Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Got Germs?

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned on this blog that I have some tendencies toward hypochondria. I don't know why I developed this trait. Maybe it was the attention I got as a child when I was continually sick with legitimate illnesses like strep throat, mono, and the ever-present childhood stomach bug. My parents are very nurturing, so maybe I liked being nurtured when I was sick. Who can know?

In my adulthood I've also become somewhat of a germophobe. My natural inclination is to wash my hands 30 times a day and I have to remind myself that this is not normal. When I have to touch raw chicken you can multiply that number by two. Now that I'm a mother I continually battle the desire to disinfect everything that my child has touched or will touch. Jackson got to play on the indoor playground at Chick-fil-a for the first time a few weeks ago and I said to Curt, "It would be so great if I could just give Jackson some latex gloves to wear while he climbed around in there." He stared at me blankly. It just looked so germy in there. But who am I to spoil my child's fun because there might be some cold germs lurking?

He did in fact get a cold that resulted in all three of us being sick. Jackson and I are free of it, but Curt's cold is still hanging around. Last night at 11:30 he dug the humidifier out of Jackson's closet. In case you'd like to visualize this feat, Jackson's closet is very narrow and tiny. It is filled with baby gear piled up at least as tall as me. That would be five feet, eight inches. Some of my girlfriends have seen it and I'm sure they will testify that this is true. If you open the closet door you are risking a baby jumper, portable high chair, Boppy pillow, and a box full of Johnson and Johnson baby soap bottles jumping out at you.

What got me thinking about my germophobia was a little episode I had last night. Sunni hosted bunco at her house and we had the best time. She is such a natural hostess and is very easy-going about everything. We were treated to fried chicken from Babe's, homemade mashed potatoes, creamed corn, biscuits, and Paula Deen's sticky butter cake. Wow. My favorite detail of the party was these little napkins that said, "If I keel over in Walmart, drag my body to Neiman's." Love it.

Upon arrival, we of course asked where sweet little Ava was. Sunni said that she was in a room with Xavier, who was taking it easy because he'd had a stomach ache for two days. (Just an ache.) Due to my exaggerated fear of contracting a stomach virus, I began sweating and my pulse began to race. Within minutes I started experiencing nausea. I kid you not! Was I sick? Absolutely not! I say all this to make fun of myself because I am probably the most ridiculous person I know. If it were not for the interference of Jesus Christ in my life, I would have to live in some kind of institution. Or I might never leave my home. I am that kind of person.

Thankfully, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Thank you, Romans 8:28. Because I was a little "under the weather," I didn't exactly play my best. Yours truly won the bunco prize for most losses. So thank you Sunni for a wonderful night of bunco. And thank you Xavi for helping me underachieve to the point of winning a new serving dish for candy corns. I absolutely adore it. And Sunni, I appreciate that you are the type of friend who would indeed drag my body to Neiman's, or at least Super Target, if I ever keel over in Walmart.

61 comments:

Angela said...

I was in Walmart today buying laundry detergent and $3 polo's for my husband, along with other things. Wished I was somewhere else, Neimans would have been good. I sometimes go to Neimans or Nordstroms with a friend and try on the formal gowns. We pretend we have an event to go to. Fun Times.

Jackie said...

my stomach hurts I am laughing so hard. After having attended several of your mom's Bible studies, I think I can safely say you get SOME of your tendencies from her. She has mentioned a time or two that she would lock herself in her house with her family, never to leave...if she could, for fear that something may happen. I can just see you sitting there almost sick last night at the thought of getting sick- you're too much!!!

Hope you are feeling better now...

BethAnne said...

I am laughing because my oldest son wasnt allowed to play at Chick-fil-A until he was 4 because I am such a germophobe. My boys are 3 and 6 and I still use Clorox Cleanups on restaraunt tables when we eat out. Anytime we leave a store where they have ridden in a buggy, they immediately hold out their hands so they can get their inevitable dose of Germ-X. I have eased up with my germ obsession somewhat. Before my friends would ask me to go to Chick-fil-A for playdates and know I would make an excuse not to come. Now they know I will come as long as it is between the months of April and October (before and after flu season). It is a big joke with the girls at my church - I will play at anyone's home, but keep me away from indoor playgrounds! (I have had to go up in the McD's and Chick-fil-A playgrounds - you dont want to know what kind of things lurk there!)
Count me in on the Germophobe Club!

Marc and Charity said...

Oh my, this post was funny! I'm just like you in the hypochondriac stuff..not so much the germs but other things. And I love the quote on the napkin! Hilarious.

Anonymous said...

It is so good not to be alone in the germophobe department. I still cringe at the thought of my children playing on indoor play equipment...it is just not washed enough!

And ball pits, my 6 year old still wonders what they must be like!

As a result of excessive hand washing his first year of kindergarten was perfect attendance!

ocean mommy said...

What's not normal about that??!!

Just kidding. But I have to know where she found those napkins!!!!

blessings,
stephanie

Fran said...

Ok Amanda.....I think I, myself, could have written that post.....only 10 yrs ago....something changed along the way.....3 kids have come and I can't keep up the pace of being the "germaphobic!" Maybe another one or two(kids that is) will cure you! :)

I'm glad you survived the stomach ache.

R said...

I can't stand it when people give me that line, "the more germs your kids are exposed to, the stronger their immune systems will be". What bunk!

Take heart--my nearly-two-year-old daughter has recently begun to come to me several times a day asking "Washing hands?" to indicate that she wants to wash her little mitts. :0) Makes this OCD mama proud!

HAHA

AbbyLane said...

haha..my best friend's husband is a germophobe as well...once they all got a lysol spray-down after returning home from carowinds..just before getting in the shower, of course ;)

"Because I was a little "under the weather," I didn't exactly play my best."
...HAHAHAHA...you kill me :)

Amy T said...

How funny! Just think of it as immunity building! :) The more germs they are exposed to early one (within reason of course!) the healthier they will be in the long run! That's how I look at it anyway. Keeping a little boy germ free is impossible. And except for allergies (which he inherited from his stuffy nosed momma), he has not been sick in a long time.

debra parker said...

it is funny that you wrote about wal-mart and panicking....today I was in wal-mart and felt like panicking...

enjoyed your words.

Dionna said...

I have never played Bunco. Maybe one of these days....

David said...

That is so funny! I used to be the same way with Emma. For some reason we had to see a different pediatrician once when she was an infant. He told me very bluntly, to "STOP CLEANING EVERYTHING SHE TOUCHED!" It was really hard to take. I mean she was my first, precious pure baby! He said I was "not helping her immune system at all." I left feeling so defeated.
Now, I have issues when kids have a nasty congested cough and their parents still take them to school or anywhere where other children could be. My kids have asthma, I am sure the pedi mentioned above would say it is due to my "over-cleanliness". Anyway, the kids are super succeptible to upper respiratory infections. If we are anywhere and a kid starts hacking, I panick. I literally freak out inside.
Oh, I also freak out when someone not so close to us kisses our children on the lips over and over. Personal space people!! Ugh.
Love,
Keri

Finally an Abrigg..... said...

You and I are the SAME person. I used to come home crying in elementary school because someone threw up in class. I would "think" I was getting sick. When I started teaching school, I made it VERY clear that if the kids were sick, they were to leave the room immediately and to never get near me. :) haa...
I start pinching my stomach and get nervous resulting in some bruises.

Megan O. said...

Not to perpetuate the fear of Chik-Fil-A playlands or anything, but I have to share my most horrendous mom moment which happened there a couple of weeks ago....my potty-training three-year-old pooped up in one of the tunnels and got it EVERYWHERE. They had to shut down the playland while a (very brave)employee climbed up in there to clean up the mess. I was mortified while in the bathroom stall trying to clean up my child, overheard two other moms talking about how disgusting it was that "some kid" had pooped in the playland and how their kids wouldn't be going back inside (which I completely understand, still horrifying!) My husband kept teasing me that we were going to hear on the news that Chik-Fil-A had been shut down due to health code violations stemming from fecal matter in the playland! Needless to say, we won't be having any more Chik-Fil-A playdates any time soon!

Holly said...

I am making your Uncle Wayne's Chili today..praying for your Mom's class tonight and washing my hands like mad! I think I can safely blame experience for my hand-washing hypochondria...for the times when I haven't been vigilant I have gotten sick or the sickness that was there spread. So I wash, Chris' washes and the kids wash... :) And we're happy.

Also Chris and I both have the same kind of hypochondria when someone mentions stomach pains...we hate for anyone to be alone in their stomach sicknesses, or so it would seem.
Again..praying for your Bible study tomorrow night!
Love,
Holly
PS I'm excited to be gong to Denver for Women of Faith this Thursday through Saturday and get to see one of your favorite people (yes, Nicole C. Mullens ...hee hee...no really your dear Mama).

boomama said...

Are we related? Because just being in the vicinity of someone who had a stomach virus several weeks ago is enough to make me violently nauseated.

Personally, I have diagnosed myself with all manner of major diseases and countless minor ones, so I guess what I'm saying is that if you ever need a roommate in the looney bin, give me a call.

connorcolesmom said...

I can so relate. I carry around a purse size clorox clean-up wipes in my purse and I use to carry around a very small lysol spray to spray when I took the kids to the Dr. (they do not make the lysol anymore but I still look for it)
I always clean the boys literally from head to toe once they crawl through those kid playground things and usually avoid them all together during cold and flu season!!
Oh and I wash my hands all the time too - I realized how much when they had my water turned off today to put in a new tub. I thought I would freak b/c I could not wash my hands - good thing I have the alcohol sanitizer all over my house - hehe
Love,
Kim

Janelle and Ella said...

This is so funny. I'm sure you could guess this since we are so alike in many ways, but my body reacted the same way when Sunni said Xavi had a stomach ache! I had a mini panic attack inside, but from years of dealing with hypochondria, I've learned to deal with it inwardly and not show evidence on the outside of my crazy self.
If we ever get institutionalized, we could be roommates!

Darlene R. said...

I am so with you on the playplace issue. I don't know if it's the fact that it's inside and closed up that bugs me, or the fact that you can't see in all of the tunnels and such. I personally find them nasty, just ask my kids, they'll tell ya! On the rare occasion that we go to one, we go right into the bathtub when we get home.
The mind will play mean tricks on us sometimes. I just "know" that the kids are going to get sick when a classmate goes home sick, but more times than not, they don't.
I'm happy that you got a candy dish out of the whole deal!
Oh and the ONLY store we have in our town is Walmart, so I guess I would be out of luck!

Nancy Mon said...

Babe's Fried Chicken...oh girl...that is some good stuff...slap ya momma kind of good. Lisa P gave me those napkins and I love them...of course The Nord would be perfectly fine with me,even better.

My mom is a little bit of a hypercondriact and I used to go over to their house and cough. The next day my mom would say I caught your cold... finally I decided I had to stop doing that or she would be sick all the time.

Love bunco...the only reason I keep my nails long...to grab those dice.

Stay well...

Brittani's Holding Little Hands said...

I actually started to feel sick to my stomach just reading this since we played with Sunni and Ava last week and clearly I must have contracted the same imaginary stomach bug that you are now suffering with:)

Here's to hoping we both get well from our hypochondria very soon!

Brittani's Holding Little Hands said...

Oh-forgot to mention whatever you do DON'T Google symptoms or you will end up in your Dr's office with 400 sheets of proof of your self diagnosis as he laughs hysterically at the minor cold you may or may not have.

Not that I speak from experience or anything:)

Holly said...

I don't know Brittani, I think "googling" my symptoms was a good thing. I found out that I don't have parkinson's, but graves' disease...so really, there is something wrong with me :) The doctor probably laughed, though, huh?

Shelly said...

GIRL! You make me laugh too much!!

I am loving the 'drag my body to Neiman's.' Ahumm...amen! :)

I'm not going to lie: Lysol has been one of my new bff's since coming to stay in the dormitory life again here at school :)

Stephanie Kay said...

I'm a bit more relaxed about the germs. I try to remember to use the germ X when leaving playlands. I know playlands are germ infested and disgusting but when you are housebound with 3 kids in the dead of winter the playland looks like a gift from heaven above!

twinkle said...

And now for a drum roll please....

TATATATA!!

The nastiest, germiest place in the world....is....

THE ATM MACHINE!!!

No really, Parade magazine did a story on germy places and that was tops!

Amanda, I don't like to touch the buggy handles at the grocery store or dept. store and I walk down stairs without touching the handrails. And bless us girl, but I think that's the gift of wisdom God has bestowed upon us!

I'll bet you don't like holding hands across the aisle at church either :)!

Glad you're feeling better and hope Curt feels better soon.

A Place For Ministry Wives/A Place For Me said...

"If it were not for the interference of Jesus Christ in my life, I would have to live in some kind of institution."

And I would be your "wardmate". :-)

Praise God for His healing/restorative power in our lives.

Asher's mommy said...

It's a delight to know I'm not alone...

Sunni at The Flying Mum said...

Girl, you know I would drag your body to Neimans. And I would even put you on a blanket so you wouldn't have to be dragged on any germs on the floor.

And thanks for your kind words about the hostessing last night. I'm glad I pulled the wool over y'all's eyes and came across as "easy going." I was stressed out the 3 hours before!

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

That does it! I've been wanting to have a bunco night, but I was afraid I was too YOUNG for it. But if cute little young YOU can play, then it has to be good for someone as cool as me, right?

David said...

Speaking of freaking out, can someone go up there to my comment and take the "k" off of the word "panic". That kind of thing drives me nuts!! Sorry spelling champs out there!

Keri

MamaCass said...

I am glad you won a prize even if it was for most losses. I missed all my bunco pals last night. As for germophobia I totally understand. I freak out when Tobey just stands near the trash can or the dog bowl for instant. Actually it is quite amazing that I have a dog in the house at all because he really grosses me out at times.

jennyhope said...

This is hysterical because I am one of the biggest germ phobes ever and I just take on every ones illnesses...LOL!

Karla Porter Archer said...

ME TOO!! ME TOO!!

I suffer from panic attacks and my trigger is the fear of getting sick to my stomach... The Lord is working on me through this -- we had a crash course with stomach issues earlier in the year.

But yeah... I totally get what you are saying.

Angela Baylis said...

I need those napkins!!!!! Where can I find them???

You are hilarious! I hate to admit that I am the same... I hate "waiting" to see if I catch whatever virus' people have!

Looks like we are all related!!!
Love,
Angie xoxo

Big Mama said...

I don't care what anyone says, those fast food playgrounds are just one giant Little Tykes petri dish.

Anonymous said...

Hi Amanda! I feel like I should introduce myself as this is the first time I have posted on your blog, but I just had SO much to say on this subject that I couldn't leave without commenting. First of all, I found this site quite by accident by way of the LPM blog which I also was not looking for at the time. I've tried to post several times there, but because of wierd settings on my computer I was kicked out each time...I'm really hoping it wasn't because you didn't like what I said...it was all good!:) Anyway,I hope I have figured out the problem. God really blessed me in a "delightful and unexpected way" when I found the LPM blog. It has been such a blessing. What I wanted to tell you was the first time I heard your mom speak was just after you and Curt were married and she talked a lot about your recent wedding as she was speaking on the bride of Christ (which was awesome, by the way), but after I heard about you I just kept thinking that we should be friends. I prayed for you and your new marriage and thought it would be great to get to encourage you, but thought how silly I was as I would never know how to contact you and besides what would I say "I feel like God wants us to be friends." Anyway, I did pray that if it was God's will that it would happen. And each time I heard about new things in your life (AKA Jackson) I prayed for you all. As you know that was over 5 years ago and so for me finding this blog is an answer to a long ago prayer. Isn't God fun! It's been fun hearing your heart on the LPM blog. I hope I'm not invading by signing your personal blog. Well I guess this comment is long enough. I'll have to come back to talk about germs, cause I got some things to say!
Blessings to you,
Kristin

Anonymous said...

I'm back. First of all, it feels so good to know I am not alone in this whole germophobe thing because none of my friends get as freaked out as I do. My mom is a nurse so I think it all stems from her and all the medical talk that floated around while I was growing up. I mean who thinks at nine years old that if you have a headache it could be an aneurism? Do you feel my pain? Well as much as I dislike play places my all time biggest hang-ups are public restrooms. I seriously held off potty training my kids because I dreaded going into those places with my sweet babies. And kids do not get the seriousness of "DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING" in the bathroom. I even freaked out so much one time that I told my daughter "if you touch anything in here you could get so sick that you will die" Horrible, I know. She will be in therapy one day for sure over that one. I have 4 children, 3 are girls and I tell my husband all the time "I know God just gets a kick out of watching me have to take all these girls to the public bathroom. I know He wants to teach me something." I have to pray most visits and it goes something like this..."Lord please protect my children from catching some horrible illness while we are in here. I know they are yours and you want to protect them. And if it is your will that they contract something that is life threatening Lord, let it be only for your glory! My new game with my 3 year old twin girls in "hands on your head" as soon as we enter the bathroom. And just a little tip as I know you have a ways to go before you enter this very fun and exciting stage of parenting, I carried a potty seat in the back of my SUV when the twins were first learning and it saved me much anxiety. There's no shame in a 2 year old taking a pee in the back of your car while in the Costco parking lot, right!?

~Kristin

Profbaugh said...

After reading your post and the comments I know that I'm not a southern girl:

~the only Chick-fil-a's here (and there aren't many) are in the mall food courts. I didn't know they were anyplace else, let alone that they had playlands.

~Buggy?? It took me a while to figure that word out. That's a shopping cart, right?

Oh my. . . I'm learning a lot from y'all!

Still laughing,
~Cheryl, the nothern girl!

A Place For Ministry Wives/A Place For Me said...

I just had to come back and post a second comment just to say how much I hate going to Walmart. Seriously...I get a headache as soon as I drive in the parking lot.

On another note...did you see this news story on Yahoo a few days ago? I thought of Jackson as soon as I read it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070918/ap_on_re_us/crocs_escalator_dangers_14

Anonymous said...

Okay, so I'm offically uncool as I ask the question, "What is bunco??!!" Never heard of it, but would love to play it...sounds like a blast, nauseated and all!
Kelli in Ohio

Dana said...

"We were treated to fried chicken from Babe's, homemade mashed potatoes, creamed corn, biscuits, and Paula Deen's sticky butter cake."....

Boy do you Texas girls know how to eat when you play bunco! Now that you have raised the bar for us Alabama girls "light snacks" won't cut it any longer. I guess it is true...everything is bigger in Texas! Even the food.

1sam712 said...

I totally get this. I had a really hard time getting out with our 1st child when she was a newborn. It's still a major issue for me with our 2nd (he's 2). Our relatives constantly comment on how over-protective we are and try everything to make sure we go the opposite direction. I've had to overlook a lot of spoon-sharing, etc. by God's grace in order to preserve family relationships. I thought I was nuts, but it sounds like there are more of us in the same boat than I thought. Maybe we all need to sail off together. :)

Anonymous said...

Bunco??? Bunco for a germaphobe? I am a germaphobe, too, Amanda, and I totally identify with you, especially about wanting to put gloves on Jackson in the play area. (I prefer hazmet suits, myself, but gloves are a start) Anyway, I go to bunco games but I NEVER EVER EVER eat the food that sits in bowls in the center of the table. Do you??? Nothing is worse than a million different hands reaching in for cheeseballs or popcorn!

Kate

Anonymous said...

Don't be too hard on yourself. My hubby tried to ban me from the computer because everytime I have symptoms, I google them to see what the computer says I have. When I told him I thought I had prostate trouble, he threatened to dismantle the computer entirely. :)

And don't get too relaxed about those playscapes at Chick-Fil-A or Mickey D's--they hold germy secrets no one should ever know of.
By the way, I disinfect my children, their rooms and toys, and my hubby (he's a pediatrician, and I often accuse of bringing germs home) and we STILL get sick. It's just a fact of life, I'm afraid.

LauraG said...

And here I thought I was the only one who avoided raw chicken. Whenever my sister comes out for a visit she cuts up and freezes a bunch of it for me, all while saying, "Laura, you've been dealing with all sorts of gross stuff your whole career (I'm a forensic scientist) and CHICKEN bothers you?!" Actually, I think that's where my germ issues originated - at work. When I first started back in '84 it was before the AIDS scare, and we would examine evidence for what I'll politely call "body fluids" with our bare hands - BARE HANDS!! I remember that it bothered me, but I just learned to wash my hands ALL THE TIME. Now I'm the paranoid one in my group of friends who offers my hand sanitizer to everyone at the table before every meal (I'm usually the only one who ends up using it).

Jenny said...

SuperTarget beats Wal-Mart. Hands down! :)

Unknown said...

When I was working in a plaintiff based personal injury firm, I imagined I had the same problems that our clients did (yes, every single one of them ~ even the ones I physically couldn't have... sickle cell anemia anyone??). I can understand how you felt about that one.

If you become institutionalized, I think there are plenty of us who will be right behind you.

Praise God for His healing power and for His wonderful sense of humor!!!

Glad y'all are feeling better.

connorcolesmom said...

Amanda,
I know you diabled comments for the above article but I have to say thank you!!
My best friend told me last summer that she was gay. God instructed me to drive hours to her and confront her with the truth. He also led me to find the Exodus group online. I receive their newsletters and have sent them to my friend. Unfortunately she is choosing to live in the lifestyle and has sent me a picture of her girlfriend. GOd keeps reminding me to "love the sinner not the sin"

I love that Alan Chambers says "Freedom isn't the absence of struggle, but the life of struggle with joy in the process."

Thank you again for posting this!
Love,
Kim

Kara Akins said...

Now that I have six children I've developed a little bit of this myself. When one of us gets sick it can go from person to person and that cycle can last weeks and cost hundreds of dollars. It takes faith for sure and LEARNING to be content in plenty and in want. When we're strong and when we're weak. Just yesterday our 11 yr old was in the ER, she had a punctured lung. We don't even know how it happened. She is doing really good now. When I was at the hospital and saw so many ill people I told the Lord that I would HAVE to learn to trust Him in this area of my life (health issues). Ultimately, I have to be willing to accept what He gives me when I pray and know that His love is and will always be enough. Life is so short. Worrying can't and won't ever add a second of pleasure to it. In light of seeing humanities weakness I can truly agree with God and say the greatest thing is love b/c it NEVER fails.
God bless,
Kara

jen said...

Oh man... Bunko. That is like my all time favorite girls-night activity! I even have a good little handshake-roll-them-dice-baby dance that I do when it's my turn to roll. ROFL! I love me some bunko!

Allison said...

I love it! Hey, no worries about being a germophobe...maybe it has something to do with growing up where we did...everyone I know is one!

Thank goodness your not ill and thank goodness for God!

Michelle said...

You crack me up sister! I have found that I have become more germ conscience too! But I have a friend Katherine here who is a total hypo! She is certain she has restless leg syndrome and went to her doctor for it! She is a hoot!

Ashleigh Carroll said...

i couldn't figure out how to leave a comment on your last post...so i'm writing you here!

you don't know me, but i'm a friend of maggie dolan/dean's.

i just wanted to say thank you for drawing attention to this ministry! this is one of the last remaining hidden sins of church life and it is so important to move people out into feeling comfortable to talk about this issue. thanks!

Little Steps Of Faith said...

Yea, so I might be a Walmart worker...might be, don't quote me PLEASE LOL, but um, did you notice that it will no longer say LOW PRICES ALWAYS? Now it will be something like Savings for the rest of your life..and ya know what that means( well, for one the put the Sam soda up 5 cents this week...) Low prices? Hmmm...maybe not anymore...

But as far as the germ deal, I am SO bad about all that, pure laziness I suppose, but I am getting better. I am good working with kids, I bleach everything, but on my own...

I am just hopeless lol.

Jamie said...

Since there are already 55 comments, I doubt this will actually be read, but I wanted you to know that you are not along in your hypochondria and I would've, in fact, done the very same thing! I've experienced fake nausea more times than I can count, just b/c someone says, "That steak looks a little raw," or "We had a stomach bug this past week" -- it's a sad state to live in, fear of being sick. Hoping in Christ to liberate us from this fear!

Lindsee Lou said...

I probably would have had to go home if someone in that house had a stomach ache for 2 DAYS. I am laugihng so hard right now, because that's so me.

I even wash my hands so much, that in the winter, they start to crack. It hurts, real bad! :)

jennyhope said...

I forgot to comment on this earlier. I was reading in "Jesus the One and Only" something about one of Beth's kids playing in the toilet. That probably had to be Melissa and not you...with the germs and all. LOL! I about freak out when Morgan gets in the toilet. I am like what in the world. She then has to take a bath and be disinfected. The man says that the toilet water is some of the cleanest in the house. I BEG TO DIFFER!

Beth said...

OY VEY!

Beware of shopping carts too.

When we first came home from China, I would whip out my shopping cart basket protector before going in to Wally World, after cleaning the whole basket down with a disinfecting wipe. Lil Miss Firecracker was snug in the hip hammock until the cart was ready.

Imagine my horror one day when heading into Wally World only to find I did not have any antibac wipes or my handy dandy basket cover. Of course I did not have my hip hammock either. I could not maneuver the basket with an acrobatic child trying to leap out of my arms so I put her in the basket and ran to the aisle with the antibac wipes. On the way to the aisle, I noticed LMF leaning over and taking a nibble on the handle. And my heart stopped and my stomach sunk. I had one of my premonitions [I am sure you have had these too]and this one was about her getting something yucky from the cart. Shore 'nuf, she did. She got Hand Foot and Mouth. I had to take her to the pediatrician to figure out why she had these weird blisters on her feet and a fever. I retraced my steps to figure out where she could have picked it up because we had not been anywhere other than Wally World that one time or my in-laws. WW was the ONLY place we had been. And because she picked up my water bottle and took a swig, I ended up getting it too, but thankfully it was only a viral throat infection for me.

PS I hope you have tried the Chocolate Angel. A friend and I took our daughters there and had a mommy daughter lunch. They were wearing their traditional Chinese outfits to celebrate the mid autumn festival. It was sooo yummy!

Sandy said...

So I'm on ebay browsing through the selection of Beth Moore books and I run across this auction item and it is TOO FUNNY! I thought you'd get a kick out of it too... I'd love to hear it :-)

I enjoy reading your blog and I love that you are so willing to share your lives with us- you and your mom are two peas in a pod. I enjoy reminiscing (too bad Comments doesn't have spell check!) about the sweet days when it was just "me and my baby boy"... before there were four others to join him! I can think of many wonderful adjectives for my life now, but sweet is not one of them! :-)