Just our luck

With two elementary age kids and being a teacher myself, you can imagine the exposure we get to all of the germs.

My children happen to be amazing recipients for every possible illness- their bodies a perfect vessel.

Strep is one that frequents our house often. Between the two of them, we’ve tested positive for strep at least 10 times in the past year. We are very familiar with these symptoms and often catch it early.

So when I brought my youngest into the office for a rash on their bottom, I was not expecting them to suggest strep as a possibility.

Poor hygiene? Potentially.

Staph that never went away? I had my concerns.

Allergic reaction to something? This was the most likely culprit in my opinion.

But when my doctor took one look at their bottom and said, “Oh- that’s strep.” I 100% said, “Excuse me, what?!”

“Oh that is strep,” he repeats.

“Well my oldest has strep THROAT,” I reply.

“Oh then definitely strep,” he restates confidently.

He went on to explain how this is apparently a “thing” while he swabbed the open sores.

I went home and explained to my husband that it happened to be the same infection that plagued our oldest and explained how the doctor had swabbed. Aren’t we lucky?!

My oldest, who is quite possibly the worst patient for the strep swab, perks up their ears.

“You mean they swabbed the butt? Did it hurt or make you gag?” My oldest asks.

“No- just tickled,” my youngest replies.

I can see the wheels turning.

“Honey- if you go to the doctor complaining of a sore throat…they are NOT going to offer to swab your bottom.”

The look of defeat instantly warmed her cheeks.

Darn.

Flash forward 3 weeks…

She almost asked for the option today when we ended up back in the office on the way to our vacation. While they didn’t offer the bottom, we still managed to get the same result.

Positive.

Just our luck.