Infected

The Dimock household is infected, more specifically Linus.  During the last days of our Hawaiian vacation I noticed a red spot on Linus' leg and it didn't go away or get smaller.  Last Monday I took him into the doctor and they confirmed my suspicion of ringworm. Yuck.  Given all the time we have spent swimming recently, it isn't too shocking.


Fast forward to the weekend.  After a wonderful hike with our PEPs group, Linus woke up from his afternoon nap with some red bumps around his mouth.  We thought they might be a result of irritation from his nasty, well-used binky.  We threw out the binky and hoped they would go away quickly.  They didn't.  Then we thought that perhaps they were cold sores.  Linus wasn't complaining, wasn't running a fever, and didn't seem to notice them at all.  When Monday arrived, I packed up the kids and headed to Portland to visit my older sister, Beth.  I briefly considered taking him to the doctor, but figured I was over-reacting.


The reunion between Linus and his cousin, Dylan, was something out of a 19th century romance novel.  Linus leapt from the car screaming "Dylan" and ran for the porch of their house.  Dylan came running out of the door, screaming "Linus."  There was an embrace.  Hearts melted just a little bit.


The visit was off to a good start and the kids napped.  We then headed for the playground. As Linus rode the merry-go-round I suddenly saw a blister on his hand. Uh-oh.  I consulted Beth and we decided to take Linus into an urgent care with the promise of ice cream afterwards.


Linus was an amazing and compliant patient.  I was mortified when the doctor took off his crocs to reveal blackened feet (in my defense we had just been at the playground). The doctor was lovely and then gave us the bad news.  Linus has a classic case of hand-foot-and-mouth disease.


AHHHHH!


Worse, he is highly contagious.  There is no treatment.  We just have to wait it out.  After a quick trip to Dairy Queen for blizzards, I made the decision to pack the kids back up and head home despite it already being 8:30 pm.  A trip through the McDonald's drive-thru provided me the worst latte I have ever had in my life, but the caffeine was necessary.


I have so far spent the day attempting to disinfect the house, wiping down toys, door knobs, surfaces.  The hardest part is trying to keep Linus away from the baby and anything she might want to play with.  I now have hand sanitizer at the ready.  I feel like I have OCD.  I am trying not to make a big deal, but it's really hard to contain my anxiety when Linus wants me to hold his blistered, diseased hand.  My skin is beginning to crawl.


The Dimocks are now in quarantine.  Last Monday it was ringworm.  This Monday it was hand-foot-and-mouth disease.  I can't wait to see what next Monday brings!!  Just call me Typhoid Mary.  When we are finally infection free, I need to go to a Korean spa and get scrubbed down if I ever want to ever be comfortable in my own skin again.  I need a night out.  And maybe a drink.