OUCH!!

Before coming to New Zealand, I always bragged about our ultra healthy children.  In the whole 6 1/2 years of having kids, we have had a total of two cases of strep and one ear infection.   When you count Phoebe's broken leg, we have only had 4 doctor's visits, outside of well child checks.  We have even gone an entire winter without a single cold.   Well, it sort of feels like our luck is changing.   It's not like our immune systems are failing.   I think we are just becoming more of the norm.   We have had a couple episodes of tummy bugs and coughs.   One case of pink eye - the nastiest pink I have seen in my medical career.  Brett has been feeling like an old man and suffering from gout.  He also has had some possible food poisoning, a back injury,  and a horrible URI.  My eczema has been wildly flaring up.   Nothing has been too severe, just annoying.   Of course, there are constant reports of head lice and chicken pox at school.  So far we have been able to avoid those.

Well, aside from the illnesses, we are also not having the greatest luck with injuries.   Again, nothing life threatening... just unfortunate.   First, Phoebe had a dog bite her left cheek, right under the eye.   There are many loose dogs hanging around and she just happened to startle one at a park.   Not super bad, but did end up on antibiotics and looks like there may be a very small scar.   And, a new respect (aka fear) of dogs.     And now, for the big new news.... Liam broke his foot.   Happened at school yesterday.  The story is still a little fuzzy.  Something happened in a game of chase.   We were called to school and told that he had a swollen foot.   We watched it all day but finally ended up in the ER.  Sure enough, fractured the base of the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals.  Very small cracks.... I can only see one of them on the x ray.  But, his poor foot was really swollen.   So, now we have a boy in a short leg cast.   Poor kiddo.   I just hope that is it.  I think we have used the New Zealand Medical system enough.