Chicken Soup

Little Sister's grumpiness has blossomed into full-fledged sickness. Her coughing at night has finally made her sweet little voice turn hoarse, and I can tell by looking in her eyes that she feels as awful and wiped out as she sounds.

We kept her home from school yesterday as a precaution, but tonight she will stay home from church as a necessity. Though she still has no fever and her nose is actually running clearer than it was, it's obvious she is not feeling any better.

It was obvious this morning, when she fussed and wandered aimlessly around the house, wearing Ariel dress up clothes over her pjs, with her baby in one hand. Finally, I sat her in the recliner hoping she would rest and watch Sesame Street. On any other day, she would have been back out of the chair and into everything before I could even turn around to leave the room. But today, she just sat there, looking pitiful.


It was also obvious when I tried to put her down for a nap at 10:15. She had slept in until almost 8 this morning, which is nearly unheard of in our house, so I thought it was a bit early for a nap. And I was right. But that didn't stop her from snuggling on my shoulder and rocking for a while. I actually think it helped her to feel a little better- stopping like that for some TLC. When we returned downstairs to play a few minutes later, she had a little more patience and focus than before.

Since she was feeling bad (and since I have to go to the grocery store pretty badly) I decided we would all have chicken noodle soup for lunch.

Little Sister didn't actually eat much of it- she preferred the random assortment of raisins, dried cereal, pieces of PB&J, and whatever else I offered in an attempt to get her to eat something. But to me, it was comfort food.

"Mmmm. I like this soup*." I said aloud, hoping to encourage Big Sister to eat it.

"I like it too! You make the best chicken noodle soup." She answered.

Knowing that all I did was open a familiar red & white can and add some water, I felt I needed to be honest with her. "Naw. It came from a can. I didn't really make it." I confessed.

Without missing a beat, she replied, "I know. But you had to open the can & heat it up. You do that the best."

Umm... thanks?



*I should have said "Mmmm... noodle soup!" PLEASE tell me you get that reference.