Sick for the holidays

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Sick for the holidays
2
Thu, 12-23-2004 - 10:21am

oh, no...............I have a virus....I am sick in time for the holidays....I am so upset!!!!! Maybe not so upset that I am feeling so ill, but that if I don't work, I don't get paid. And this week and next week are short one day each because of the days off for the holidays, so I knew I was going to be shorted a day each pay period, but I didn't expect to lose 2 days to illness, too. And as we all know, this is the part of the year that stresses our finances the most. In addition to holiday gifts, I also have all those bills due 1/1/05. Well, the good thing is that I did make an effort to SAVE in my emergency fund enough money to pay January's rent, so at least I don't have to worry about that, but I'm just going to be running a bit short the next 2 pay periods......I was trying to get ahead just a bit, but....now I'm just breaking even again. I have to pay my CC bill in a couple days, too, and I just feel like I'm going to be just keeping my head above water again.

Well, I suppose this strengthens my resolve to keep saving in my emergency fund and to keep trying to forge ahead.

Littlesbigs

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 12-23-2004 - 11:15am

This happened to me last year! I wasn't working, so it didn't affect us very much financially (except for the emergency room costs associated with a sick child while out of town--but that's a whole other story). But, I was pregnant with ds #2, and I was completely incapacitated for two weeks, toward the end of which I began to show symptoms of pneumonia (when this began, we started a rigorous home-based naturopathic remedy that began showing results within hours--again, another story! LOL). Before beginning the remedy, I didn't eat anything for two weeks, and actually lost 5 pounds (note, I was in my third trimester, so weight loss was not exactly on my agenda). Additionally, we were visiting family and had to make the five-hour trip both directions while sick, not to mention that ds #1 was not up to holiday festivities, since he had the same thing I had, and the entire extended family got all worried and bent out of shape, especially because we choose minimal and alternative therapies for our family in most situations, a course of action which many of the extended family soundly disapproved of (though the doctor we eventually took ds to in an effort to assuage concerns basically told us what we already knew--that we just needed to wait for the illness to run its course and that ds's body was fighting the virus quite well on its own. He told us this for about $130--urgh!), so we had to deal with those tensions as well.

Anyway, it was miserable, and I am counting myself blessed for every day nearing Christmas that I remain well this year! I'm so sorry to hear that you are feeling sick, and I hope for you that it is nothing like what I had last year, and that you are feeling well and back at work in days.

Healing vibes coming your way!

Blessings,

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Sat, 12-25-2004 - 3:54pm

Dear Heather and friends,

I am still sick, but I am in a holiday mood nonetheless! I've been battling a fever for the last 3 days, finally today it broke, but I have severe laryngitis, practically have to shout to be heard, but now I am home alone and really enjoying it....I just wanted some time to myself today, well, being so sick, no one wants to come over, so I am ENJOYING time to play with my crafts, the computer, and I can eat all the food! My SO has promised me Christmas next weekend which is just fine with me! I'll even wait for my gifts, too.....

I went to church last night which was nice, but tried not to spread the germs, then saw my family this morning, and now I am happy home alone. There were important reasons to see the family this morning....SO kept telling me to stay home and rest, but I am sure that there are thousands of you out there who KNOW that there are certain peiople in the family who HAVE to act on the holiday ***no matter what*** so that everyone has a nice holiday. (We know who we are!) Dragging my butt out 150+ miles round trip this morning was worth it for a lot of reasons....it did not help my voice or virus, but it did my spirit good.

This holiday for my family was low key and fun....the gifts were sentimental and low-cost, the food was fun..........it was a very modest Christmas, and I can tell you I know no one had bought anything with a credit card or was worried about missing a car payment because of their shopping. Everyone got little gifts that were delightful, and we all declared it was one of the best holidays ever. We are going low-key and silly from now on. (Next year is at my house....I'd better start cleaning now!)

I hope your holiday has brought you peace and some great memories! All I want is my voice back!

Peace, Littlesbigs