This is a first. You're helping me write a letter. You're sitting on my lap, chewing on your thumb and trying to get comfortable. Perhaps this is your creative process.
You can't quite sit up on your own... whoa, there you go. You almost landed your face on the keyboard just now. You still have a bobblehead like balance, leaning to and fro and eventually finding center. You also like to act as if you're on an invisible elliptical machine, pedaling your hands and feet in the air like you're targeting a calories per hour rate. That's making the typing a little slow on my end.
I'm feeling a lot better than just hours before. This has been an exceptionally challenging last 24 hours as your Mom and I caught the same stomach bug at the same time! We're used to you spitting up all the time. Your Mom and I, not so much.
The stomach bug came out of nowhere. I was up in Bellevue yesterday morning for a conference and your Mom was home with you and Eliza, like usual. She sent me a text with all the sickness emojis mid-morning, so I turned around to head home. On the hour-long drive, I realized I wasn't feeling well either and actually took surface streets the last 10 miles so I could pull over if needed. I barely made it into the house before tossing my cookies. I'm down about 10 lbs. over the last day. The only upside is I can start to see my abdomen definition again.
Usually, when one parent is sick you can rely on the other, but in this case we were pretty much screwed, trading trips to the bathroom. We did what every parent does and turned on the TV to maintain the peace. Eliza watched a record 12 hours of TV and movies yesterday. If she blames us for any academic failures in the future, she can start there.
Side note: You got bored and fussy watching me type, so I handed you off to Mom.
At your age, you don't care much about screens so you were much easier to manage though our sickness. You have been bothered by a head cold the last couple days and it makes me sad to hear your little cough trying, unsuccessfully, to get the gunk out.
I can't remember being as sick as I have this last year. I hear that I should expect to be sick until you kids are in high school, so this must be the start of it.
Your Nonno, a renown germophobe, used to pester about washing hands and could sometimes be seen bleaching door handles. I totally get it now. Your Mom was spraying diluted bleach all over the house earlier today.
My advice to you, young man, is to keep your body and mind healthy when you get older. Wash your hands. Don't pick you nose or touch your eyes. Stay home when you're sick and rest. Floss your damn teeth (when they come in eventually). Make time to exercise and stay in shape. You're off to a good start with the invisible elliptical. Do yoga. Meditate and/or pray. Find quiet time. Make time for sleeping and midday naps -- you're off to a great start with those.
Take care of yourself and you will be more able to take care of others. Your Mom and I are getting our strength and appetites back now, so we get to spend more energy taking care of you.
Love, Dad