It’s the last full week of school, so of course half of my house is sick.
It all started with James being sick last week. Poor little guy had SUCH a high fever and a deep, croup-like cough. He’s finally better and back to school…and now it’s Annie and Mike’s turn.
Mike came home from work on Monday and said, “Someone at the office today asked me if I was crying because my eyes are red.” We figured it was probably a symptom of his contact lenses needing to be changed and didn’t think much of it. But the next morning, he woke up with his eye sealed shut. Yep, Mike had the Pink Eye. After freaking out (he had no idea what was happening because he has somehow made it through 41.5 years of life without ever contracting conjunctivitis), I told him he had pink eye and sent him to the doctor. Poor guy has it bad.
And then there’s Annabel. She was absolutely DETERMINED to not get sick. I don’t blame her – the last week of school is so much fun, and her class is having a week-long reading celebration that she worked really hard to earn. When the fever started to creep in on Sunday, she somehow managed to lower her temperature through sheer force of will. Unfortunately for Annie, she caught the Pink Eye, and there’s no amount of wishing and hoping that will make that go away.
While Mike took Annie to the doctor to get drops, James and I lit the house on fire. OK not really but if James gets pink eye right before we go to Great Wolf Lodge for his birthday celebration, I will lose my mind. And if I get pink eye AGAIN, I’m pretty sure I will go blind. So what I’m saying is James and I are living in a bubble this week and not touching Mike or Annie at all.
This leaves the job of giving Annie her medicine to Mike. This would normally not be a big deal, but the urgent care doctor thought an antibiotic ointment would be the best treatment. Yes, an ointment that goes on her eyeball. I’m pretty sure most adults would have a problem with this. Honestly, it’s really gross and requires Mike to basically touch her eyeball and OMG the screaming. Annie screamed a lot, too.
Luckily, Annie’s pink eye was caught early, and she should be able to go back to school tomorrow. THANK GOD because I’m getting a little tired of her “Annie is sad” self-portraits.
Annie calls this one: “Will the ointment hurt? I think so.”
Mike, on the other hand…he looks like he’s been rubbing his eye with sandpaper. Poor guy.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go wash my hands for the 5,000 time today.
Leslie says:
I hate to say it, but the ointment works muuuuuch better. I always prescribe it! Even with babies! #apparentlyihateparents
JustAMom says:
Ugh I had to do the ointment once for my daughter and it is SO GROSS!!!!
Have a GREAT time at Great Wolf Lodge. We just went two weeks ago for the third time. LOVE that place.
The margaritas at the waterpark are awesome too. Or so I’ve heard
Jeanie says:
Annie and Mike both look perfectly fine. If you pull down the lower eyelid and put the ointment in there, it works great. You still can’t see with it all over your eyeball, but it’s a good way to get it in there.
Jane says:
That is the most adorable picture of the two of them … pinkish eyes and all!!
p.s. I think Mike should get a tube of the ointment for himself. Ditto that it works great, and his eyeballs will feel better.
Auntie_M says:
I love that Annie can express herself through her art.
As for being sick during the most fun week of school: ugh!!!! That sucks!!!
I remember that happening to me in the 3rd grade. I was so bummed. (Lasting impression: I am nearly 47 now!) The rest of the class was bummed too because I unknowingly exposed all of them to the chicken pox! We thought the couple spots that broke out were bug bites as I had already had the chicken pox. Lucky me: I got them TWICE!!!! (The 1st case wasn’t enough to inoculate my system.) Thank goodness for vaccines, right? None of that for your kiddos!!!
Lindsay says:
I also STILL remember when I had to miss the “winter snowstorm” in 2nd grade. This was a big deal because I lived in Florida. The teacher would turn down the temperature in the classroom to super chilly, people brought in coats, there was hot chocolate, a fake snowball fight (rolled up paper), etc. All part of a unit on the seasons.
I tried to do what Annie did – make myself better through force of will. I even came to school that morning. But my teacher took one look at me and sent me to the nurse, who then called my mom to get me to a doctor.
So while all the other 2nd graders were having the winter snowstorm, I was getting diagnosed with strep throat.
I live in Boston now so I suppose I’m over it – winter snowstorms are pretty common in my life now. =)
Auntie_M says:
Isn’t it funny what stands out in our childhood memories? I also remember being sick on my birthday when “The Rescuers” came out and having to cancel my special movie date with friends. Never saw the movie tIL I was an adult! LOL And yet I had many wonderful childhood memories; they just don’t pop up as analogies like the disappointments do! LOL REALLY hope Annie gets a forgettable good memory!
RzDrms says:
Mike could always tackle Annie and sit on her — à la Monica and Rachel style — while he squeeeeeezes the ointment tube with his mouth, aiming in the general direction of her eyeball. Or, you know, you can do that to Mike if he gets the ointment as well.