Let's Hope It Just Comes in Threes

I don't know what's impressing me more: how many different illnesses have struck members of this family; or how no single illness seems to have passed on from one of us to the next -- so far, anyway, knock on wood. (Go ahead, find some wood and knock for me.) (Knock-knock-knock.)

Last week John was sick with ... er, um, let's just say he spent a lot of time in the bathroom. Then I came down with Strep. Only I really didn't think it was strep. So I didn't go to the doctor as soon as I could have and then I didn't go because I didn't want to deal with the emergency room and then I tried to go on Monday only to be sent to the ER anyway because the clinic has no appointments for sick people. That's right, every Tom, Dick or Harry complaining about a sore throat or a collapsed lung gets sent to the ER. Gotta love military healthcare.

Olivia is the latest victim.

She woke up this morning blowing chunks, all the way into our room. Too bad I was fast asleep with Sean-Peter in his room and missed all the excitement. She seems to be done with throwing up and is able to keep down water, which is a good thing as her fever is a bit on the high side.

It's probably a bug I brought home with me from the ER.

Really, I have no idea how or why I got strep. I suspect my body was harboring it and waiting for the perfect time to bring it to life. Like right before we get ready to go on a road trip. And shouldn't Olivia have strep? Not the barfing flu? And what other surprises do we have in store for us?

We're supposed to leave in three days. Prayers are encouraged.

One of the most annoying things about moving around regularly is always having to find a new hairdresser. I finally got a very overdue haircut the other day, and it went a bit awry. That is, I ended up getting a whole new hairstyle after the stylist tried to correct her mistake on one side...

...and the "trim" turned into a hack job.

See? Now I know, I don't usually post pictures of myself, so if you don't know me personally you really don't have a comparison. Oh, wait -- let's see if I can find a before photo......Yea, so here I am with Olivia banging around on my nephew's drums. I didn't exactly know what I was doing, which wasn't surprising since I can't recall having ever picked up a set of drumsticks before in my life. Except the kind you eat.

It was surprising, however, that this hair stylist -- the manager of the salon -- didn't seem to know her way around a head of hair. My hair. To her credit, it seemed to surprise her more than it did me, almost to the point of mortification, as the "fix" turned into inch after hacked-off inch.

See? It's even shorter in the back. Although Sean-Peter doesn't seem to mind, gazing up at me so adoringly with those beautiful blue eyes and pouty chapped lips.

But where was I. Oh, yea, so after I got home and freaked out a little bit -- I mean, I told her it was no big deal, it's just hair that will grow again blah-blah-blah...which I did believe at the time, until I got home and saw how Lord almighty it is short! I actually started liking it a bit. And in a couple week's time when I can better tuck it behind my ears again I think I might even love it. But what do you think?

I'm really, truly, not fishing for a compliment. I'm genuinely curious. Because I haven't had my hair this short since ... I'm not sure, like another lifetime ago?

In the meantime, here's Olivia again in her new dress. Yes, it's from the thrift store. Really, truly I have been doing a pretty good job of not spending money nor bringing unnecessary stuff into this house, but Olivia actually needed some clothes, and I made a point to avoid the women's sweater rack.

She does love her dresses. And she looks so, I don't know, all prim and proper-like, or something. Boots notwithstanding. Which were also a thrift store purchase, by the way, since she's outgrown her others.

Oh, wait. Something is missing.

Ah, that's better. You can almost smell the attitude.