Cold Season

We were this close.

This close to taking the record for going months and months without getting sick, and then it happened. I should have seen the warning signs. They say animals can sense when something horrible is about to happen, some natural disaster or alien invasion, or something. The animal kingdom forgot to tell our lazy yellow lab because just yesterday I noticed Emily had a runny nose. No big deal. Today I picked our little one up from school and she sounded like she had swallowed a frog. And I checked with the teacher - no missing class pets. Damn! And before I can start cursing out the dog, she begins sneezing and coughing...ooh poor baby. I worry we are in for a long night tonight.

So I rush to the pharmacy like a junkie who has gone a few hours without a hit and the helpful pharmacist tells me about some new guidelines for over-the-counter cold meds and how the FDA is saying we really shouldn't be dosing our kids with the stuff. "Take at own risk", kinda thing. Are you frickin kidding me? Yeah, like I'm gonna take his word for it! Doesn't he know how this is supposed to go? Just give me the damn medicine, I'll hand over the cash and we never have to see each other again. Doesn't this know-it-all understand that messing with mommies of sick preschoolers is like taking the Miley Cyrus cd from a tween. Or canceling cable right before Super Bowl?

So I do what any sensible mother would do. I thank the pharmacist for the new guideline information and assure him with my least frantic voice and brightest smile that I am completely confident and well cautioned and in control and I want the medication. I smile again, swipe my card, and take my purchase and leave. As soon as I'm in my car I begin to laugh like the mad women we know I really am until I begin coughing. Oh damn, not me too!!!