This morning was a logistical nightmare that became only worse as the day wore on. My husband needed to be at the orthopedist at 8:00, and the older daughter has to be at a nearby train station by 8:30 to catch her van to school. It is physically impossible to get her up any earlier than 8:00 (think, controverting the laws of gravity), so I was faced with the prospect of dropping him off at the doctor, racing home to get her up and fed, and then racing back to the train station to drop her off, and returning to the doctor's office to pick up the invalid. I should have known something was amiss when Caitlin got up early (the thought that she might actually be getting ready to go so that I wouldn't have to return to the house did cross my mind, ever so fleetingly).

After returning from the run to the doctor's office, I found Caitlin in obvious pain in the kitchen. She informed me that she thought she had a urinary tract infection and needed to go to the doctor. I trek back to the doctor's office, unnecessarily fast, thinking that my husband might be done, but I had another 45 minutes to wait. Diagnosis - torn ligaments, chipped ankle bone, possible broken toe. Treatment - stay off it, don't drive until you can mash your foot hard on the brakes, expect 6-12 weeks of discomfort.

Return from the orthopedist's office, make an appointment for Caitlin with the pediatrician for later in the morning. When we get to his office she finds that she can't pee. He was getting ready to leave for the day and strongly encouraged her to find a way to fill the cup, otherwise there would be no treatment til next week. After two large glasses of water (which followed a large coffee earlier) she finally managed it and we were given the appropriate prescription. He wants her to have another blood test in a few weeks, because her mystery illness from two weeks ago showed up as a non-specific inflammation.

Got home in time to take younger daughter to pick up a friend (along with dropping off and picking up the prescription somewhere along the way). Took them to get lunch, got home, did various household and work chores, got ready to sit in a patch of sun on the deck to read for a few minutes before the round of evening chauffering takes place, when the guy shows up to mow the lawn (first time of the season). This so well sums up my life over the last few months.

Notes from the day:
1. The Wawa (convenience store) near us claims to be accident free for 2580 days. Do you think this is possible? How big of an accident do you suppose they could cover up before it would be impossible to hide? A cut from the meat slicer that required stitches? A serious burn? Loss of a finger?? I am entirely skeptical of whether any place that contains so many dangerous implements could be accident free for a week, much less 7 years.

2. When Rebecca and her friends get ready to go out they always seem to have something to put in the dryer. Knowing that these children do not understand the first thing about laundry, I've wondered what they've been drying. It turns out that they throw their jeans in the dryer to make them tighter. Do you suppose they have a machine that does the opposite for those of us past a certain age?

3. Caitlin told me this evening that she plans to run away and see the world when she's 17. I suggested that it might not be running away if you tell your mother about it. I asked her what she was going to do for money, and learned that she wants to "rely on herself" (translation: there will always be a steady stream of ready cash from Mom and Dad). We've compromised and she's agreed not to run away until she's 18, but she'll be allowed to start exploring Philadelphia sooner.