From the record kept by the twins Jenny and Barbie Crow, April 10

April 10, 2017
     We have been confined to our apartment for the last 8 days. Barbie became really ill. It started with nausea and vomiting. She was unable to keep anything down for three days and was really weak. It's weird, I would swear she got the flu, but where did she get it? We have not been in any contact with anyone else in weeks.  I had to give her fluids through an I.V.  and kept her in bed. On the 6th, she started coughing. I remember hoping that it was being caused by irritation in her throat from vomiting. If it was anything else, there would not be much for me to do. I could try antibiotics, but if the symptoms were caused by a virus, the antibiotics would be no help.

     She came down with a really high fever soon after. I had to make her take a bath in cool water after dragging her down the hallway. I kept changing out the water as her body warmed it up. It took hours, but her fever finally broke and I was able to drag her back to the bed. I was exhausted but could not really rest because I was so worried about her. The next 24 hours were touch and go. I disolved the antibiotics in saline and gave her some through an I.V. every four hours and kept trying to get her to eat some broth. It took until the 8th for her to completely turn the corner, but she started feeling stronger and was able to keep down broth and crackers.
     That is when I started to feel achy and nauseated. It has now been two days and I am in hell. I told Barbie everything that I had to do for her and made sure she is prepared. I am hoping that, like in childhood, I will get sick but not as bad as Barbie got it. For now, I am trying to force myself to ingest fluids and to eat as much as I can before I can't keep anything down. My eyes are burning and my stomach is starting to revolt, even at water. I started antibiotics right away in the hope that they will help me to get better faster. We still have a good supply of food and water. Although, if I have to get in the tub for a fever, it would make our water situation a little less secure. We are going to have to go out for supplies as soon as physically possible.

As a writer and artist, I appreciate any readers and their comments. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Please, come read the other blog I write for our artisan collective, Raven's Castle Creations, on our website at www.ravencastlecreations.com. It includes posts on art, the mythology of symbols we use in our art, history and more! Also, come see the art we produce in our Etsy store at etsy.com/shop/RavenCastleCreations. Follow us on Twitter at @ravencastleart and on Facebook at @ravencastlecreations.