The activity is constant and endless. Lifestyles are adjusted to the heightened levels of chaos always bordering on calamity. Insignificance is just that, even more so. It does not matter. Priorities shift in an effort to provide balance, continuity and stability in what by all appearances is disorder. Time does not sit idly by. Things happen constantly.
As testament I present a few happenings of the past 24 hours.
Zoë kicked things off this past Saturday night (OK, I know that was more than 24 hours ago but work with me here. Some things need preface.) by heating things up, namely her core body temperature. Not too alarming–102 and easily controlled with that miracle drug–Motrin. Have you heard of the stuff? I used to say that all the time to parents that would bring their kids to the ER at 3 in the morning with fevers. When I asked if they had given the little fireball anything they would reply, “No, I wanted you to see how high the fever was.” Like they thought I wouldn’t believe them. Geesh!
I digress.
Maura gave Zoë a quick once over when she got home and determined she most likely had strep. And they say doctors don’t make house calls anymore. Antibiotics were started in very short order.
Inevitability. (That means if you’ve got a house full of crazy kids and one is sick–it won’t be long before you’ve got a house full of crazy sick kids.) Zane was first to follow suit though Zander was looking a bit pasty Wednesday evening. Once again, Maura was called to duty and after assessing all of the kids determined that yes, indeed, lymphadenopathy was rampant. Except for Zella. She seemed fine. “That,” I said, “is only logical as Zella never eats and the chances of her eating or drinking after any of the other kids is astronomically low therefore her chances of becoming ill are significantly decreased.”
Antibiotics were started in short order. A lot of antibiotics!
Zane stayed home from school. As we were watching a riveting show about building bridges, Zane screams, “Oh my God! My tooth! I lost my tooth!”
And he had. Zane lost his first tooth. Really lost it. He had no idea where it was. We quickly dismantled the couch and found it nestled between the cushions. Zane lost his first tooth!
An hour and a half later, he lost his second!
Before bed last night I sewed Zane a little pouch to put his two teeth into as an offering to Flossie–the Tooth Fairy. I had made a little pouch for Zoë but I didn’t think Zane would appreciate a pink pouch for his tooth. Short notice and a long day but I think it came out….acceptable.
Tonight kicks off our Football Friday Nights. You may remember that Maura is team doctor to the local high school football team. Building on our fantastic experience from last year there’s a new job in the family. Zane gets to be a water boy! He even gets a jersey. The boy is stoked. We’ll see if the steady downpour (much needed, I might add) that we a currently experiencing will temper his spirits.
Which reminds me….The cushions on the deck are getting soaked. Typical!
