When he became a father, Stewart’s inner artist emerged. He drew elaborate space-scapes in chalk on the patio for Kyle, created beautiful vistas with crayon and paper, and, every Halloween, carved the most intricately scary or goofy jack-o-lanterns out of the most ordinary pumpkins.
This Halloween, however, it’s up to Mom.
Stewart has been sick with a cold for about a week. I thought he was making a comeback yesterday evening, so I left him and the boys alone, heading out to dinner with a group of friends. When I returned, the house was all a’shambles: mac & cheese coagulating on the stovetop, toys and remote controls strewn about, a candle still lit when nobody was downstairs (an absolute no-no in this family that includes a wary firefighter). When I walked in, Kyle padded downstairs in his Halloween pajamas, eager for company. At only 9:15 PM, Stewart and Brady were sound asleep, and nobody had put Kyle to bed.
This was, the way Ming-Ming from WonderPets would put it, “see-wee-ous.”
The first thing Stewart said to me this morning was “I want to go to the doctor.” In man-speak, that means he’s really sick. Luckily, our friend was able to come over and watch the kids this SUNDAY morning while I brought Stewart to Urgent Care, where he was diagnosed with…wait for it…
Pneumonia.
Yes, folks, this can be yours too, if you act now and ignore your cold and go to work anyway, for days on end, with nary a medication in sight.
Anyway. Now he has antibiotics and an inhaler and I even got him some OTC sleeping meds so he can rest. He is as close to a zombie this Halloween as a healthy man can get. So I am left to carve the pumpkins, an annual ritual he has so enjoyed. They’re not terribly intricate or artsy, but they glow when lit within by a candle, and the kids like them. That’s enough, right?
Now, excuse me while I go chug a glass of water and Airborne. Because if Mama gets sick, this whole dog and pony show shuts down for real.
Hang in there. You done good Mama!
Good grief, m’lady…this is the best advertisement for “Go the F*ck to the Doctor” I’ve ever read! I like your pumpkins very much, and hope that Stewart’s malady soon ends. Sigh.
Hey, you did a good job! And the boys are happy, what more can you ask for?
Hope Kyle was not upset being “alone” in the house.
Good thing you’re a good writer, stick with your day job young one. Those pumpkins are kinda…sad. lol ;P Guess it fits the Prince house mood?
Don’t get sick, too many people would run around like chickens with their heads cut off if you went down and out. xoxo
I feel like an ass for the above comment. I was just trying to razz you a little bit, but now in light of everything that has happened in the last couple of weeks I hereby retract my razzing! xoxo