In EVERYTHING Give Thanks

I'm trying to make that my motto for the day. It isn't easy. Especially when you have 3 cases of pink eye, two ear infections, one case of strep/tonsillitis, a Farm Boy with a bad cold, and you're trying not to get sick yourself. But I am trying none the less.

I took the boys to see Miss Becky (she's our Nurse Practitioner). When she saw me through the window she just shook her head. I said, "I'm considering going to Medical School as it has to be easier than coming in here everyday!" When we got into her office she took one look at the boys and said, "Oh, honey, you're not having a good week are you?" I told her all the illnesses and trips we'd made and she sympathised with me. She gave the boys a once over and confirmed my suspicions. As Miss Becky was writing out our scripts, she asked about my insurance. I told her we have it through Husband's work, but we also have a medical card from the state. She said, "Good. I'm writing B.B. a prescription for Tylenol and Motrin because the medical card will cover it." And God bless her, she made them out for 11 refills between now and 2008! Not only that, but she gave me a big hug as we were leaving saying I just needed one. She was right...even if #1 Son wasn't too sure about it. "Mommy, Why did Miss Becky hug you?"

Wal-Mart was out of Kaopectate so we had to make an extra stop at CVS. They only had liquid but since it's the only anti-diarrhea medicine approved by my OB, I didn't have much of a choice. I do not handle liquid meds well.

On the way home I turned down the wrong road as Husband had asked me to stop at the feed store. I got back to where I was going and began having a gigantic pity party. By this time I was nearing total exhaustion, very sleepy, chilled to my bones, and getting very achy. I was positive I had a fever. I got about 5 miles down the road in my "poor me" frame of mind when that still small voice said, "I meant in EVERYTHING. Not just the good stuff." OK, gotcha'.

So here's my list of thanksgiving on this less than perfect day:
1. I am not Caroline Ingalls. I do not have to nurse my children with little to no medical training, miles from the nearest doctor. I do not have to suffer through Malaria only to be found near death by neighbors. I do not have to watch my family suffer and freeze and starve through The Long Winter.
2. We have adequate medical care. I have insurance that leaves me little worry about finances (reading Inkling's adventures in medicine I am even more thankful). We have a pharmacy that stocks nearly everything I need to treat my kids...and none of it includes things like heroin, or laudanum, or quinine.
3. I have a warm house. I have propane heat. If the power goes out I have a fire place and lanterns. I have propane hot water so we could even shower and my stove is gas so I could cook.
4. The rain has stopped. It's cold and there are snow flurries, but nothing is sticking and it's not supposed to. My husband will make it home safe and sound not skidding on snow and ice in his old Ford Ranger.
5. I am still pregnant. I am not nursing a newborn during all this drama. I do not have to worry about the baby getting pink eye.
6. I do not have a fever. I feel like I do, but the thermometer begs to differ. I did take Tylenol just in case.
7. Last, but not least, I think I felt a small flutter today while I was trying to nap on the couch. There's nothing better than that.