He's had a rather significant cold for the last week and half, and missed quite a bit of school (as I've missed work).  Ear pain this morning sent us to the doctor, assuming an ear infection.  His ears are fine, but his lungs?  Not so much. 

3 scrips from the doc sent us to Kroger, where we did the week's shopping (mostly, sans list as we were) whilst waiting for the meds.  Both boys were bouncing off the walls, which left Mommy threatening severe entertainment impairment, and frustrated and flustered.  Got home, called Mom four states away, accomplishing nothing but making myself feel guilty for calling when Mom said she felt terrible for not being here (seriously.  Not Mom's fault we live forever away.  It is what it is, and I probably shouldn't have said anything, but Hubby's been off traveling for the same week and a half, and I was feeling the need to share).

Then , lovely surprise of surprises, Kroger did'nt actually give us all of the bottles.  The neighbors aren't home yet, so we all have to pile back in the car to run back to the store and pick up the steroid they forgot to give us when we were first there.

This is after $200 for bread, milk, other staples and some snacks for the next week, $30 for the visit copay and $30 more for the meds (and I'm on a 90/10, so this isn't quite the end of the bill).

Yeah, the economy's great, especially since I'm not at all worried about repercussions from missing two weeks of work because the kids are ill.

Actually, my director is extremely family friendly, and I have the ability to do some work from home, so this is probably not the end of the world.  But I recognize that, in this day and age, we're very lucky.  We have health insurance, I have a job that's at least somewhat flexible, and I work for people who understand my situation. 

I am so not the norm.

But you know what?  I think I should be.  I guess that's why I can't vote "real" conservative (whatever that means today).  I'm all about personal responsibility, believe me.  Sometimes, however, personal responsibility means taking actions that are contrary to "conservative" interests - like a woman working for a living, or taking time to take care of family when they're ailing while trying to maintain a job, or just sucking it up and doing what needs to be done, even if I'd rather the situation were different.

Sometimes we don't get our first choice, you know?  Maude knows, my first choice would be my son healthy, not suffering from freaking pneumonia.

So, posting will be what it is this week.  TV is being devoted to Spongebob, and spare computer moments should probably go more to paid work.