chocolate breakfast smoothie with peanut-butter and banana

We've had a rough go over the last month and a half sweet friends. Between us, we've had two stubborn sinus infections, one needing a second round of antibiotics, two bouts of bronchitis, and a cough/cold combination that just won't leave. We are tired and worn out and in desperate need of warmer weather. 

I have this overwhelming desire to wash every last thing in scalding hot water and open every window in the house and finally, finally welcome spring with open arms but every time that seems plausible, we have another bout of wet snowy slush. I've been trying to listen to my body and rest as much as I can but as you might suspect, resting is hard for me. I mean, I want to rest. I want to heal. But all I have had is this tremendous urge to cry. We’ve never been so sick and we’ve never had anything linger for this long so it will come as no surprise when I tell you there hasn't been a whole lot of fancy cooking going on. In fact, we've been existing primarily on quick soups, meals prepped specifically for the slow cooker and the love and generosity of my mother who has been feeding us whenever possible. 

It's never a good time for illness, but it's particularly difficult when it affects the whole family. Helping each other is hard when you can't even find the energy to help yourself. We've all just been kind of existing. Taking cat naps here and there. Comforting and reassuring each other when we are feeling particularly vulnerable and praying really, really hard that this all dissipates soon. We’re getting there though. It’s a slow process I’ve been told and I’m trying hard to remain positive and not feel defeated.

Spring is around the corner! I can tell because in the mornings, I hear the birds chirping- singing happy little melodies that promise health and renewal. And even though there are still mounds of dirty, slushy snow on the sides of every street, flowers are actually blooming. They are resilient and gutsy and under all that filthy mess, they still find a way to get to where they need to be. I’m learning a thing or two from these little flowers. We’re fighting hard to get to where we need to be and we’re almost there guys.

 xo