When Mama's sick

I was sick all weekend: fever, aching lower back, and torn up stomach.  I'm a "get things done" person, so it was really hard to only be able to lay on the couch for what seemed like forever.  (Guess I needed a lesson in patience.)  My stomach is still a mess this morning, in spite of my repeated taking of charcoal and ginger but thankfully the fever and aching is gone and I can sit in a chair.  Yay!

As I slept off and on, the past two days, it struck me, just how dramatically the atmosphere of the house changes when mom is down and out.  (I don't think I'm making this up just to feel more important.)  Solomon would come and stare at me, puzzlement on his face.  When I went to bed early he came and looked at me and burst into tears.  Hunter, my compassionate child, frequently put his hand on me and said "Oh poor Mama!  I feel so bad for you!"  Several times he grabbed my hand and said "Let me pray for you" and then proceeded to lead the sweetest prayers for my healing.  Tabby grilled me often on my symptoms, trying to judge if any improvement had happened.  Yesterday evening, Frank said exhaustedly "Sunday is NOT a day of rest if you have little boys."  I so appreciated everyone helping out when I couldn't.

Up until this weekend, I have had several productive weeks of painting rooms inside our house.  I really don't like painting very much, but have been so pleased with the results.  One of my favorites has turned out to be our laundry area.  It was a pinky whitish color and is now green:

I painted a side table the same color as I painted our dining room.  I just LOVE it:

Last month, Solomon helped me pick mint and then we packed it into a jar and filled it with Vodka.  Every day we dutifully shake it.  By the end of the month, we will have homemade mint extract:

After Frank built bookcases for our living room, he started building a tree house.  Solomon loved "helping":

Much to my amusement, Sherlotta spent a lot of time hanging out by the tree house and watching:

Last week, we received a birthday present in memory of Lilly from Cassie.  Cassie also made a picture collage, compiling several pictures of her little sister Hannah and Lilly, both wearing the same outfits.  We were so very touched by this beautiful gift.

Speaking of Cassie, Solomon has enjoyed wearing the hobbit cloak that she made last year for Hunter:

Ok that's enough.  Time to go lay down.  :(