One Birthday & One Barfday

Today, I stood on the back porch wondering when the leaves on the tree behind our house grew thick and lush and how I missed it. Amidst the politics, the last minute errands of the art show, the poison gas cloud and the friends’ calls who wanted to talk about all the controversy during the last few weeks was hidden my birthday. I don’t remember exactly what we did that day. There was no Boston creamy-cake or hats like Ella wished for me, but she did sing and that was wonderful. I believe Dan had a public hearing that night and I asked Grandma to watch Ella for a few hours so I could sit in on it (for fun – yeah that’s right – for fun). I received some wonderful well wishes and notes from friends and family and we went out for gourmet burgers that Friday. Dan and Ella gave me a beautiful new book bag filled with lots of trashy summer paperbacks and I may finish the first tonight as I sit up with Ella. She has barfed no less than 6 times today and she’s having a difficult time keeping water down. Its midnight and I’ve been in the bathroom every two hours with her since 10 am this morning holding her hair back from her face and then the cleaning up and re-hydrating her. I figure she’s absorbing enough water in between pukes to keep her going but I’m calling the Doctor in the morning. Dr. B. will nod and agree it’s the flu and it needs to run its course. I will have chapped hands from washing them so often and Ella will never eat Pink Princess Cereal again.