My top most wish for this holiday season is for the family to stay healthy so we can visit everyone that we have missed the passed few years. We have cousins that we didn't get to see for the last three years so far due to either our ailments or theirs. The usual culprit being the flu.

This year we only had one pre-Christmas get together which involved being exposed to only one other child. We figured that would be a safe bet for a germ free holiday start....wrong! This one child ended up having Scarlet fever! Can you believe that?! She seemed perfeclty healthy to everyone. She had a rash but had a history of eczyma so thought nothing of it. She was being dropped off at school this morning and was told about a case of scarlet fever in her class. Sure enough, she tested positive.

The good news is, kids aren't contagious until they show symptoms. They most often get a fever first. In her case, no fever. The rash can come first. The pediatrician said if either of our kids show symptoms she can phone in an antibiotic and they will be good to go the next day. Could be a lot worse I guess.

So far, both boys seem perfectly healthy. The incubation period is 2-7 days so it is still yet to be seen. We are washing hands like crazy, sleeping as much as possible and staying hydrated.

It seems no matter how careful we are, the kids will find a way to come in contact with something just in time to be sick for Christmas! We are praying that our fears are for nothing. Theret is a great chance they will be. I hate the thought of even possibly exposing anyone to anything but our kids would have to live in a bubble otherwise.

Here's wishing everyone healthy, happy holidays!