Strep

Strep has entered the house again.  I can’t begin to describe the utter hopelessness when facing what seems to be a chronic illness.  Last year between me and the boys we went to the Dr. 50 times for 7 (+) ear infections, bronchitis, a variety of virus, flu, colds, sleepless nights, chronic vomiting, and 15 cases of strep.  None of these illness left willingly.  Here is what our weeks looked like last year.  1) Someone would get hit with an illness 2) dr visit to diagnosis 3) by the end of the week we would need to check someone else’s health out, if they hadn’t contracted it yet, we would def be back the week after with positive illness results.  And the cycle continued that way all year.  Thankfully everyone has been in good health for the past 5 months.  I was truly hopeful that we had gotten through the ‘toughing up immunity’ phase and 2012 would be more healthy this year. 

So that is why when I felt the ‘oh too familiar’ horrible pain in my throat, fever set in, body aches, vomiting, etc.  it wasn’t the illness that brought me down to a low place, but the idea that this year would be like last year.  Isolated in your own home because you are "contagious" to everyone else.  No gym time because we can contaminate others.  Professionally feeling unreliable because I had to cancel client after client after client because I was sick.  Or constantly putting the babysitters at risk of getting sick because if it Case wasn’t sick it was Cole and I had to work sometime last year.  The crying.  The whining.  The cranky attitudes.  The sleepless nights.  My dread was the cycle would continue again.  That pain and fear brought me to tears a couple times today. 

A few positives came out of today.  Since it is the summer I was able to get babysitters for the morning and afternoon and rest while Cody is gone (huge luxury).  And since the family is not fighting multiple illnesses at one time I can truly focus on the solution.  And the solution is these SOB’s are getting yanked out as soon as I am healthy again.  If Case has Strep, he is going under the knife as well.  Last year I was hoping to avoid surgery, referrals, pre/ post op appointments and recovery time.  I kept thinking, ‘This illness  will be the last one.  Don’t go to surgery extremes,’ but now I am ready.  Until I can get these punching bags of disease cut out I have fallen back into the old routine.  Sweat pants and tank top.  Sumo wrestler bun hair because I haven’t showered in days.  Children are lucky if they ever get out of pj’s.  Chinese for dinner.  The house smells like bleach and Lysol.  New tooth brushes for everyone.  Dish washer is constantly running because I don’t want one of the boys to drink out of someone else’s cup accidently.  Laundry machine is working on sheets and towels every day.  And I wait for Cody to get home to help.  Tomorrow I am taking Case and Cole to get tested so if anyone else is sick we can all be on drugs at the same time.   I’m tired.  Goodnight.