flea

I last had shingles starting Feb. 4, 2009.  Don't you think it's unfair that I can't go 2 years and 3 months without getting shingles again? It's exactly the same as last time, in the pre-rash phase.  Give me a break, world?

(mr. flea noted, in front of the children, that shingles is caused by stress.  Casper told me I should work on being less stressed out.  I refrained from saying, "Pot-kettle" to her, because she is only 7. Also, I think I have every right to be stressed; as, indeed, I did last time I had shingles.)

(Also also, I am definitely not leading this Girl Scout troop next year.)

I'm better enough to go back to work tomorrow, but tired and tottery enough to be overwhelmed by the things I have to deal with there, notably the 35 high school students showing up Wednesday morning (until this afternoon, I was expecting 20, which is much more manageable). Then it's Girl Scout cookie delivery week, and planning for next week's meeting, and houseguests next weekend, and the 25th I fly to Texas for a wedding.

I ate protein today, though!

I took yesterday off work and was in bed, mostly actually sleeping, until 3pm. Yes, I am honestly sick. I am at work today, though sneezing and coughing my fool head off.

I am feeling very behind at work and in life. Luckily I am working this coming Sunday, so I have 8 hours of sitting at a desk with nothing to do to get caught up, right? Must plan: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Girl Scouts, and write 10,000 blog posts for work.

In bad news news, mr. flea is really not going to get a permanent job at his current workplace. His contract ends next august, and he did not get an interview for the job that has been posted, and the other job that may get posted is also not a good fit for his skills and background. So far he has applied for a permanent job in Dublin and is working on an application for another post-doc at Georgia Tech, which would mean evil commuting, but would let us keep the kids in their current school and so forth. Our goal is no more post-docs unless they mean we don't have to move; permanent jobs okay if they mean moving. But damn, moving with kids is so disruptive to them. Never mind the whole home ownership problem. Worst-case scenario is unemployment as of next September; next-to-worst case scenario would be mr. flea in a post-doc someplace far away and me living here with the kids. That would suck. Let's not have that, please, okay?

In good news I bought both kids flame Vans via Zappos and they came yesterday and Dillo is so in love with his it's darling. He outgrew his flame chucks, and Casper's skully vans-style sneakers were literally falling apart. And I paid for them out of ebay sales, so I win at frugality.

Several (mostly online) friends are down hard with flu - nobody's had it typed that I know of, but I'ma bet it's H1N1. It's worrying. Take it easy, friends, and when recovering don't try to do too much too soon.

We got the kids FluMisted (seasonal) yesterday at the new ped, whose flexibility I am loving right now. We told them it would be a shot, and pre-bribed them with chocolate Pop-Tarts. Dillo sat, all chocolate-faced, in the office, repeating, "I don't want to get a flu shot." When we decided to do the mist, he changed to, "I don't want to get a flu shot in my nose." But he dealt with it okay. I'm a little worried about the mist (since it is a live, weakened virus) but the kids are healthy and since a weekend is coming that can get plenty of rest. I haven't called the county again about the H1N1 vaccine. I am home with them next Friday, so I was hoping we could all go in at 8am then and get it done that day. If they have shots by then I'd choose that for H1N1; if they only have mist it will have been a week since the seasonal and so safe to get. And then I'll have to figure out some way to do it again in a month, since the H1N1 is recommended in two doses a month apart for kids under 10. If they still have H1N1 vaccine at the county in a month I'll be amazed.

I am feeling like I am carrying a huge load in the family right now, doing all the planning and organizing and getting stuff done. I'm at the point where I want to go away for a week so everyone sees how it all falls apart when I am not there to do it. What would happen is that they would eat out a lot and eat spaghetti-os, and watch a lot of TV, and get to bed too late, and be late for school, and forget things, and the house would be dirty(ier)). They would be fine, not, like, harmed, but that's not the way I want us to live. Unfortunately I seem to be the only one who cares about the way I want us to live, which is depressing.

mr. flea, being an employee of the Federal Government, is getting a free seasonal flu shot at work at some point. Apparently they just show up and jab everyone. (He is also now prohibited from texting while driving a government vehicle!) Go team Socialism!

I used to get a flu shot at work - they'd do several clinics on campus, usually one in the library, and you just had to line up, bring ID, and there you were. Often the line was long unless you timed it well, but since it was generally made up of coworkers, fairly jolly. And by "long," I mean half an hour. Go team University Hospital!

The kids got shots at regular fall doctor's appointments, or the Saturday flu shot clinic at their doctor, which took appointments at 15 minute intervals.

Our options now? I can get a shot at the Uggaversity Clinic (paying $25), or at various local clinics (i.e. the one in Target last Saturday that I missed) (paying $25), or at my doctor when my doctor gets the seasonal flu vaccine (originally told us Oct. 1, now saying they don't have it yet and check back Thursday.)

Casper can get a flu shot at our family doctor, too, when they get some. And they told mr. flea on the phone today that they wouldn't charge for an appointment, we could just bring her by any time (really? I'll believe it when I see it). But Dillo can't, as they aren't getting the vaccine for kids under 4. So far I have called or looked at a variety possible places to get him a flu shot (I'd be willing to pay): County health clinic? Flu shots only for Medicaid patients. Uggaversity? Staff only (and students, etc. - unclear if they have any kid vaccine anyway). Clinics at Target, Public, CVS? Vaccine only available for children over 10, or people over 18. Other clinic finders helpfully suggested by our insurance company? None in our area (I live in a city of 100,000 people, not the boondocks!)

We're planning to switch the kids to a pediatrician next year; unfortunately there are very few pediatricians who accept our current insurance, open enrollment for both our health plans isn't until November, and won't take effect until January. I guess I should be glad that Dillo is the kid who is never sick, and I should be able to get the one who's had pneumonia and gets a hacking chest cold every fall vaccinated, I hope?

Sibling set: Julian, Camille, and baby Lucy

Born yesterday to rivka: Colin Randolph; big sister is Alex.

I am so tired this afternoon it is all I can do to stay vertical. It's got to be the shingles; I've been getting reasonably decent sleep, and I can barely focus my eyes. I would have gone home to nap, except that would have required walking home, and I don't think I could have done it. Tomorrow is a night shift, so I can nap after walking Casper to school in the AM.

The nurse took one look, and the doctor took one look, and they both said, "Shingles!"

The doctor had never heard of Doctor Google (though she is a young woman!) so I didn't even mention that my invisible internet friends concurred in the diagnosis.

I have a prescription for Valtrex (which is safe for breastfeeding! Now you know.)

The pain right now is moderate - the rashy bits, which are small, are kind of itchy, and the part that looks absolutely fine is burny and sensitive to touch (inlcuidng clothes and sheets, and of course it's on the side where I hoist the Dillo and carry my enormous purse), but I'm not actually feeling more run down than usual, and I would certainly not describe it as terrible pain right now. I've had MUCH MUCH worse discomfort from poison ivy (remember when I got that on my face and everywhere when I was pregnant with the Dillo?) So, here's hoping the Valtrex keeps it mild. Also, here's hoping my coworker's 8 month old, whom I saw but did not hold or touch on Saturday, doesn't get chicken pox (he's too young to have been vaccinated). That would make me feel terrible, irrational though that is (I had no idea I'd get shingles on Monday.)

I really must, in the next two hours, come up with 250+ words on the definition of information. Yep, school started last week and it's weekly writing on difficult topics with no direction professor again. At least I knew what I was getting into.

I titled this post "snork" because that's what it feels like in my head right now. I've had a cold for two weeks, but I think I was on the downslope of cold #1 and have now contracted cold #2. So I have the big phlegmy breaking up chest cough coupled with a seriously stuffed up head. I am barely awake; happily it is a low-activity day/week at work. But, that damned assignment, which I need to do today, since my in-laws are visiting for the weekend and it is due Sunday night.

Today is Casper's FIFTH birthday, and what a long strange trip it's been. She went off to school in new clothes, sparkly pink sneakers from Keds and a new Hanna summer dress from ebay. We sent in homemade pink-frosted cupcakes, so I hope that goes over well. Tonight we'll have Breakfast for Dinner (her choice) and open some more presents, and I guess the 4 left over pink cupcakes. We invited the neighbors (4 families, yikes) for cake on Saturday afternoon, and I have to figure out a cake and make/buy it, and also figure out what we're going to do with them all. Stand around chatting while the kids chase a soccer ball around the back yard, I guess. It's meant to be very low-key (lord, I hope they don't bring presents) but we don't have any outdoor furniture and few outdoor toys so I am stressing.

I really want naps this weekend. And we have a dinner out gift certificate I'd like to use while free babysitting is in the house. But I fear leaving hapless grandparents with my wild won't-go-to-bed children.

This weekend was the worst double whammy ever - not only have I been really sick with the Death Cold (fevers, the whole 9 yards) but the internet was off between Thursday night's power outage and just now!

I was okay Friday (watched LOTR) and Saturday (wrangled kids, limply, on the couch) but today I was reduced to reading the WorldCrossing Natter 1 thread from 2001 that I happened to have downloaded and on my desktop. (VERY interesting, by the way!)

I am still sick, not sure if work is in the cards for tomorrow, and Casper has been quite sick too (took a FOUR HOUR nap today and seems much the better for it) and I'm afraid Dillo is sickening.

But, you know, you are here now!

We have been up incredibly early both days this weekend, due to the childrens. Yesterday we opened Elmo's at 6:30; at one point it was us and 10 cops in the place. We were in the safest place in Durham. We got more done before 9 am (playing in Duke Park, yard saleage, Farmer's market) than in some entires Saturdays.

I also have another cold. Sniff.

The past 2 nights Casper has wanted to put herself to bed by herself - except on the couch, not in her bed. We've let her; why not? I went to sleep in her bed without her last night.

mr. flea left for work this morning at 7:30 and Dillo is already down for his morning nap. I have taken sudafed and when Bob the Builder is over we'll make zucchini bread.

And, I hope, nap later.