I Can Only Do Three Things At Once

Here is a snapshot of "one of those days." I think all parents can relate to this.

I finally feel like I am getting a handle on the fall schedule. I haven't forgotten milk money or bus times or to pack a lunch or send back signed forms, though I now have a hard time recalling our address. Then I am thrown this curve.

Our cat, Chubby, has been on thyroid medicine for almost 5 years. He can't live without it, but is otherwise healthy. When we first moved here I was buying his meds by the month at a local vet, who also required tests and shots, etc = $$$. When we sat down to do the math we discovered that we could save a ton of money by buying in bulk online. We also found another vet about 25 minutes away that offered cheaper services. The new country vet gave us a prescription for a couple of years because we knew our cat and could tell when his thyroid levels were off based on his weight and behavior and knew how to adjust the meds appropriately. Several months ago we found out that the country vet had passed away. Last week I found out that my online source for Chubby's pills stopped selling to consumers and only sells to vets now. So with less than a week's supply of pills left in the house, I loaded up the kids and the cat and headed to the country vet's replacement today for his thyroid test and new prescription. Twenty-five minutes there, 40 minutes in the office waiting room, and another 25 back. Let me note here that our angelic baby girl has rapidly turned into a screaming toddler. I mean that the blood-curdling screams that she previously reserved for bodily harm are now unleashed for any minor infraction by anyone at any time. So during this 50 minutes in the car Mirra would yell and scream, Drew was singing at the top of his lungs, and Chubby was protesting from the cat carrier. In the waiting room Mirra started screaming 3 different times because she didn't get a crayon that she wanted. Silly me forgot the ear plugs and sedatives at home.

The good news is that Chubby's test was normal and that they only charged me for the test and not an additional $20 for an office visit. I then ask the woman for a one year prescription to order pills online and for a small supply of pills to get us by until the pills come. She says sure except that she wants the cat back in 6 months to test him again. Standard procedure is 1 test per year. I was hoping to go longer than that. I told her we know how to monitor the cat and she said she would ask about a 1 year prescription.

When I get home, I realize that they charged me a $10 prescription fee. She had not mentioned that. Now here is the real bite in the butt....I calculated that the cost of the pills from this vet are the same or cheaper than what I pay online! I could have just bought a six month supply there and saved myself some time. My dad's advice is still ringing in my ears...."don't assume anything. It only makes an ass of u and me." I just assumed the pills would be more expensive at the vet.

So now we are home. Mirra is cranky because she is tired and has been tied down in a high chair, stoller, or car seat since she got up from her morning nap and now it is time for her to sleep again. Drew just wants to play. I am cranky because I was too busy juggling my kids and the cat at the vet to ask a simple question that would have saved me time and money. So....I let Mirra play peek-a-boo with the sorted dirty clothes pile on the floor while I make some chocolate chip muffins to cheer us all up. I look up from the muffins to see her headed for me with a shirt over her head and face (very funny...think Baby Frankenstein) and before I can move toward her she walks head-first into the corner of the kitchen island. So she starts screaming as I scoop her up and head upstairs to try to calm her down and get her to nap. Right now she is sleeping and Drew is watching Backyardigans. I really should unload the dishwasher, flip the laundry, pick up the house, defrost something for dinner and make the calls for Chubby's pills. However, I think I will curl up with a novel for a half-hour and boycott it all while my sanity returns.