Sick

Caleb and Elise had had runny noses for, well, there noses always run, but they had bad runny nose for a week and a half.  Then over the weekend their faces broke out in rashes.  So on Monday I bundled Elise in the stroller and put as many layers of clothes on Caleb as possible and we walked to the doctor's office in the cold wind and drizzly rain.  Elise goes into a writhing fit when ever I try to clean her face and Caleb's nose was so tender I hated to even touch it, so they looked like children needing your pocket change to make a go at life--damp, snot spread from ear to ear over red pimply rashes.  Elise's hair was mucus tinged and clinging to her cheek.   They were both whining from sleep deprivation.  I'm surprised they didn't extradite us on the spot. 

I've weaned myself over the years from going into the pediatrician the first time I see Elise licking the green ooze coming from her nose.  Sometimes, after two weeks, a couple boxes of tissue, warm drinks and lots of hot steamy baths, the illness goes away.  Most of this is allergy related (though it is hard to tell), so she isn't really contagious.  Just miserable.  Caleb, to a lesser extent deals with allergies as well.  They also have mild eczema. 

But on Monday I decided we needed to go to the doctor.  Australia has a medicare system.  As immigrants we will pay into it (I here we get some of that back), but we will not be able to use it.  We will have to buy private insurance--that being said, it looks to be a premium policy.  Chiropractic care and massage is covered and I'm thinking about going out and sustaining a back injury so the money doesn't go to waste. 

Speaking of taxes we will pay for things we will not use, schools are another.  Public schools will cost about as much as private schools for us.  And we will not be able to take advantage of many of the tax benefits afforded to families while we are here.  We don't get their equivalent of a deduction for dependents.  No home ownership deductions--even if we did own a house.  We will not pay for our health insurance with pre-tax dollars.  We will contribute to their equivalency of a 401k with pretax dollars (though it might also be compared to our social security) and when we leave we will be able to withdraw that money minus 30%.  Which is less of a hit than the 46% we will pay in income taxes. 

But, anyway, we went to see the doctor.  He was very attentive.  And we didn't see a nurse.  Everything was assessed and examined by him.  He prescribed the kids antibiotics that are to be taken four times a day with food.  And he prescribed them a cream that is to be applied four times daily.  Then we walked to the pharmacist, who upon noticing my desperation, sold an immune booster, multi-vitamin "to help prevent the catching of colds and viruses".  I bought it all.  It ended up being about a $200.00 trip. 

And the kids are feeling better.  Elise especially.  And I thought she was doing worse.  But that is probably because after I had taken the cap off the antibiotic and turned to find the medicine dispenser, she moved a chair over to the counter, climbed up, grabbed the bottle of antibiotic and began chugging it as if she were in a college drinking contest.  It must have looked worse than it really was and a quick call to the doctor assured me that she was probably going to live (if I didn't strangle her first!) after all, she was supposed to take 5.5 teaspoons a day. 

So, I am now urgently looking for a place to live.  I've decided the apartment is just impossible to secure.  Elise can easily move any chair to access the high spots.  She can climb on the commode to gain access to the counters in the bathroom.  Currently she loves to yell, "Watch this!  Watch this mommy!" and then hang like a monkey from the cutlery drawer.  Her other favorite activity is to fit her little body in any tiny cavity that she can find created by sofas against walls, coffee tables, spaces under beds, etc. and then yell, "I'm trapped!  I'm trapped!" 

So here I am in this apartment, nursing my children back to health, recovering from sleep deprivation, alone in a sea of singles and cosmopolitan yuppies, avoiding the cold winds or drizzly rain (it seems to be either one or the other lately) and watching Playschool featuring Bananas in Pajamas (an Aussie original--Caleb loves it).  I'm trapped!  I'm trapped!

Comments

[Lori]

I will be offering prayers for you and the kids this week.

You are managing much better than I would if I was in your shoes. Keep up the good work!

[Mom]

I'm afraid you have inherited your mother's "try everything else before going to the doctor" attitude. Remember, our dr. used to say he didn't see us until we had tried all the dog and cat medicine. (It worked most of the time, or by that time you were just over it). Hope that you all will soon be in a house! Love, Mom

[Amanda]

Both of my kids have the same thing going on, minus the rash. I'm like you, I do not run to the doctor every single time. I have learned when it will be a wasted visit and I will hear "It's just a cold." UGH!

[Sarah]

The "we,," should say "well." Oops--typing with 1 hand while nursing!!

[Sarah]

I'm sorry! I'm sorry! ;)

Seriously, I really am. The events that make the funniest stories later, we,, they are the least funny when they happen. And tell me again, why did you want to move??? We miss you!

[Barb]

You poor thing. I can tell you've had it with the apartment. Glad the kids are getting better and I hope you find a new home soon.