Virus Interuptus

I just should have waited until after the cold & flu season to launch this blog. I had grand plans to write & post during K's naps when E & B were at school but since the new year I've had few if any days without someone ill. Since mid December our family has collectively made two trips to the emergency room, 4 trips to the pediatrician's office, battled pneumonia, 3 infected ears, 2 sore throats, and a case of diarrhea. There's also been three courses of antibiotics and the commonly associated side effects, so come to think of it I guess that means a couple more cases of diarrhea. I won't go into details about the pediatrician's office inability to fax the correct prescription to the correct pharmacy or the number of phone calls I had to make to straighten it out. Suffice to say there's been a few "issues" on that front (on two different occasions!), which begs the question whatever happened to the written prescription that I can deliver to the correct pharmacy myself?!

(At right is B today finally with his meds, over three hours post appointment, two pharmacies, seven phone conversations with three different people later)

Those cases are just among the three boys. Since Christmas, D & I have collectively had 3 respiratory infections and I think there's been gastroenteritis in there somewhere, too, but if I did puke I don't remember it due to sleep deprivation.  

I know it could be worse, much worse. One look at the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake or those with long term chronic or terminal illnesses and my family's current situation is put into perspective. This period is just a bump in the road. It's time likes these that I'm also grateful to have health insurance and live in close proximity to some world class health care facilities, inept fax clerks excepted. Yes in general I am thankful for many things but will be a lot happier when everyone's healthy...for more than two or three days.