Conversations With Hallee

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Little Hal has been sick.  Really sick.  She came down with a fever and a stomach ache last Wednesday and every day since has been filled with more fever, more stomach ache, some vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and then this morning she added a sore throat to the list.  Big bummer.  We've been hunkering down these past several days, cancelling all of our outings and gatherings and just being together in the house.  In a strange way, I've enjoyed it.  Instead of hustling here and there and doing this or that, I've been totally present in my home, spending large volumes of time reading and talking to my kids and caring for and snuggling and loving on Hal.  The poor girl has spent the past five days eating and drinking very little.  Her nickname IS Little and she has been getting littler and littler with each passing day.  This morning, with the addition of yet another symptom, I took her to our pediatrician.  I'd been consulting with my sister Mary (the nurse) and my brother-in-law Phil (the doctor), but I thought after this long I'd better have someone actually evaluate her in person.  Turns out the poor girl has an ear infection AND strep.  I feel HORRIBLE!!!  Anyway, she is on antibiotics now and hopefully will be well soon enough.  (At least in time for Christmas.)

So we were talking on her bed today--she snuggled under her comforter, me sitting on the edge of her bed, stroking her hair.  I mentioned to her that it's been five days since she's seen her animals.  (Normally she is out at least two times a day to care for them.)  She's been so sick that she's been in the house for five days straight (except to go to the doctor's office today).  Tears started dripping down her little face as she whispered in a pathetic quavering voice, "Nibblett . . . Nibblett . . . my Nibblett."  It was TRULY pathetic.  (Nibblett, by the way, is her favorite bunny.)  Then we had this choice conversation:

Hallee: I love Nibblett the most, then Dad, then Mom, then Tiger (her comfort item), then Uni (a pillow pet unicorn).

Me: What about DAD first, then me, then Sophie and Zeke and THEN Nibblett.

Hallee: No.  Nibblett is first.

Me: How did Nibblett get to be first?

Hallee: He's cute!

Me: Aren't I cute?

Hallee:  You are a grown-up.

Me: Can't grown-ups be cute?

Hallee: No.  But you ARE squishy.

What a comfort.  If I can't be cute, AT LEAST I can be squishy.

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