Sick Days

Seth’s pre-K called yesterday. I know whenever the phone rings, and it’s the school nurse, that it’s not good news. Seth had a 101 fever she said, and was very uncomfortable. I had to come pick him up right away.

I have to admit…I lost it at that moment. In my time of frustration, I said to her, “You know…this isn’t mom’s taxi service. I’m in the middle of some things now. I will get there as soon as I can.”

Well…she didn’t seem to like that response, and the next call I got was from the school social worker. I explained that I would definitely get there within the hour. That I don’t live around the corner, and I work part time from home, and can’t just drop everything and run over there this very second. She seemed to understand a bit more, though really, she wanted me there pronto too.

Now…I could see if Seth had, G-d forbid, some awful, contagious disease. And, believe me, I understand that you don’t want whatever it is to spread throughout the entire school. That said, I drove him directly to the doctor who squeezed us in before the after school rush. Turns out he has some kind of virus, which you don’t treat with medication. I more or less suspected this, but since he had a chesty sounding cough too, I wanted to be safe.

Did you know they can diagnose the flu in a child immediately by popping a cotton swab in their nose and testing it on the spot? Takes about 10 minutes for results. Unreal. Luckily it wasn’t the flu. I waited anxiously to hear, since I did not get the flu shot and have never been keen on it. When I was little I recall getting the measles vaccine and wound up with a case of the measles from it. To this day, that left me a bit vaccine phobic, at least for myself.

I asked the pediatrician for a doctor’s note for the school, and he looked at me funny. I explained it wasn’t because they think Seth might be playing hookie, but rather, more to document to the school that Seth has been seen by a physician.

So, Seth was home sick today. He seems improved, and no fever. Monday is a holiday, so we have a long weekend ahead, with some cold weather coming, so Seth will need to be somewehat housebound to get fully well. This means mommy may go a bit stir crazy too, but Tuesday is another day. And, hopefully a healthier one…and crossing my fingers that Marc & I don’t catch this from Seth. We’ve both had more than our share of awful colds already this season.