Or at least that’s what I’m calling it.
Approx. 3-4 weeks ago, Casa de Thomas was struck by Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (which is in NO WAY affiliated with Mad Cow Disease….or cows). We think it started with M-Man, the weekend of June 21st. He claims to have been “feverish ” and “not feeling well”…..although he didn’t tell ANYONE, yet proceeded to become the only Thomas to wake-board.
A few days later, specifically, June 24th, T-man came down with a HORRIBLE fever (along with headache, nausea……none of which Advil helped)…which lasted through the 26th. He wasn’t able to participate in Large-Boston-area College Basketball Camp for those 3 days….so we are just calling his camp fee a “donation” to the athletic department. He attended Friday…..apparently he declared himself BORED staying at home…but complained about blisters on his feet as we were driving home. I attributed the blisters to the new b-ball shoes we bought. (and….to put it as politely as possible…..I didn’t really want to look at T-man’s feet —YUCK!)))
Friday, June 27th, Little Guy wasn’t feeling well…..run down and feverish (no other symptoms, appetite is OK)…..couldn’t tell if it was the same as T-man, or just a case of possible exertion/dehydration from the hoops camp. On Saturday, Little Guy had a birthday party to attend, and he claimed, and swore up and down, that he was feeling better. (Mom noticed slow movement and lethargy…but who am I to argue???). Little Guy has been invited to so few parties this year…..I questioned him up and down on “how he was feeling”…..and he convinced me enough to send him to the birthday party.
The following day, Sunday, was Little Guy’s soccer team’s end of the season party. We all went—big boys too (although begrudgingly). After the party, Little Guy is complaining about spots/blisters on his hands and feet. Once we get home, Hubby checks them….yes, Little Guy has red spots and blisters. So I check out my trusty friend, Dr. WebMD.com, and when I put together “fever” and “spots/blisters”……the answer came up as Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease…….which is typically acquired by children 10 and under, primarily toddlers. [yes–I did the “right thing” and contacted all the parents who went to the party]
You wanna guess what’s happens Wednesday July 2nd????
I come down with a mongo-huge fever, no appetite, advil did ZILCH to take away the fever. And it flows into July 3rd—-the day we leave for vacation. Luckily, I am strong-willed enough to “cure myself” to the point where I can make it to the airport.
But the REAL FUN doesn’t begin until July 4th……where I start developing blisters, hot spots, peeling skin….molting….on my hands and feet……which as been going on for 3 fun-filled weeks now. My feet are raw and tender, and walking (my primary form of exercise) is painful. So much for it being a 10 and under disease.
I have bought myself a $5 bottle of nail polish and given myself a home-remedy mani/pedi, because NO MANICURIST would want to touch my feet. I spent 3 days putting Neosporin on the tender spots, kept my feet up, done little to nothing. I take a decent-length walk, and my feet are BURNING in pain. Today, I went to the beach, the hot sand BURNED my feet, the wet sand scratched my feet, and the cold water felt refreshing. My feet are actually worse now……sigh.
So I sit here and complain trying to figure out how in god’s name I will function with burning feet………
One step at a time.
VP of Domestic Affairs 