Horizonto. I've been struck by a case of Horizonto.
Technically it's called Vertigo, when one experiences dizzyness that comes with a misperception of motion, coupled by nausea and vomiting. At one point while hugging the toilet I have a brief flashback to the days of morning sickness. Oh joy.
It came out of nowhere. From a loss of voice one day after work, to a sudden headache to extreme tiredness and finally a fever. The only thing that was constant throughout was my need to remain horizontal. Thus, Horizonto.
Yesterday was tricky. Poppy cried when I told her she couldn't go for a play date at her friend's house because I couldn't even get out of bed. Which meant I could even stand straight. Except to half walk, half crawl to the toilet to throw up.
In the end I gave in and somehow managed to get everyone dressed and out of the house and stumble into a taxi without puking. Thankfully Poppy's friend's dad gave Calla and I a ride home or I'm pretty sure I would have fainted by the roadside.
Unsympathetic though my girls are to my situation ("Mama you're not sick!""Mama you're not cold! Come play!"), they were kind enough to allow me to be horizontal for most parts. In exchange I had to let them jump around me on the bed and bear loud songs from their music player (because why have a music player when it can't play at volume 10, right?) while I drifted in and out of light sleep. And the construction from the neighbours nearby? It sure helped. Not.
I flitted through sleep and strange dreams as one usually does when a fever strikes. Through burning eyes I looked at them when forced. When I couldn't ignore them further I had to nod or smile through the invisible force squeezing my temples together.
I'm thankful that they did not get up to much mischief, and that the moment my husband could take over, he did. But above all, I'm so thankful that this struck now when the kids are older and can occupy themselves, as opposed to when they were babies and were more reliant on me. Come to think of it, this is probably my first big illness since the kids were born. I suppose it's my body's way of saying "Right, I've waited long enough".
The week isn't turning out to what I had intended it to be. We were supposed to go out and play with water balloons, suss out fake snow, buy new shoes, expel energy. But instead I'm stuck home and playing catch up with the Advent Calendar (this morning I woke up to Poppy's face in mine "Mama, do you think you could fill yesterday's pocket of the Advent Calendar later please?".
In any case, I'm on the road to recovery though the prospect of loud noises and bright sunlight doesn't appeal to me for now. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my cave.
