Nurse Marko Nightingale

On Wednesday night I posted this status update on Facebook:

"The glamorous side of parenting: just spent the last 2.5 hours knee deep in puke, poop, ER appointments for twins, 2x pharmacies, (super expensive) medication, puke buckets, toilet disinfections, linen changes, multiple hand washes, 1x hyperactive 3 year old plus a husband who chooses this particular moment to suggest the reason why the 3 year old is so naughty is because I am too indulgent. Having a great time, wish you were here."

It's been a shitty week at Casa Albertyn, literally and figuratively.  Adam and Kate were hit by gastro this week.  On Wednesday night I had to take them to the ER doctor and by Friday Adam still wasn't better so it was back to the doctor for him with a short hospital stay.  Both of them are thankfully recovered. But it hasn't been fun.

Marko, bless his annoying, master-of-bad-timing little cotton socks, is not a great nurse.  It is because he doesn't like to be nursed or showered with TLC when he is sick. Weakness will not be tolerated! If he is sick he will go into the bedroom and lie there, not talking or eating for 7 days until he is better*.  Me, I prefer a little bit of TLC and if not, perhaps just a smidgen of help. 

Yesterday the bug finally caught up with me - despite me washing my hands a million times a day, there was no escaping the body fluids that emanated from the kids this week (it hasn't been pretty).  So I was feeling really grotty and Marko wasn't exactly being soft and gentle.  In fact, I don't think anyone has ever used either of those words when speaking about Marko ever but you know - a little softness would be nice.

So I eventually snapped at him and told him that he must try to dig REALLY deep and see if he can actually be soft and kind.  If he thinks it is at all possible. Maybe just for like a second. 

I got to the bedroom later and saw that he had tidied the room, made the bed and laid these things out on the pillow for me - meds, iPad and aircon remote - all the things to make me feel better.  (My slippers were next to the bed).  I had to laugh.  This is Marko being soft and gentle. I'll take it. What a great nurse.

The Father Christmas? That is Marko being Marko, saying "I will be sweet, but I am not going to stop teasing you even if you are sick and a little grumpy". Actually, if those were his words he would remove the word 'little'. 

*When we first met, I took great offense to how he fobbed me off when I tried to nurse him. The first time he got sick, I made a bed by the TV, I made him tea, offered to make him toast, put a glass of water next to him, a bucket etc and I kept asking him if he was ok and whether I could do anything for him. He eventually told me to just leave him alone and he will get better shortly. I was so hurt.  TLC and nursing are clearly not his love languages. 

Comments

[Sharon]

Marko is sweet and you are very patient. Sending feel-better wishes.

[Melany de Bruyn]

Ag Shame. He did try ;)

[stefanie]

You have a remote for your air condition?! So not fair. Hope you are all better!

[Alexicographer]

Oh no. I'm so sorry so many of you have been sick, glad Kate and Adam are recovered. And Marko's comment about the LO: good grief! All that said, I am Marko and my DH is you, so I (slightly) feel Marko's pain except that recently my DH was sick and I was all, "get over it!" and then *I* caught what he'd had. Often this pattern involves him being MISERABLE for WEEKS and me having a runny nose for a couple of days, but not this time, and rather than being a jerk (as I deserved) he was really sweet, kept our kindergartener out of my hair and even brought me flowers while I recuperated. I felt guilty!

Hope all are 100% at your house soon.