Public Health Enemy #1

Does this face scare you?

"Public health threat" were the actual words the school nurse used to describe Carmen today when she called me to come and get her.

She must have been annoyed that she couldn't reach me immediately; she probably called home first, but I was at the doctor for my 6-week check-up. And since I was at the doctor, I didn't answer my cell phone, either. But, for once, I did know I'd missed a call and remembered to check my voice mail when I left. So I got the message and called the nurse back.

When I did not show enough motherly concern, telling her Carmen always gets a croupy-sounding cough when she gets a cold, she said she wouldn't allow her back to class without seeing the doctor and demanded she be tested for Whooping Cough.

So instead of running the errands I planned on running, I went to pick up Carmen. Then I came home to call the doctor (because I didn't have the number in my phone!) but there was no answer, no answering service, nothing. So we drove to their office. Their phones were not working, but the office was, and they agreed to have Carmen see the nurse practitoner right away.

To stave off the boredom, Carmen took pictures while we were waiting in the examination room:
Allison, the NP, heard Carmen cough almost immediately, which was convenient. I explained to her what the school nurse had said, including the info that they'd had confirmed cases of pertussis in the neighborhood recently. Allison talked it over with Dr. W, our pediatrician, and he agreed that she didn't need the test. She feels fine and doesn't even have a fever. They did give her a prescription for her cough, though, and a note to go back to school tomorrow.
Incidentally, here is my OB, Dr. R, with Eva:

While we were at the pediatrician, I asked if we could weigh Eva, just because I was curious. She's up to 11 pounds, 14 ounces--what a chunk! I had no idea!

Jackie had asked to take Paloma today, which was great since she would've been bored at both appointments. Here she is afterwards, trying on Jackie's glasses: