to get to do it with your mom made it all the better.