this one time, at band camp...

...my little 5 year old daughter became exposed to a lovely little dangerous virus.

And it's not band camp, it is a two week summer day camp. A divine place of summer frolicking, music, dancing, games, sports, and lots of time in the sparkling swimming pool. She has been looking forward to this for eons and it finally arrived, greeted with jumping-up-down-in-giggly-unrestrained-glee fanfare, at our house this Monday morning.

And by Friday afternoon, we are HIB exposed. When I arrived to pick up Miss Sauce (the child formerly know as La La is now "Miss Sauce". No, you didn't miss a voting session concerning her new blog nickname. I made an executive decision and am feeling a bit drunk with power) at the pool today, I am handed a lengthy letter from the camp director. The first line in particulay is comfortingly non-alarming, especially since we know the child who came down ill. She was the one playing hand in hand with my daughter all week long:

"Your child may have been exposed to Hemophilius Influenza or HIB disease while at camp. A member of her OWLS class has become ill with HIB and may have exposed your child. Children who have not been immunized have a higher chance of contracting this disease.

What are the symptoms of Hib disease?
Symptoms may include fever, lethargy, vomiting, and a stiff neck. Other symptoms depend upon the part of the body affected.

How soon after infection do symptoms appear?
Symptoms often appear less than 10 days after exposure, usually within 2 to 4 days.

When and for how long is a person able to spread Hib disease?
The contagious period varies and, unless treated, may persist for as long as the organism is present in the nose and throat, even after symptoms have disappeared.

How is Hib disease diagnosed?
Hib disease is diagnosed by isolating the bacteria from blood, spinal fluid, or other tissue.

What is the treatment for Hib disease?
Antibiotics such as ampicillin or chloramphenicol are generally used to treat serious infections. Rifampin is used to treat people who may be carrying the germ."

Does anyone know if COSTCO sells large, sterile, child-sized plastic bubbles?

Oh yeah, and also SPF 450 sunblock? That would be super helpful about now. (I know. I am complaining about the heat. Again. But maybe that's because I am becoming convinced that the sun has, perhaps, gotten lost and ventured a ltitle too close to our general neck of the woods. When the digits of the temperatures outside eclipse my tping speed w.p.m., we are in BIG trouble).

Sheesh.