Building Beatty Immunity One Feverish Battle at a Time

Little report from the battlefield of Virus versus Beatty kid: We've got a feverish five year old with his GFS one on one interview at 10:45 in the morning. He's been sluggish and pukey since Wednesday morning. Doctor says that day 3 is always the proving day, if he shows an improvement, it's probably viral, no biggy. If he worsens by day 3, he should come in to be seen.

Tried to spend good couch time with him today. Read: Ant Bully, Bread and Jam for Frances (one of my faves), Fireflies among other books. When I picked up a catalog to read as he dozed in my arms, he woke up and said, "Mom, don't you think you are reading too many of those and your brain is going to shrink?" Wow. I set the Garnet Hill down and shushed him back to sleep biting my lip and laughing. He let me hold him, such a beautiful little gift to me, to have such a big boy sleep in my arms, us waiting together for the fever to break. It was so gratifying to hold him as the sweat mercifully began to form on his brow. I have no doubt now: doing visceral service yields a wider aperture for my heart. Receiving hot and fresh bedding from the dryer anew. Refilling the humidifier, liberating a small girl from her tights worn all day, even filling the dustpan with all the crumbs and paper scraps of the day can have a redemptive effect on my heart, which is prone to vanity and inordinate self-regard. Threw a Bell and Evans roaster in my red goose pot with sweet potatoes, russets, carrots, celery and 3 hours later, we had a beautiful dinner and I wanted to just be down on the floor doing sketches of a Robin costume with Benici. Tomorrow, the chicken will be soup-ammo for my little soldier-liberators.

More later on the GFS decision and other news from the Germantown Chapter of the Virus Liberators. All we are saying is give clear fluids a chance!!