Monday dawned sunny and warm, filled with the promise of a new, better week ahead of me. Sasha slept clean through the night until 7am. I had a Yogilates class in the evening, peaceful documentation work to do all day, and Friday off, like a vision of the Land of Milk and Honey in the distance. It is now clear that Monday was a no-good, dirty liar.
I had plans to go into the city to do some work for a client that morning; I planned to catch the 9:08 train and be there at 10am. At 8, I wandered downstairs to check my e-mail, and found a request from my boss to get some files to a colleague, and find out if he needed some additional information, while I was at it. I send the source code, and place the call to find out about the other stuff. At 9:15, I call again. At 9:30, my colleague calls back and says that yes, he does need the other stuff, sorry, he was in the shower. So I take a quick detour to drop Sasha off at daycare, and eventually get everything squared away. Hey, it gives me a chance to call the pediatrician to ask about the whole peanut thing.
In the meantime, I have missed the 9:08 train. I have missed the 10:07 train. I fix myself some breakfast and prepare to catch the 11:03 train. I resume my regularly scheduled day with a song on my lips and a light in my heart, etc., etc.
On the train, I get a Dreaded Call from the daycare provider: "Sasha is rubbing one of her eyes, and it's getting awfully red. Did she have a crust on it this morning? I'm worried she might be getting conjunctivitis."
After a brief conversation, we agree that we will reserve judgement until Sasha is up from her afternoon nap. I call Matt, and he arranges for Sasha to see the doctor at 5:15 that evening. I explain the situation to the project manager I'm pitching in to help; she has a small child of her own, and is sympathetic.
At this point, I am feeling like one of the Hindenbergs of motherhood is on my hands: Sasha has splinters in her feet from a misadventure on a wooden deck the day before, she has residual pox from her chicken pox vaccination, the potential peanut allergy, and now she's got pinkeye. I still hold some vague hope of attending my relaxing Yogilates class at 7:15 in the evening.
At 1:30, the pediatrician calls me back regarding the peanut question; it takes three separate phone calls on two phones to convey to him that we can discuss it later, as long as I am bringing Sasha in anyhow.
At 3:00, daycare calls to let me know Sasha is up from her nap and appears to be better, though she is still rubbing her eye. I am assured by my project manager that it is better to take her to the doctor and at least get a prescription, because Tuesday morning she could yet wake up with a flaming, blood-streaked monstrosity of an eye, crusted over with goo, peering out at me from the crib. I feel it is better to be safe and continue with the doctor plan.
I catch the 4:16 train and hustle to the doctor. Once I get to the doctor's office, I observe that Sasha's eye is watery but otherwise fine. Hmm.
The doctor confirms my suspicions: Sasha does not have pinkeye, but he gives me a prescription Just In Case. The splinters will be OK, just soak her feet in warm water for a few days. Her vaccination-related chicken pox are healing normally and all is as expected. The peanut thing may or may not be an issue, but for now, I get a prescription for an Epi-Pen Jr. and the all-clear to continue as we had been before (no peanuts for Sasha, but we do not need to get psychotic about avoiding microscopic molecules of peanut flour). Great! Terrific! Thanks, doc!
Just one more thing: She's got a fever of 101.7 and you'll have to keep her home tomorrow. Nothing wrong with her ears or her throat, no congestion, no sneezing or coughing, just... a fever. You can't win for losing.
My kitchen is: Very Clean. The cleaners came and made it better for me today. Although the Sick Baby was afraid of the cleaners. Also she was upset when her grandmother came to visit her. Also she didn't much like my putting her down at all today. Surprisingly, I had a very productive day.
On the other hand, the display on my laptop totally went out and they're sending a guy to replace my motherboard on Friday. Joy joy joy.
Posted by andrea at June 10, 2003 11:26 PMYou rock, sis. I FORGOT TO CALL AND WISH SASHA HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAH.
I hope you forgive me. You know I'm always here if ya need me, even if I am a forgetfull freak of a sibling. ;)
Whooooooooo! It's fun reading yer page. I JUST BOUGHT MY FIRST NEW CAR!!! A saturn Ion-2. Yeeha.
Talk to ya later sis, and hope all this fear for the child doesn't drive ya mad. They usually turn out to be just fine. :)