I took Shea to the doctor yesterday because I thought she had strep throat.

She does.

But according to the doctor who just called with the results of her blood tests, she also has mononucleosis.

I'd already disinfected the house with Lysol after her rapid strep test came back positive.  Now, however...she's not allowed to engage in any kind of contact sports or roughhouse with her brothers for 8 weeks.  Mono causes the spleen to become temporarily enlarged and therefore easier to rupture, so to avoid that happening she's got to take it easy.

I'm going to get a note from the pediatrician this morning to give to the school, excusing her from sports until the 8 week period is over.  I'm also going to disinfect the house again and then keep an eye on her brothers to make sure they're not coming down with it too.  Jake's already sick with a middle ear infection and swimmer's ear (he's been up half the night crying in pain for the past 2 nights) so I'm starting to feel like a nurse rather than a mom.

I've been thinking about when she could have been infected; she doesn't really go and do much of anythign without us.  However, there was an incident about 4 weeks ago where she went to the mall with her friend and a couple of boys (I found out about this when they were actually AT the mall and Shea incurred my wrath over that - she never told me she was going and I was highly pissed) and they were all sharing a drink and a pretzel.  That's probably how she got it.

 At least she got in in the school summer vacation.  I'm thankful for that small mercy....