1. Write a post inspired by the word: over.
Well yesterday was an adventure. I drove 30 minutes to sell an American Girl doll on Offerup and the gal who was supposed to meet me never showed up. Pat and I have a couple of fun little ebay shops we run together but we also sell things on Offerup…a platform I despise. I despise it because I have to interact with humans face to face IF they actually show up. And despite the name of the platform, it seems most people OfferDOWN. “Will you take $10 for your $20 item?” Who wants to drive out of their way to interact with strangers for $10!? I told Pat I don’t work for less than $20 an hour so I don’t even bother responding to those people. Take a hike with your low offers, I’ve got a family to feed!
After my no show date, I headed back to pick up Kainoa. Last week we went to urgent care to take care of what we thought might be some kind of allergic reaction causing a hive breakout and a swollen eye. His prescription took care of the hive outbreak, but then he developed massively swollen lymph nodes along his jaw and the eye was still swollen. He hasn’t been in any pain, no fever, no other symptoms and Google told me he was likely fighting an infection and the lymph nodes would be normal in a few days. When they weren’t normal in a few days my mom was like “We don’t mess around with eye stuff, you should take him back in” so I did. And then they were like “whoa this is extremely swollen, we think he might have Cat Scratch Disease but we don’t test for that. You need to take him to the emergency room.”
Aside: Why do we get the most embarrassing diseases? No one wants to say “I have a very serious form of Cat Scratch Disease and spent the evening in the emergency room”. Just like back when I was diagnosed with Slapped Face Disease. Why does it have to be so descriptively accurate?
Anyway, we drove to Children’s Hospital. They were amazing. They checked us in, drew blood, performed an ultrasound on the swollen area, completed a chest Xray, drew more blood and they sent us on our way with a prescription for antibiotics. The good news is that all of his labwork and tests came back normal, but he still left everyone quite puzzled. He was diagnosed with “Lymphangitis” which is basically code for “swollen lymph nodes and we’re not sure why.” At least they don’t call it “Fat Lymph Node Disease,” I do appreciate the fancier title. They ruled out Cat Scratch Disease because there was no infected scratch or bite and no evidence of any other symptom that should have presented with that diagnosis.
After seven hours at the hospital, I walked out with a renewed respect for our healthcare workers who were so amazing. I could hear kids crying in other rooms and my heart just breaks for the families who have much more serious problems. The hospital is its own different planet with an entirely different sense of time removed completely from the trivial concerns of whatever is going on outside of that community. How these medical professionals are able to mentally focus on such serious traumas and diseases every. single. day. while I’m over here selling American Girl dolls as a side hustle is beyond me. They are better people. I am so grateful they continue to show up for us. More than anything I’m grateful that our hospital resulted in a minor issue and is now over!
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back to add your name to the link list below. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1. Write a post inspired by the word: over.
2. Tell us about something you collect.
3. Write about the last time you visited a friend.
4. Write about something that made you smile recently.
5. Write about how you manage to stay positive during this global pandemic.
john Holton says
“Slapped Face Disease”?
I’m happy for you (and him) that Kainoa’s all right. Your mom is right, don’t mess with the eyes.