Last night was THE night.

On January 1st I google: “Oakley Rodeo” – I find out when the tickets go on sale.

This year I was feeling inclusive and wanting to share MY family tradition with others. I sent out emails: “Come to the Oakley Rodeo with us!”

Apparently no one else felt so inclined. Eventually, my sister caved and agreed to come with her sweet-heart.

Then: I need to buy my tickets. But I was barfing. It was February by then, and the only things that got done were the things that would otherwise cause explosions. Tickets waited.

Then one spring day – Wyatt’s B-Day I believe – we were in Oakley, and we stopped by and  FINALLY got our tickets. Now it was official – although it had been on our minds since January 1st.

Now all we had to do was wait.

And we did wait.

And we thought about all it meant to have our own family tradition.

We talked about it.

We boasted about it.

We congratulated ourselves on having such a fun event to look forward to.

And then the week came.

It was discussed in family planning for the week.

The day came.

Olivia woke up diseased. Rush to the doctor. First question: CAN WE STILL GO TO THE RODEO?

Yes – she is contagious. Yes, she does need antibiotics. No, don’t let other children touch her. BUT you will be outside, so going to the Rodeo shouldn’t be a problem.

Don’t be late. I warned Wyatt.

He wasn’t late.

We’re going to the Radio! Olivia said all day. She was excited. This year she knew what the Radio was!

Sippys and sweatshirts in tow, off we went.

To enjoy hot dogs and cotton candy and cowboys and horsies and the warm July night.

And eachother.

And our family tradition.

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So, in case you didn’t gather from the last post, Calvin and I have been diagnosed with Swine Flu. I thought of Photoshopping a picture of me with a pig nose – but since cute pictures of me are already hard enough to come by, I thought I better not add to my humiliation.

There have been good things about having the swine flu. Earlier in the week I was more aware of them. As I am now on day seven of being sick, my morale is not so high, and my optimism not so great. But I will share them with you.

1) I get to be part of the great “Pandemic” – and be avoided like the plague. I’ve heard about the H1N1 virus for months now. Now I get to claim to be a part of it. That’s kinda cool. I mean, can I say it anymore? I have swine flu.

2) When we are done with being sick, we will then have anti-bodies to create our own immunity to the disease for next fall and winter, when, I’ve read, it should really hit in full force. Not only will I have the immunity, but little Cal, and perhaps most importantly, the NEW baby will be immune. It is only in this that I wish O had gotten sick too, although one more sick person at our house might push us over the edge.

3) Super-Y . . . my super-hero husband, has made his presence known. He came home Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights and took care of the kids, made dinner, EVEN cleaned the house. He made sure I was comfortable, and did everything I asked, and told me to stop doing the things that I tried to do, telling me he’d take care of it. He gave me a blessing on Wednesday night, and I was reminded the magnitutude and importance of having a “righteous priesthood leader” in my home.

4) Marmie came to take care of me. When the official diagnosis came in on Wednesday afternoon, I said “Maybe I’ll call my mom to take care of me,” and my neighbor asked “would she really do that?” And I said – “Oh, sure.” Well, it took a while to get hold of her – she was out boating Wednesday afternoon. But first thing Thursday morning up she came (from St. George). She’s kept my dishes clean, made meals for everyone (Wyatt was at the end of his 3 meal knowledge), and did ALL the laundry in my house, including sheets and blankets, a major feat. She’s gone to get me popsicles and sprite, and generally made our lives much easier. Mom always knows what to do for sick people. It’s one of her gifts. One of her very very many.

5) I got my first “sent” flowers yesterday. Now, lest you think Wyatt never gets me flowers, let me assure you, that’s not true. He was better when we were dating and first married (as I suspect most men are), but he still comes home with a boquet several times a year. He just doesn’t send me flowers. He brings me flowers. So the difference in delivery was neat and exciting.

I’m really ready to be done with my symptoms. I’m ready to be healthy and play in the sun that has FINALLY come out. But I suspect I will have a few more days before I will begin to clear up. My mom read on the CDC website that I was considered contagious for seven days after the onset of symptoms. That means tomorrow I can go out, even if I’m still yucky. I probably won’t socialize, but I might go out and transplant my sunflowers and take my kids to the park. I’m ready for summer. Can you blame me?

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Sitting on the porch today: a string of a dozen or so otter-pops, and scissors by my side. Wyatt and O gone to Target. Mom’s gone to see Leslee. Cal isn’t crying, for the first time in 48 hours. He’s pushing Olivia’s bike around on the porch. White van pulls up.

My eyes narrow. Unmarked white vans are NOT welcome on my street. Man gets out. “Stay away! I have swine flu!” I think to myself. He goes around to the far side of the van.

“What does he need. I HAVE swine flu!”

He re-emerges with a beautiful purple and white boquet of flowers.

“How close should he get to me? I have swine flu.” I eye his clipboard, knowing a signature request is coming.

“I’ve never been sent flowers before! I’ve never been sent flowers in my whole life!” He makes his way across the front lawn.

“Who sent them? Wyatt? Or my dad?” I instantly know its one of those two.

He steps up from the lawn to the porch. “It must be a hazardous job delivering flowers. You have to be exposed to all the sick people.”

“Sign here.” Is all he says.

I take the pen, legitimately trying not to touch him or breath on him. Sign fast.

“Look, there’s even a card!” I admire it. It has the name of the florist (unlike the unmarked white van) on it. It says: To Andrea and Calvin on the outside. I don’t even mind sharing my first sent flowers with Cal. He’s super cute- even if he has been crying non-stop for 48 hours. Who can be uncheered with flowers?

The card has a sweet get-well message on the inside – from my Dad.

More good things about having swine flu to follow in another post shortly, as long as I’m not overcome with bitterness of being sick the first week of good weather this summer!

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