Bella and I picked Connor, Lily and Katy up after school and went back to the house. Joe was scheduled to pick Katy up just before dinner but the minute he showed up, I knew something was wrong. Maybe it was how pale he looked. Or maybe it was the way he kept blinking, as if the light hurt his eyes. Whatever the reason I decided to invite him to stay for dinner. Since we were only having soup and grilled cheese sandwiches it was easy to add two more plates and open another can of tomato soup.

I definitely knew he wasn't feeling well when he didn't argue. He just sat down and stared at his bowl. The kids took turns trying to convince him to eat. It was hilarious to see Connor kneeling on his chair, holding up a spoon and making airplane sounds to convince Daddy to take another mouthful of soup.

After he managed half a sandwich and half a bowl of soup, Connor dragged him off to watch the new Thomas the Tank video and when I went to check on them after loading the dishwasher, Joe was sound asleep on the couch. The girls had covered him up with a flowered blanket and tucked a stuffed bunny under his arm. I was tempted to take a photo but my conscience got the best of me. Not fair to take advantage of a sick man, I guess.

He was still sound asleep after I organized bath time so Katy was included with my three and bundled off to bed. When I went back downstairs Joe was just waking up and there was the inevitable argument about how he was completely fine and ready to go home.

He went as far as the spare room and crashed for the night. Somehow I don't think he'll be going to work in the morning, not with a fever and a sore throat.

Sigh....sometimes I feel like a nurse.