MONO

First Pneumonia, now the girl has Mono. It all makes sense now. Really there is not much you can do about mono except lots of fluids, lots of rest and lots of waiting. The fever should be gone within a few days and then she can go back to school. Its been a week! As long as she's not smooching anyone or otherwise swapping spit, she is NOT contagious. Dr. G informed her that it is the "kissing disease" and we both want to know who she's been kissing!

Tonight before bed she came in to tell me good night and gave me a big hug and then gave me a mournful look before saying, "mama I am gonna miss kissing you!" As if we'll never smooch again.

As for me, I am not anemic and my sonogram today was largely (thank goodness) unremarkable. A few small cysts and a small fibroid. She even checked my kidneys! The tech at Ultrasound Associates was VERY nice to me and I could tell she was a bit on eggshells as my last visit didn't go well. I could tell she had reviewed my record when she coyly tried to pry without prying by asking, "how old is your youngest now?" For those needing a translation that was her way of finding out if Max survived what they called catastophic to me to my 18 week pregnant face. Not a good memory.

Now, I am thinking I might have mono ... hmmmmmmmmm. I am pretty convinced I have found the cause of hypocondria. Parenthood. I have always been responsible and on top of things, but I never considered myself a worrier before I had a kid. Now it seems like its all I do.

I do have an appointment with a regular doctor in about a week. I can't believe my girl has the kissin disease!

I will depart with one more Ella-ism from our car ride to the doctor today.
Her: Mama, what is the shell of an ant called again?
Me: Um, uh, mmm, I don't know
Her: Exoskeleton, right?

Yes, she was just testing me. She knew damn well what the answer was!

Added because so many people have asked:

Mononucleosis typically occurs the first time a person is infected with Epstein-Barr virus. Once a person is infected, the virus remains alive in the body for the rest of his or her life. After the initial infection, it rarely produces any kind of illness, but it can be transmitted to others. The initial infection with Epstein-Barr virus does not always cause mononucleosis. It often causes only a mild illness, like a cold, or no illness at all. Epstein-Barr virus permanently infects more than 90% of the people on Earth, but it causes mononucleosis only in a small minority of them.

Mononucleosis usually goes away on its own, and most treatment focuses on making the person more comfortable. Because there is no medical cure for mononucleosis, the basic treatment plan usually calls for getting plenty of rest and fluids and treating any uncomfortable symptoms. For example, cold drinks, frozen desserts and gargling with salt water can help to relieve minor sore throat pain. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken to fight fever and body aches.

Ella's Version of Love

Me: "What do you think is an example of love?"

Ella: "When Daddy gets lots of extra gas to put in your car."

Me: "How do you know that Mommy and Daddy love you?"

Ella: "Because you tell me to eat healfy (healthy) and to eat lots of protein and because you want me to have meat on my bones. "

pause....

Ella: "Mama, what's meat on my bones?"

Ella's Christmas List

She started out asking for a penguin and a wish box. What the heck is a wish box?, you ask. It is a box that you put your wishes in at night and in the morning they come true. She's a GENIUS. That's like asking the magic genie for 1000 more wishes. Where do you get a wish box you may ask. Well, according to Ella, "from Santa silly!"

But today she changed course. I told her the we would probably go tomorrow morning to visit Santa. Here is how our conversation went.

Ella: "Mama I don't need to go see Santa."

Me: "Well how will he know what you want?"

Ella: "Mama I'll take whatever that guy wants to give me!"

I am NOT making this up. She also gave me the chocolate out of her Advent calendar this morning. I do not think she is a normal kid. I know she is a better person than I am!

Memories...

As Max starts learning to make new sounds (current favs being GA and BA), in the corners of my mind I am remembering some of Ella's early words. One of her very first words, along with mama, dada, and gram, was fluer (flower but she really pronounced it like fluer - Fluuuuu-er).

And for Butterfly, she would say Flutterby. I thought that made a lot of sense.

Another Ella Classic

On Friday, upon being picked up from afterschool care.

Me: "So how was your day? Did you have a good first week of school?"

Ella: "Yes, mama, but its time to stop playing and do our work. We played too much this week!"

I think she doesn't realize that though they seem to be playing they are learning. In 4 days they'd already had 3 days of PE, 1 day of Art and 1 day of Music. And they say public schools are no good :)

Carefulllll

Look how careful she's being with those eggs. You would NEVER think this is the same girl who found her way into mama's makeup last night. While I was out to dinner with a girlfriend, and with daddy in charge, she managed to complete quite the art project in the master bathroom. I wish he had taken a picture. It was all cleaned up by the time I came home, but I think it was a miracle she was alive. Dad was NOT pleased. The first thing she said this morning was "Mama, I am sorrrrry about your make-up. I made a gigantic mess!"

Still I find it impossible to be too upset with her. She's just too darn sweet.

Brand Recognition

Something has gone terribly amiss! This morning on my way to drop off the kiddos I was commenting to the girl about how tasty my coffee was. Giving my hubby props, I say "Daddy makes the best coffee!" She gasps and says "BETTER THAN STARBUCKS!?"

She's 4. I should be ashamed ... but strangely, I am not. Its not like she drinks it ;)