Hand, Foot, & Mouth
December 2, 2025 — 8:32pm
Dear Reese,
We take our second urgent care visit first thing this morning when you wake up with a rash and fever. It turns out you have hand, foot, and mouth disease. Which is apparently common, viral, and requires nothing but the doctor to tell us to let it pass and keep you hydrated. My heart nearly breaks when he shows me where there are a few small sores in your mouth.
We get you on a Tylenol-Motrin rotation, and MorMor watches you for a few hours while I handle work meetings until midday. Then it’s you and me, baby girl. MorMor and Cappi head to Green Bay to get in position for Cappi’s third (and we all hope final) eye surgery.
You are clearly hurting, even with the medicine in your system, but we do our best to pass the time together. I show you how to make a fort. We color. We eat cheese and crackers. You get really upset with me when I don’t let you eat a marker.
When the workers are gone from our home-in-progress, I decide we can brave the snow and dark and go check it out together for a change in scenery. It’s a good call, you have fun running around what will be your playroom. Though I’ll be grateful for when it’s carpeted and not littered with construction debris that you eventually, inevitably, try to put in your mouth.
We are crossing our fingers for a fever-free morning for both our sakes. You deserve to feel better, and get more entertainment than just hanging out with me at home can offer. And for me, it’s hard to miss more work on a busy week. But I have a feeling this is going to take some more time.
Wishing you good health, darling.
Love,
Mama