Just call me flo...

as in nightingale.


The fancy-free routine that I've cultivated since the girls started school has been completely turned on its ear in the last couple of weeks.

My kitchen counter is littered with all kinds of medicinal paraphernalia - nebulizer parts, inhaled corticosteroids,Tylenol, Motrin, medicine droppers, various antibiotics, and the like. My hands are cracked and bleeding from washing my hands like I have OCD.


I sent the girls back to school last Friday, fresh off ten days worth of antibiotics.Dr. D's condition spiraled downward over the weekend. Her fevers persisted, hovering around 101,and I had to keep her home all week.

Miss Princess went back to school, and adjusted just fine that sissy couldn't get on the bus with her because she "had temperature". I went to the girls Halloween parade which Dr. D. missed. I felt so sad for her.

I took Dr. D back to the doctor on Tuesday - she just wasn't doing as well as she should, for a kid who'd been on antibiotics and a nebulizer all week. The Dr. told us that her ears are still pink, and her chest is still congested. Congested? D. has a worse cough than my father who smokes two packs a day and has emphysema. She was awakened by a coughing fit at 3am, and she stayed up for an hour. As did I. The next day I was like the walking dead.

So, more antibiotics, and oral steroids.

She kept vomiting her antibiotics. I don't remember antibiotics being like this when I was a kid - the meds are NASTY.Its a powdered substance that is mixed with liquid - its chalky, grainy and my daughter with sensory issues cannot tolerate it. I called the doctor and begged for zithromax right after she puked all over me for the third time. The doctor finally relented. She'd also ordered a chest x-ray and blood tests to rule out any other issues. I felt like she was doing it to cover her ass, notreally because it would benefit my kid. But I did it anyway.

When I was at the lab getting x-rays with Dr. D., I got a call from the school. Princess was crying, her ear was red, and was warm although she had no temp. I raced off to the school with Dr. D. in tow, ready to bang my head against a wall...if this is any clue as to how my winter is going to be, I'm packing a bagand leaving home.

I arrived at the school, and Miss Princess got into the car all perky.

I asked her, "what happened princess? Do you have a hurt?"

"My ear" she replied."Your ear hurts?" I queried

"My ear is red" she said.
...which only tells me she listened to what folks were saying about her.

On the way home, I stopped for a Cappucino blast at Dunkin' Donuts - because dammit, I deserved it. We passed a McDonald's, and Princess said, "ooooh, french fry store." She was asking for french fries, so I bought her some.

She got home, wolfed down the fries, ate some oreos and drank a juice. Her temp was 98.6 on the button. As she sat happily watching TV, I thought to myself "did my kid just play hooky??"
But we went to the doctor anyway. Princess got a clean bill of health, and Dr. D has been improving. Tonight she ate almost two slices of pizza by herself.She's on the road back. Back to school. On Monday.

This week was pretty cool, despite the circumstances. I hate it when my kids are sick, but I had a great time bonding with D., who is often content to sit in her sister's shadow. Today we were sitting on the couch, and she jumped into my lap, wrapped her skinny little arms around my neck, and gave me a kiss."MWAH" was the sound she made as she laid one on me. I felt like my heart could have burst forth from my chest and flown away.

I'm off to bed before I get sick too. Have a great weekend!