A Slap in the Face - July 28, 2008

You've got to be kidding me!!! After the huge emotional roller coaster of last week, now I'm seeing a rash spread all over James. Then on Jacob. Finally on Jessica. When it was just on James I thought it was hives from an allergic reaction. It would come and go; fade with Benadryl. I thought the sunscreen could have caused it until a day later it was all over his arms, trunk, and thighs. Then when it started showing on the other kids later that weekend it's what put me over the top.

We were supposed to have swim class starting today (draft written Monday). Instead I'm bringing all the kids back to the pediatrician's office to get some answers. The college has a no refund policy on their classes. We got them to bend that rule - with the surgery and all. The director was the one who suggested the pediatrician check them out and then he could give a doctors note if they were able to swim.

James is ticked that he has to take swim lessons. Jacob is ticked that the doctor won't let him. Jessica doesn't know what to think, but her cheeks are getting redder by the minute.

Well it is called Fifth Disease or Slapped Cheek Syndrome because it does look like they've just been hit in the face. Super rosy. It's a virus that most adults don't get because they already have the antibodies. Apparently once the rash appears you are no longer contagious. Usually a kid will have symptoms of a cold, flu, or fever first and then get the rash. We had no symptoms until the rash showed up. The incubation period averages about 2 weeks. So we don't know where we came across this.

Somehow I was getting my mind wrapped around the idea that my son has cancer and we will need to start chemotherapy. But this stupid rash was the straw that broke this mother's back. Give me a break already!!!

I had a lady in the grocery store stop me and say, "it looks like she got a little too much sun." I just agreed.