Post Hallowe'en blues

Pictures of mummies, french mimes and ninjas are forthcoming; however, most efforts at, well, anything around these parts have been thwarted by a terrific case of strep throat in the boy about whom I only just boasted to his father had never required antibiotics.  Until Tuesday.  Coupled with my mention of Sarah's sleeping abilities, I am quickly learning that pride comes before a fall, even when it comes to bacterial infections.  

Poor little Joseph.  He hasn't been to school since I don't know when as what started as a stomach flu and cold eventually showed its true colours as the horrible menace that it really is, strep throat.  He arrived home from school some time before Hallowe'en literally collapsing on the step with an, "I need a really big break."  He got what he asked for.

I spent Tuesday in the ER with Joseph and Sarah in toe as our family doctor had no appointments.  Thankfully, Dave was home sick with a head cold (and report cards) and, thus, I could leave Isaac at home with him.  It is times like these that I am so grateful for our small town hospital where, much like Cheers, everybody knows your name.  Neighbours who work at the hospital take one look at the suffering child and produce racing cars, four pencils with basketballs and footballs as erasers and, without asking, purchase water and juice for us at the cafeteria.  There really are good people out there.

We eventually made it home from the ER with a prescription and a boy who couldn't move his neck due to the swelling of his lymph nodes.  In his words:  "My neck is in infinity pain."  We can thank Jacob for his introduction of higher mathematics to his younger brother.  Joe's stiff neck had me terribly worried about meningitis and phone calls were exchanged between mother, daughters and sisters.  Their words reassured me.

By night time Joseph was asleep on the couch and Isaac was screaming in his sleep from the confines of his crib.  I took one look at Dave who said, "I'll go.  I'll bring my report cards with me."  So, off Isaac and Dave went to the ER where they were treated by the same doctor who treated Joseph.  (What kind of hours does this poor guy work?)  

Isaac seems to be on the mend and Joseph revives between doses of Tylenol and Motrin.  I count it as progress when a fight breaks out between brothers.  Jacob thinks that Joseph's crooked, stiff neck is "really cool" and encourages us to look on the bright side, "If he's still like this next year, he can go as the Hunchback of Notredame for Hallowe'en."  Silver linings all around.