Freak Out

On Monday, Kate's eye started watering constantly and getting really red around the edges. She kept rubbing it and at first I thought it might just be allergies. But by bedtime it was oozing mucus and I suspected she had pink eye. I convinced myself (and Jacob too) that we were all going to have it. My own eyes instantly began watering and itching; I was sure I had it already. Kate didn't sleep well that night and in the morning her eye was crusted shut with boogers. I KNEW it was pink eye. I called the doctor's office as soon as they opened and got an appointment right away. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed home and tried sterilizing everything Kate had touched the day before. I kept wondering where in the world she would have caught pink eye. We haven't gone anywhere and I make anyone who comes over wash their hands immediately. No one we know had pink eye anyways.

While I sat with Kate in the exam room waiting for the doctor, I examined my own eye in the mirror. It was red and itchy. Great, I thought, I have it too. The doctor came in and took one look at her and said it wasn't pink eye. Infants frequently get clogged tear ducts that cause watering, redness and mucus discharge. It needed no treatment and it was cleared up by the end of that day. Glad I freaked out about nothing. Then I remembered that Chase had the same thing when he was just weeks old and Jacob and I freaked out (okay, maybe it was just me that freaked out)then too thinking the poor little 4 pound baby was dying or going blind. It seems I freak out a lot these days.