Polka Dot Family

This week I have been a little under the weather…nothing major…just a little virus.  I've been snuffy, tired, headache etc.  Jerry and I had been planning all week to go to the temple tonight.  I was sure I would be feeling well enough and planned my day accordingly. 

Last night Sophia was a little under the weather but with a good night's rest she seemed well enough today.  This morning Olivia woke with a sore throat and hadn't slept very well.  Emily had a headache which got progressively worse through the day.  Later in the afternoon she started to complain of a tummy-ache, and carried a bowl with her everywhere she went.  Then Nathan came in and said, "Mom - I think I have a rash.  Look!"  His chest and stomach were covered with red polka dots.  Earlier this week he'd been feverish and had chills, and had complained of a headache a few times, but I didn't connect it with the rash at first. 
 
I started to wonder if we should maybe stay home from the temple.  Emily was worried that I wouldn't be there if she threw up.  She's only 8 and I can totally understand that.  Throwing up is one of the worst kinds of sick, and having Mom there makes it a teency bit easier to stand. 

Jerry had come up to change for the temple and I went into the room to fill him in on our recent state of ill health.  When I brought up Nathan's polka dots his eyes opened wider and he said (while lifting his shirt), "Do they look like these?" He had discovered them only minutes before as he was changing.  His polka dots matched Nathan's exactly.  "Yikes!!  Okay.  That settles it.  We are staying home tonight."

I then proceeded to check every other member of the family, including myself, for polka dots.  Olivia has them..mainly on her legs.  In the meantime, Nathan had a few polka dots show up on his legs and feet. 

I looked up a few things online, verified that no one was feverish, and decided that I think we just have a viral rash.  Calling them red polka dots is fun but probably makes them seem bigger and scarier than what they actually are.  I think we'll stay home a day or two and if they are not gone, have the doctor check them out.  But I think they will just disappear as quickly as they came.  I'm not too worried. 

However, Jacob is now convinced of the health benefits of immense peanut butter and honey sandwiches on homemade whole wheat bread.  He consumes these several times a day and figures that is why he is polka dot free.

And Nathan came to me as I was fixing dinner and said, "If we clean up the house really quick, do you think we could have a 'WE ARE ALL SICK' party tonight?"  I don't know that we really had a party tonight, but we did watch something together as a family before heading up to bed. 

Now, we'll just pray that Emily's stomach is settled enough for Jerry and I to get a good night's rest.