Foot and What?

It’s been two weeks since Dash started day care here on base, and as expected, he’s been coming home smelling like piss and looking like a homeless child. I dress him well, and it’s like these people don’t even understand the value of outfits: they don’t last forever, people. Yet, I refuse to send my son out into the world in sweatpants and sport-oriented shirts.

This week he got sent home one day because of a Hand, Foot & Mouth disease scare. Yep, HAND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. Apparently they had a couple of confirmed cases, and Daschel had a rash. They had to be sure, so they ordered me to take him to the clinic. The doctor said he had a heat rash from the long weekend [we already knew that, but the day care wasn't interested in our layman diagnoses, only theirs mattered].

So, let me get this straight: Hand foot and mouth disease, confirmed cases, and I’m supposed to send him back? They must be insane. He’s finishing this week, then I don’t know what will happen. The school year is almost over and I’ll be jobless again, so who the heck cares?

I’m anxious for September when German kindergarten begins and he can get off this damned base. So much sickness and strangeness he doesn’t need to be exposed to.

In the meantime, my friends and I are going for tattoos this weekend. I’m thinking about something on my neck near my collar bone, or on my chest right below the collar bone. I won’t tell you what it is until it’s done, but feel free to comment on my location choice: obviously I adore being judged. Keep in mind both arms and wrists are taken.

Cheers

Wait– you’re inked already? Pix plz, kthx.

And I like the location, particularly below the collarbone. It’s hott. That’s right, with TWO Ts.

Hi Paige,

Yep, Hand, Foot and Mouth is quite common in daycare. We have a couple of cases every 6 months or so. Supposedly you can only get it once…

And they have to send any kid with a rash home if it’s going around. I know, it’s a real bummer as a teacher to send a kid home knowing he has a heat rash, or a bunch of bug bites, but the stupid crud is soooo contagious that they need a dr.’s say so to let the kid back. Yesterday, a mom dropped something and squeezed her little daughter when she bent to pick it up, and the girl lost her lunch. We all figured that was it, since she had no other symptoms, and she stayed. You guessed it—stomach flu all night, high fever, 3 kids out with it today…

Anyway the H, F, & M thing is more a nuisance than anything, since the kids can’t eat when it spreads to their mouths, but it is dangerous to pregnant women. It is less prevalent as the kids get older, and don’t put toys in their mouths and aren’t teething anymore. So they might not get it in German kindergarten, but I bet they do in child care for the younger kids.

Robin

i love neck tattoos. i don’t think what i want will work in the location i want, which was neck/shoulder area. can’t wait to see what you get, though.