Broken Toes, Fever, and Spots, Oh My!

I’ve had the week from hell. No amount of Hyland’s Nerve Tonic tablets are even taking off the edge. No amount of alcohol is taking off the edge. No amount of the two combined is taking off the edge (actually, combined they make me nauseated. Yes, I do know from experience. Why are you surprised? I'm not kidding about that week from hell thing).

Then it gets even “better.”

Yesterday, the Boy grabbed at a big heavy glass. He then dropped it. I moved him over and pushed it away. It didn’t hit him. It did, however, hit the middle toe on my left foot. It was dropped from about 4 feet up. I’m pretty sure he broke my toe. I couldn’t get a definitive answer from anyone on whether or not I should go to the ER. I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle and just taped it. I think he kinda chipped the top of the bone (between the nail and the top joint) and there’s really nothing the ER can do for that.

Girl2 was not being herself yesterday. She went down for a nap around 5 (she NEVER naps). She woke about an hour later screaming with a night terror (which she hasn’t had in the longest time). Even when I managed to wake her up, she still wouldn’t stop crying. I eventually convinced her to lie down on my bed. She fell asleep, but woke up screaming later. Oh and she also refused to eat any of her dinner. Both girls are Hoovers when it comes to food, so that was surprising. I realized she felt awfully warm, so I took her temperature. It was 103.6. A friend who’s a former RN was over. I asked her at what temperature I should consider the ER. She said 104. Happy freaking day!

I followed her suggestion and gave Girl2 some Tylenol, waited, and watched. An hour later, her fever was down to 101.6. So the friend left and I got ready for bed. As I crawled into bed, I noticed Girl2 felt hotter. Her temperature was 103.8. It was only an hour after I had taken her temp last. Called the sister and told her I was going to the ER. Sister left to come here and sit with the sleeping kids.

In the meantime, I called the doctor. He suggested watching Girl2 throughout the night and holding off on the ER. She felt a bit cooler, so I did. I sat there waiting for the sister (who I felt awful about having to send home after she schlepped all the way here) just holding Girl2, kissing her forehead repeatedly and apologizing that there was nothing I could do to make her feel better. Nothing brings out the motherly instincts like a sick child and nothing makes you feel more helpless. Wait, I take that back. Nothing makes you feel more helpless than a sick child AND a deployed spouse.

The boy spent the night in the swing. The girls stayed in my bed with me. I got nothing remotely resembling sleep. Girl2 woke up screaming 3 or 4 times. One time, she thrashed about and pulled my hair. I kept checking and she wasn’t all that warm, but I was kinda worried that she was hallucinating. Her temperature was 102.6 around 3 am. By 7, she felt cool to the touch and she said she felt all better.

I fully expect her to be covered in spots in a few days. I know from Girl1 that that’s the next step for this virus. The girls always like to match. This is a little extreme, though. Now we have to wait and see if the Boy and I get it. The spots look awful, so if I get it, I don’t know if I can leave the house. We already had the janitor at camp point to Girl1 and ask in horror, “What the hell’s wrong with her?” I don’t know that I could deal with the stares we’ll get if all 4 of us are spotted.

The gym is the only thing keeping me sane right now. I don’t know if they’ll take the kids if they’re all spotted even though the spots mean they’re no longer contagious. I don’t know if they’ll let me workout if I’m covered in spots. If I can’t work out, they’re going to have to slap on a straight jacket and lock me up. That is, if they’re willing to touch me with those spots.


G-d hates me.