Sick Day

This Monday morning Mr. Johnson and I put three perfectly healthy girlies on the bus, and then nestled on the couch in our living room to convalesce in our self-imposed quarantine. We kept the Kleenex close by, and big mugs of our favorite hot beverages (Starbucks being mine, loose green LaoShan cha is Mr. Johnson's.) We waited dutifully for 9:00 a.m. and then called for a joint appointment at the Korean Clinic the moment they opened.

Later this a.m., when we walked through the door, the nurses smirked that we were childless. For the first year we were here, they only called me "Beatrice's mother." So here was her mother (and father) sans any one of the kids they usually see! Our appointment was scheduled directly after Monday morning immunizations, so a chorus of cute Korean kiddos were sobbing about their jabs. Giving their parents betrayed looks. Casting daggers at Dr. Kim.

The presence of Good Family Hospital in Qingdao, and the fact that they set up shop roughly the same time we arrived here in 2006, has been a life-saver for us. (Not perhaps, technically life saving for us personally, but as parents we certainly have let out a collective sigh of relief more than once that friendly Dr. Kim and his colleague Dr. Kim who rotates in for a month now and then have been on hand.)

The clinic is open Monday to Saturdays 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. When the kids start playing some dangerous game, like... let's-see-if-we-can-jump-from-the-couch-to-the-ottoman (across our marble floors) or Bei Bei decides to play Nancy Drew and slide down the curtains like her favorite teen sleuth, all it takes to get them to resume reasonable behavior is to cast a disapproving look offer a stern query, "Do you think Dr. Kim is in his office right now?" My Korean friends say they threaten their kids in the same way.

I love Dr. Kim. I love that he always offers a reassuring smile. I love the antibiotics he dispenses. Mr. Johnson had acute tonsillitis. And here's something else I love about our dr. He called me over to take a peek. He used his stainless steel tongue depressor, shone the flashlight and invited me to be part of my husband's diagnosis. Ahh... I said knowingly. He smiled, nodded his head and ordered an antibiotic. I was there for a recheck of my sinus infection. More meds for me too, and then we went happily on our way.

We felt like we were playing hookie as we lunched @ the Sushi joint with the little conveyor belt that tempts us with sashimi and sushi and little rice balls. We then hit the supermarket, piling our grocery cart with fresh fruit, milk and cereal. We'd had a weekend of take away food and Tai Tai Johnson's cupboards were bare!

Then we headed home. Perched on our respective computers. Knocked out respective work assignments. And then Mr. Johnson went to greet the girls on their afternoon bus.

A sick day, but a good day. And now, on our way to feeling well!