Really??? Poison Ivy????

Okay...so here it is....my house loves chaos.  We thrive off it.  If its not one thing, its another.  I am sure it always will be.  There are five busy people under our roof.  Boredom is rarely an issue.  Organization...well I love it but sometimes struggle too.  I don't always get the kids bathed when they need it.....that's why we have a creek, right??  <wink wink>  Not really....they usually come out of the creek muddier than they go in...lol

  Last week, in the chaos and busyness of  life, Annie and I somehow got poison ivy.  Poison Ivy....... Now where did that come from?  I've walked the creek many times and still have yet to see poison ivy.  I may not have gotten it there either....I've been a few other places too.  Well, as an RN, I avoid going to the doctor...lol.... Actually we don't have insurance and as an RN, I play resident family doctor and do it myself.  Well, after a week and a half of misery I was persuaded by my sweet husband to go to the doctor.  Argh!!! Spend money on the doctor!  

  Well, I did.  Annie and I had a 2:30 appointment.  I got the kids rounded up and headed to the car.  Hap found a flower and had to pick it....consequently "picking" an angry wasp too.  Screaming, my son ran back to the house.  We frantically flew threw cupboards looking for meds.  Hap's asthmatic and allergies hit him hard...and bee stings make me nervous.  

  Not finding "sting stop", I put his hand in a zip lock bag full of baking soda....kiss him and throw him in the car...  If we have to pay for the doctor...he'll look at Hap's hand too.  And...I come prepared with every asthmatic med known by man.

  We get to the clinic...my poison ivy rash quite apparent to anyone staring.  Who cares...I have a rash....<smile smile>  Who hasn't had a rash....lol  They call us back.  I suddenly realize I didn't comb Annie's hair or wash the PB & J off her face from lunch.  Argh!  That will look good with her rash... 

  The wonderful nurse pulls us into our room.  Hap starts coughing...his asthma triggered by the bee sting.  Mattie climbs onto the patient table and Annie and I sit in the corner chair.  Confused which of us is the patient, the nurse just smiles.  (Hap's hand still wrapped in baking soda and zip lock).  Oh NO!! Mattie also has PB & J on her face.  I smile.  The nurse asks what she can do for us.  I bare my "rashy" leg.....the nurse stares for a minute and confirms we have a problem.  I still think she is confused whether to treat us, my daughter on the patient table or my asthmatic son.

   The doctor steps in.  Asking to see Annie's rash, Annie pulls down her pants, showing him her legs.  I then realize Annie neglected underwear.  I smile at the doctor who still looks confused: should he be treating my asthmatic son, my semi naked daughter, the girl on the patient table or  their rashy mother?

 "My son is okay"...I tell the doctor... (as an "asthmatic" mom, I get used to coughing and wheezing...it's been our life).  I forget others aren't so used to it.  I can tell the doctor's not convinced.  He offers to get Hap  Benedryl....bless his heart.

So....back to the rashes.  After a minute of staring at rashes....and staring at rashes....and staring....the doctor  tells me he needs to "confer" with his colleagues.

A nice group of doctors shuffles into our room.  Poison ivy must be rare in our parts?  My sweet daughter voluntarily pulls down her pants again....again no underwear. :)  Being the sweet three year old she is, she then chooses to pass gas....her tummy sometimes dictates that.   And....bless her heart....it was potent.   Again....all I could do.....*smile*... as the doctors politely shuffle out of the room (glancing compassionately at the asthmatic 5 year old (hand in a bag of white stuff).  

  "Okay"....the doctor looks at us.  "I really think this is poison ivy."  "Go home and throw away your bar soap, and anything that's contacted the "ivy oils".   Huh??  It's been a week and a half..... (that will be half my house).  He then gives us a prescription and escorts us to the door.  

The kids each grab a sucker at the reception desk...all smiles.  I have to help Hap as his hand is still in baking soda.  We then shuffle out the door and climb in the brown durango with spilled sunflower seeds all over the floor.  Hap has now quit coughing....  We're done.

I have to wonder what the doctor thought....  I truthfully don't care....but still wonder.  It's good we don't come in often.  :)  

And I do normally bathe the kids.  <wink wink>