After The Tenth..... When The Fun Really Begins

I intended to fully document the final few weeks before our family dynamic changed again, but a few things got in the way. The first issue started in daycare. Before Macy's first day, I heard about how daycares can be germ farms that seem to grow and harvest these super bugs, which then migrate to your home.

Up until this point we had been relatively unscathed. Nova has a stringent sick-policy that requires you to pick up your child if they vomit or have green mucus, etc..., and then if you are asked to leave one day, you can't return the next unless you have a doctor's note. They also work hard to disinfect the room and the toys on a regular basis. Since classes began, Macy has only been asked to leave 2-3 times and I've only caught a cold or two from her, so nothing to write home about. Until this past week.

I was leaving a client's office when the call came in from Miss Rebecca. "Macy vomited this morning and isn't acting like herself. She seems to have an ashy color. We are going to need you to pick her up." I tracked down Annie who was out on a lunch date with a friend and relayed the message. Neither of us was overly concerned. Macy is a toddler and infants and toddlers all seem to puke for no apparent reason and bounce back minutes later. (I used to be able to bounce back quickly, but as the years pass, my recovery seems to take longer and longer)

Macy came home and didn't seem quite herself, even after a long nap, but she did her time in exile and two days later returned to school. Annie picked her up that evening and was greeted with the following warning as she entered the classroom. "Take Macy and RUN!! Almost every person in this room is sick." Being a calm but rational person, Annie heeded the advice and didn't linger at school. In normal situations that might have kept her safe, but not when you are dealing with Super Daycare Stomach Bugs.

Later that night, Annie wasn't really hungry at dinner. That's when I started to panic. A pregnant mother who didn't want any dinner. Uh-Oh. And so it began...24 hours of misery. The only good thing about stomach viruses is that they don't linger very long. While they are around it feels like a lifetime, but when you look back it really isn't that long of a time period. Annie really impressed me with her ability to function while feeling ill.

I didn't realize how impressed I was with Annie until two days later...when it was my turn to be cut down by Super Bug. I experienced possibly the worst night of my life and no longer feared the reaper. Instead, I  feared that I might continue living and suffering the misery that was Super Bug. I won't get graphic, but I will commandeer a line from the 25th Annual Putnam County Spell Bee and tell you that it was like there was a race to get out of my body and everyone one.

Macy's 5th tooth has finally made an appearance...after being on the cusp for what seemed to be months, she's finally moving past only have 4 teeth. Even more unexpected is her 6th tooth which broke skin just two days later. It's imperative that some more teeth come in, because she needs something to hide her continuing biting issue.

We have gone a few months without any real bites, but I was recently informed that my daughter might have a crush on one of her classmates. You've all heard the classic story of a boy who pulls the pigtails on a girl he likes, well it seems that Macy may have her own version....biting him.

Annie picked her up the other day and while she was there the staff discovered bite marks on little Anthony. The staff hadn't seen the offense being comitted, but the teeth marks on his body, which were two bottom teeth imprints close together and two top imprints with a space between them was pretty telling. It didn't take the CSI Miami team to identify the owner of the bite marks, especially since her other teeth bearing classmates have 8 or more pearly whites.

I'm not sure which part disturbs me more...that my daughter bites other children or that she seems to do it because she has yet another boy crush.

Right before I posted this, we decided to check to see if we have any pictures that might give you an idea of her unique teeth pattern. Not only did I find a good one, but we we may have found one that gives us some insight into her biting habit.

I always knew that I was a bad influence. Now its official. It only took 9 1/2 months, but I got my daughter in trouble today with her school. I know what you are thinking...that can't be possible. But this afternoon my perfect little angel "caused a problem" for the first time, and its all my fault.

One of my favorite hobbies is playing with Macy and giving her zerberts and mimicking her when she would sort of give me a rasberry. As it turns out, Macy must enjoy these moments as well because she decided to do them while they were feeding her at day care today, which sent food flying across the table.

When Annie picked her up, it was with a mention that we should no longer encourage Macy to do these actions and to turn away when she does them, without laughing. Ouch! Clearly I never intended her to spit food while peforming a rasberry, but I am definitely guilty of showing her to do it and for giggling when she demonstrated her new found trick.

I have to be honest and tell you that I don't understand what all the fuss is about. How much of a mess could one little infant make?

Uh...NEVERMIND!!!!!!