Part 23
Anna’s doctor pulled her lower eyelid down, took her blood pressure, felt the glands in her neck and decided to get a blood sample.
“If I venture a guess, it would be that you are anemic. It would account for the tiredness you feel and the lack of energy. I’ll have the results later today, Anna. Someone will call you from the office. Do you have any questions?” Dr. Addair asked.
“No, I think that’s about it. I haven’t been walking as much lately either, because of work and other conflicts,” Anna answered.
“Well, wait until we get the results first and then you can start walking more again,” Dr. Addair said.
Later that day, the phone rang at work and it was the doctor’s office. The nurse practitioner said that Anna’s hematocrit levels were indeed low and so they wanted her to start taking oral iron right away. The nurse explained how to take the pills and said to call if there were any problems. Anna thanked her and made a mental note to go to the pharmacy on the way home. The sooner she started on the medication, the sooner she would feel more like herself again.
By the time she got away from her desk at work and drove to the pharmacy, it was already after six. Anna was hungry and tired and impatient to get in and out.
As she waited in line to get her prescription, she heard a voice behind her.
“Hi Anna, how are you?”
It was John and he was carrying Katie who looked miserable with reddish eyes and red cheeks.
“Oh, hi John. Awww, Katie what’s the matter?” Anna said to both of them.
“Sig,” Katie answered, and Anna couldn’t help but smile at this beautiful child with blond hair and blue eyes.
“She has a cold and a sinus infection,” John said. “I’m just getting back from the doctor’s office and they ordered her some medicine. Everyone at my sister-in-law’s house is sick.”
Just then Katie sneezed and only seasoned mothers or those around little ones can imagine what happened next. Green stuff came out of Katie’s nose and not only hung down to her lip but also sprayed out all over her little jacket. John looked horrified.
Anna just reached into her purse and pulled out some Kleenex and some wipes, and started cleaning her up. Katie pulled back a little when Anna reached her nose, but Anna soothed her. As an only child, Anna’s coping strategy was to babysit the kids in the neighborhood – a lot.
“I won’t hurt you, Katie. Just want to get all of that nasty stuff off your face, okay?” Anna said.
“Next,” the clerk said, and Anna turned around to walk to the register. She got her medications, stuffed them in her purse, and turned to see that John was fumbling with his wallet while trying to hold Katie.
“Can I help?” Anna asked, holding out her arms.
Katie didn’t hesitate. She went right to Anna and Anna carried her toward the back of the store where she showed her some little toys on display. Anna pointed to a small stuffed cat and said, “Kiki.”
“Good girl, yes, that’s a kitty?” Anna said. “Do you want that kitty?”
Katie nodded, and so Anna scooped it up, put it in Katie’s arms and they headed back to the checkout counter where another register just happened to open up. The line wasn’t as long anymore and the woman who would have been next motioned for Anna to go ahead of her.
“Oh, thank you,” Anna told her.
John finished up at the counter and saw Anna and Katie at the other checkout. Anna turned around and started toward the exit and John did the same.
“What do you have there, Katie?” John said, smiling.
“Kiki,” Katie said.
“Did you tell Anna thank you for the kitty?” John asked.
“Dadchew,” Katie answered, and she smiled with those little girl teeth of hers.
She smelled of shampoo and that unmistakable scent of a child. Anna was enchanted with this little bundle. As they got to their cars, Anna handed Katie back to John. He put her in the car seat and strapped her in.
“Anna, thanks so much for getting Katie the toy,” John said. “It will keep her happy all the way home, and maybe by tomorrow after a good night’s sleep and her medicine, she’ll feel a little better. We didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
“Don’t forget the Vicks. I think that stuff is awesome. You have some?” Anna asked.
“Yes, I do, but should it go in her nose?” he asked.
“I’d put a thick coat of it on her chest just below her chin and her body heat will release the Vicks smell when she breathes. A few women at work with children swear by it,” Anna said.
“Well, thanks again,” John said and he waved as he and Katie left in the car. “I’m so sorry about the mess.”
“Well, don’t be. She’s a little child. They sneeze. That’s what happens,” Anna said.
No comments:
Post a Comment