Sick day

March 7, 2013

Joao’s BIRTHDAY!

We are all farting around today watching movies, futzing on the internet, listening to podcasts, warding off the flu and monitoring the clothes washer. In this damp climate, overcast skies, things hung on the line will take days to dry. Vomit remnants on the comforter, sheets, throw pillows, rags, towels, clothes…parents remember those days! Theo caught a nasty virus from some nineish year old and kept the household awake, yes, even Pipo, the dog since we ended up at the Hospital for intravenous fluids. While De and I nodded off in the dark Children’s Ward, Theo slept and replaced his lunch and dinner with liquids thru a tube. 

The nearly scoreless Corinthians soccer game was on so I glued myself to the legal-paper sized static tv in the lobby along with several dozen other ailing patients and their attentive partners. Wrapped in muted sweatshirts, second-skin jeans, Havaianas (infamous flip flops) practical hooded jackets, tight stretch pants, thin cotton tops with accessories of lumps, bumps and bruises, we all patiently awaited our turn with the doctor. No blood spilling, no yowls of pain, no joints popping out of gaping holes-how disappointing! Sent Theo home with anti-nausea meds and a plastic trash bag to wrap around the soiled towel.

Had to cancel my much anticipated trip into town to collect my last minute gifts and mingle with the natives. Shoot. I stuck around to administer tangy popsicles, offer plain white rice, chilled Gatorade, salted crackers and skinned apple slices. Will head out to the center of town by bus, first thing in the morning. It has been an adventure to locate a Santos futebol t-shirt let alone one that has a favored Neymar #11 on the back. More popular are the misspelled or grammatically incorrect English words and phrases on a slim-fitted tank. One of the stars on the novella had a black tight t-shirt that read “Batman goes burzerk!”

Beef Stroganoff (skipped over since I got an extra salty fried egg,) white rice, French fries and greens with slices of papaya for lunch and I am looking forward to the chocolate cake for dinner! Thus far, no signs of the dreaded lurking virus.