When Family Sickness Comes

So I'm sure it's been close to 4 weeks that I've been sick. Unrelenting flu mixed with a cold, mixed with a cough, mixed with lack of sleep. All of us. My hubs went to the doc today to check on an ear infection that won't go away. Doc told him I'm probably still contagious and not to share anything. Any other person I would think, it's no big deal! It's just a cold! But sometimes I'm reminded of how sick he was last year, and how I definately don't want him that sick again. And things go through my head about what an ear infection could turn into. I was reading a facebook post tonight and someone was asking about how to handle people who ask "how are you feeling?" And for those with Crohns disease who are constantly sick, when you get sick of telling people you are sick, and they stop believing you, what do you do? I have to remind myself sometimes that my husband has a constant chronic illness- admittedly, it can be hard to realize he isn't feeling well unless he tells me. There are generally not a lot of outward symptoms. Sometimes he is very honest with me, and other times he tells me what he feels like. But I was thinking today how important it is that he follows his doc's advice to get lots of rest and eat well, and take care of himself. Because that totally affects how his body will respond to this illness. With 3 young kids at home, who mostly want to share our bed with us, it sometimes feels impossible to expect any real sound, uninterrupted rest. And when I'm sick, and i need to rest to recover, it's hard to expect him to take over when in retrospect he may need it more than me. When mommy gets sick, it's a big deal. When daddy gets sick, it's an ever bigger deal, and I need to look out for him. Something I'm working through and trying to get better at. Hope you're well.