Calamity Jane

A brief overview of this week's drama:

• Sophie broke one of her front teeth. According to one account, she tripped and her best friend, who was running behind her, tripped on Sophie -- landing on Sophie's head. Luckily, a grown-up was on hand to find the broken portion of the tooth, which was pretty sizable, and quickly immersed it in a carton of milk for safe-keeping. The tooth was bonded the next day in a two-hour procedure and is as good as new. Through it all, Sophie didn't once freak out or complain. Jane was very impressed with her calm attitude. This being Sophie's first major injury, the freaking out was reserved for the parents. Really, considering how active the kids are, the fact that thus far neither child has required stitches or casts (knock on wood) is a miracle.
  
• Gavi came down with strep. In all the fuss surrounding Sophie, poor Gavi was coughing and sniffling away quietly. The morning after Sophie's dental drama was resolved, we discovered a loguey, feverish boy sitting at the kitchen table. Without a working thermometer, we couldn't tell exactly how feverish. As soon as we made the decision to keep him home, Gavi was suddenly very animated. Hmmm...did we make the right decision? Apparently so, according to the pediatritian. Getting Gavi to take his antibiotics became a daily struggle (I don't blame him -- that stuff looked nasty). As a precaution, both Sophie and Jane got tested for strep and were negative. I opted out of testing, which was probably a bad idea, because:
  
• I came down with a really nasty respiratory infection. I spent my holiday weekend on the couch watching bad movies on TV and blowing my nose. Now I'm just completely wiped out and the frustrating part is IT'S JUST A DAMN COLD! My doctor could not offer any relief, except to say that it most likely was NOT strep. I've never been so zonked by a stupid cold in my life. Today is the second day I've missed work, which is causing pangs of guilt and anxiety -- I'm not used to this. I didn't have sick time in my previous jobs, so I think I must have willed myself to be well because I lost only one day in nearly three years. I had the good fortune of only getting sick on my days off. Taking a sick day -- or two -- was just not an option. So here I am, itching to get back to work, but knowing that if I went into the office today, I would not have been very effective.
  
• Jane just CAME DOWN. During a Memorial Day Eve gathering at the gaybors -- which I missed -- Jane slipped on some stairs and banged herself up real good. I was convinced that she broke a rib, but she went for X-rays and no fractures. Just some REALLY bad bruising. Now poor Jane is shuffling around in pain and experiencing pre-back-surgery flashbacks.

So, as you can see, it's been an eventful week. Collectively, this family has spent a good deal of time in waiting rooms and exam rooms. We're really hoping that this is the most calamity we'll see for a good long time. Karma-wise, I think we're all caught up.

DO YOU HEAR ME UNIVERSE? NO MORE!