Quarantine

Imagine having a fever, and then suddenly looking at your limbs and noticing red spots. Taking a deep breath in, pain begins radiating down your throat as your tongue finds sore after sore.

Is it the plague?

Nope.

Oh my God, you have small pox!

Not quite.

Bird flu?

No.

Are you dying?

Don't be a drama queen.

What is this feverish hell you ask? 

Ladies, and gentleman may I present the joy that is HAND FOOT AND MOUTH disease!

Margo day 5 

Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease is a virus, and like all viruses, the only thing to make them go away is time.

That means, no pill or shot. Just day after day of quarantine, because until the fever disappears it is highly contagious.

Yes.

Highly.

Contagious.

Yes. The highly contagious that would spread from one child to the other and then the other.

Three girls within five days suffering a high fever and varying degrees of sores.

It was bad.

There were sleepless nights and round the clock doses of Motrin to help with the pain. There were oatmeal baths, and repeat applications of Aquaphor.

Popsicles. Milkshakes. Milk. Gatorade.

And even a few applications of magic mouthwash - equal parts liquid Maalox and liquid Benadryl dabbed on mouth sores. It does live up to the name. 

I thought the five days of quarantine were bad and then Bryan came home with a fever.

Usually I am one to make fun of the "Man Cold" or "Man illness" but in this case, the sores on his hands, feet and mouth have made me a little more sympathetic.

Here he is, day 6 walking in pain as the sores on the pads of his heels and feet pop open, wincing as his fingers hurt. I feel bad.

But not bad enough to want to get it too. As of today, I'm fever free. I have no sores and I pray to God I remain this way.

So, if you think you are having a bad summer, it could be worse.

Your house could be taken over by Hand, Foot, and Mouth.

The above photos were taken day 1, and yes Margo is rocking her beads, because nothing says "I have a contagious virus that hurts like a mother" quite like purple Mardi Gras beads.