Oh sure the unit where you work is now closed to slimy, snot-nosed, RSV-carrying, darling creatures siblings visits in order to protect the most vulnerable of your tiny patients from simple bugs to you and me that could literally kill them. Yes, you got your annual flu shot to protect yourself, your family and your patients. But how do you REALLY know that it is truly colds and flu season?

You know when your daughter messages you on Facebook late at night when your cellphone is turned off for the night because she needs some advice about what she must do to help her child who sounds like a barking seal. Make note that if your daughter is 34+ weeks pregnant and posts such a message on your Facebook wall the extended family will FREAK OUT because, OMG your daughter is 34+ weeks pregnant and in the late, late hours of night such a wall posting must mean something is going on with the baby.

So you turn your cellphone on. You call your daughter. You reassure her and tell her what to do with a feverish, croupy child because you have done your fair share of time in the cool night air and the steamy bathroom in the late night hours with a few members of your own circus act. You also post a response on your Facebook wall so everyone knows it is NOT time for the Coming Attraction 2.0 to arrive. It’s just a sick baby girl and colds and flu season is beginning.

But how do you REALLY know?

You know when your sweet grand daughter tells you in her whiskey and cigarettes voice that not only does she have a frog in her throat but also a TURTLE! Can you imagine? This poor child not only has an amphibian in her throat but she also has a REPTILE! She must be sick!

Of course when she sits next to you on the sofa all snuggled with her favorite baby blankie and her binkie looking so pale and sickly you KNOW she really is sick and it really is colds and flu season. The fact that she keeps on sliming you with her green snot  when she kisses you helps to remind you too.

At least she is sick BEFORE her baby sister is born. Hopefully her mommy and daddy…and Mi-ma and the rest of the family circus won’t be getting sick soon because, yes, her baby sister will be coming sometime VERY soon!

Wordful Wednesday is like Wordless Wednesday, only WITH words. It’s for those of us that can’t contain the chatter, but in a good way. Have something to be Wordful About this Wednesday?  Head on over to Seven Clown Circus and Parenting by Dummies to link up and share.