You have to laugh, so that you don't cry sometimes. Today was hell. It was extremely busy at work, since school starts tomorrow for the girls, and in Kristy fashion, I conveniently waited until the very last second to get all the projects done that I had all summer to complete. That led to a very stressful afternoon, but was nothing in comparison to what I would be faced with this evening.
My husband was out of work, sick as dog, and unable to get out of bed today. So it was I that got the dreaded phone call from daycare . . . Jackson was not himself either, the tiny red bumps I had been concerned about this morning have now started creeping over his entire body. Obviously, I immediately left work and brought him to the doctor, unprepared . . .
where I waited for 2 hours in a 4x4 room with a sick, screaming, hungry, wet, tired, and bored child. Did I have food with me, no. How about a diaper bag? nope. Luckily the room had some germy, infested books and toys that could capture his attention for a short time, and thank the LORD for the singing ELMO on the shelf. That saved us countless times from major meltdowns. I often exaggerate, but not today. Our appointment was for 4 and we didn't leave until 6pm.
Apparently Jackson has Scarlet Fever. What?! Isn't that a disease that went out with scurvy back in the 1800s? I know we are vaccinated for Polio, but I assumed that Scarlet Fever included in one of the thousands of vaccines in the first two years of life. Who gets this fever?? Apparently it is the infant's version of strep and causes a rash all over the body...hence the tiny red bumps I grew concerned about this morning. Well, apparently it's not a problem, though it sounds awful and primordial. All he needs is a 10 day course of penicillan and should be fine. Not so easy.
The doctor e-faxes (whatever that technology is) Jack's Rx to our CVS and apparently every pharmacy within 60 miles was out of his prescription. Hmmmm. If it was a Rx for Oxycontin then maybe I could understand. It was for Penicillan for Christ Sake. I could mold some cheese and make it myself in one evening, and they can't stock it on the shelf? It's kind of like going to CVS for band aids and having them all wiped out. What is happening? Are people stock piling for swine flu? Would it even work? I was very frustrated at this point. Plus, I forgot to add that Mike was completely useless, because he was delirious with fever and a bigger baby than Jackson. Between the both the them and my inability to recover from the two hours of Jackson's screaming, I had to bust out laughing. And then, I just started crying and called my mommy.
The one thing I learned today: Don't wait until the last possible second to get things done, because something will inevitably go wrong in threes. And, ALWAYS ALWAYS have a spare diaper bag filled with everything you need in the car. That was a tip from Baby 101, stupid. And finally, laugh if you need too, but it's still okay to cry to mom.
