Out of Touch

I've been a wee bit out of touch for the last week or so.  Between the general demands of a generally demanding week at work and being sick with strep(?)/cold/sinus infection/cough, the thought of doing much other than exactly what I absolutely had to do, was just too much.  And getting mentally ready for our trip out of the country tomorrow has been pretty taxing, too.  I say getting mentally ready because we haven't yet started to pack.  I've made lists, I've done laundry, I've thought about the things we have to do, but I think it's all going to come down to the mad dash between tonight and tomorrow morning. 

Actually, we didn't even think we'd be able to go until today, thanks to some poorly-timed illness on Samantha's part, too.  She had a cold last week, but managed to smile through it.  As a matter of fact, she actually seemed happier and more energetic while she had that cold that she'd been before she got it!  Knowing her track record for the last few months with ear infections (after 3 1/2 years of no ear infections, she seems to have begun to get them every time she gets a cold lately), we decided to be proactive and take her to the doctor on Thursday to make sure she didn't have one.  And guess what?  Yep, she sure did.  So this time the doctor decided to put her on a 4-week antibiotic (don't ask me which one, I never keep track of that stuff) to really clear her out, in the thought that all of her infections are just the same one from January, coming back to haunt us.  No sooner did she begin that med when she began to get whiny and lethargic.  On Sunday she got a fever.  We couldn't believe that something was outlasting 3 days of antibiotics, so after 3 hours in Urgent Care and a throat swab later, Samantha tested positive for Strep.  Sheesh.  This is her first experience with that, too, of course.  So, a quick scratch of a pen on a prescription pad, and a new antibiotic to replace the old one was presented.  After a rough night, she slept very comfortably and peacefully long into the morning and woke up a new girl.  Happy and playing, and happily (although gingerly) munching a cookie (first food in a while). 

A well-placed call to Virgin Atlantic before she transformed herself this morning told Steve that to re-schedule our trip due to illness, they would not charge us a change fee if we could present a letter from the doctor stating that Samantha isn't fit to fly tomorrow.  He was also told (now that he'd told them who we are and explained to them about Samantha's ear infection) that we'd now have to present a letter from her doctor stating that she is fit to fly tomorrow.  So it's off to the pediatrician in the morning for full confirmation, one way or the other. 

Now if only I can clear my head of gunk so I don't burst during take-off or landing...

So, we'll be pretty much out of touch for the next week.  I won't have computer or phone access while I'm gone, other than at a few random intervals.  I'm already anticipating feeling lost without them.  I guess I can just try to feel like a pioneer, much like I'll be expecting Samantha to feel without her beloved Caillou, Dora or Max and Ruby at the click of the DVR button.  I know she'll ask for them, too, and how much guilt will I feel??  I'll miss all the blogs I read regularly, and will be thinking good thoughts for those that need them. 

Bye for now!