Oh no, here we go. We've been lucky so far.

Wearing masks and being psycho about handwashing has been good for more than just COVID precautions.

Neither of our girls has had even a slight cold this cold season. 

Usually they are the kids with constant runny noses because of school and daycare.

I remember when they were babies, other moms and I would joke and call it "daycare nose" because what the actual fuck. How can a nose run that constantly but yes it's not sickness or allergies? 

Anyway. 

Ava started with a cough earlier this week.

Nothing crazy. 

It hasn't gotten worse. 

No other symptoms.

So when it was time to fill out the school survey, I answered honestly and said she had one of the symptoms listed. A cough.

I got a message saying to keep her home and follow the "Return to School" protocol. Which means doctor visit and COVID test to get cleared.

So of course, that's what we did.

(I'm SO grateful for having a flexible job).

I got an appt for 11am and off we went.

Ava and Mr. Hedgehog waiting to get checked out.

Poor Bubba fell asleep right before dinner.

Since she "had symptoms" the COVID test was more invasive than mine was. They did the brain-touching kind, but Ava did great. I knew she would.

I ran around all day I felt like. 

After her appointment, I stopped at Steve's work to get more washer fluid.

Then after that, I stopped by my friend's work, which happens to be our Allergist's office and signed paperwork for Ava to start allergy shots. 

She's just always suffering or has these flare ups that we can't figure out. I didn't want to start shots because she's just so small. And 4 shots is a lot.

But, her new pediatrician did convince me that her daily allergy issues is much much worse. 

So, ok. That's all the kick in the ass I needed. 

After THAT we came home and I had a 1pm call.

I took that call and then it was almost time to pick up Mila from school.

As soon as GF got in the car she said "I have a scratchy throat - it just started"

OK THEN.

As the evening went on, her runny nose got progressively worse.

I made the decision to just keep her home and go through this process again with her. 

Sigh. I guess I have to be happy that this is legit the first time they've been under the weather since A YEAR AGO.

That's very unusual for my sickness-prone children. 

And, I'd rather deal with all this now, before they go back to school full time in 1.5 weeks.Friday Mila woke up and was still the same. Very, very runny nose and just looked miserable. I 100% believed she had what Ava has (NOT Covid).

But, having gone through this process the day before, I call the pediatrician's office to ask if we could do a Rapid Test on Mila in town, versus having to bring her into the office to be seen. The office is 40 minutes away and while I LOVE THEM, I just didn't want to do it again. Remember folks, I'm still supposed to be working...and Thursday was just a lot of driving with dropping Mila at school, driving home. Then driving to the doc's office with Ava and our several stops out that way. Then home. Then pick up Mila from school. 

ANYWAY.

Friday was the same except we didn't have as many stops and the Rapid test place is right in town.

We had a GREAT experience at this Wellness Now+ urgent care.

Not only was every pretty speedy (except for the 10-minute test results...that took 30 minutes) anyway, super nice people. 

Learning what daytime soaps are all about.

As I mentioned above, the 10-minute Rapid Test was more like a 30 minute wait. The girls were getting antsy, as they weren't feeling well. The doctor commented twice on how well-behaved they were and said "you'd be surprised - we see a lot of kids and you have yourself a couple of angels there" omg so cute. He was an older gentleman and so freaking cute.

The doctor suspected a cold or another virus, but did NOT think it was COVID.

The results came back and we were all right - NEGATIVE.

I assumed Ava's would be the same.

I had to login to MyChart to see her results.

We got home and chilled out and I tried to get some freaking work done.

Steve texted me about an hour later with Ava's results - also NEGATIVE.

So I have to get documents to school saying they can go back this week (only Thursday/Friday this week).

Phew. What a whirlwind. 

Going through this process each time a kid has a runny nose? 

Mind you, a runny nose is ONE symptom on their school's list I have to fill out each morning.

But it's NOT a symptom on my local "tracker" that I login to each morning and verify my symptoms (or lack thereof) just to help our community with tracking.

Anyway. Whatever.

Just so glad my babies only have a cold and are already feeling better.