It is rare to see X sitting completely still at almost ten o’clock in the morning. He is a mover, a shaker, a child who doesn’t sit still. Oh, he can be intent on a task and stick with it, but his body and mind are always moving. He is energy, personified.
This morning, I had the first hints that he wasn’t feeling like himself. He complained of being cold. I figured he was just waking up and had crawled from his warm bed, finding the air in the house chilly after his nest. I helped him get dressed, suggesting sweatshirts to help him stay warm. He declined all offers, deciding to wear just his Spiderman t-shirt and a pair of jeans.
I went to take my shower after helping him get dressed. When I came out, he was curled in a ball behind my cheval mirror. He knows he’s not supposed to play near it. So, I coaxed him out of his corner, and asked him why he was there. He said he was just sitting there, listening to the fan in the bathroom. X, just sit there listening to white noise? That is not like him.
He was eager to go to the library for story time, but we still had an hour before we could leave. Over his t-shirt he layered on a turtleneck, a sweatshirt, and a windbreaker. I thought he was getting ready to go outside, but instead he told me he was just very cold. Our heat is set to sixty nine. Is it that cold in the house? I’m usually the one who feels the cold the most and it feels fine to me.
As I made a check on email, he lay down on the couch. He is still there now; just laying there. He doesn’t want to watch television, he doesn’t want to look at books. He doesn’t even want me to read him a book. He just wants to lay there, in a half doze. He says that nothing hurts -not his throat, not his head, nothing. Just his nose is runny, he tells me. And he’s cold.
He has turned his energy inward. All of that vital movement stilled as his body works to feel better. I wish there was more I could do for him than just offer medicine and drinks.
February 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm - Edit
My oldest son has been super-kinetic since before he was born, and I always worry when he stops moving. That’s when I know he’s really sick.
Hope yours gets better soon.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pm - Edit
Poor kiddo.
Both my kiddos are like that. They are perpetual motion, so when they stop.. I know something’s wrong.
You have a great style.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:11 pm - Edit
Thanks for stopping by geekmomand rachel. It’s so rare he gets sick enough to stop moving, so it is a little worrying.
Thanks for the well wishes!