Our Son's Rash!!! (1/06)

Saturday, 1/14/06. THE DEVIL noticed a quarter-sized dry patch on one of OUR SON’s cheeks to which it applied a lotion that was not hypoallergenic or noncomedogenic.

Sunday, 1/15/06. THE DEVIL called me first on my cell phone and then on my Our Town home phone this evening. We’d already returned from Squaw Valley, and I answered our home phone. THE DEVIL was calling to inform me that OUR SON had a rash, that he was probably contagious (he wasn’t), that it was (unnecessarily) keeping him home from daycare tomorrow, and that it was my responsibility to take him to urgent care in the morning as the doctor’s office would be closed due to the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. I agreed that I would and we hung up.

After talking with MY LOVE about how THE DEVIL might be treating OUR SON’s rash, I called it back and asked it more specific questions about the rash and any seemingly-related symptoms, and if it had been applying hydrocortisone cream as a healing agent. It reluctantly answered my questions, and said that it had been using cortisone cream (although it turns out that it had been using hydrocortisone ointment—not cream—which irritated OUR SON’s skin and made him cry!). It’s also been giving him Benadryl elixir to relieve the itch.

THE DEVIL later complained in a 1/16/06 email to its attorney (see entry) that I’d “…called back to ask me a plethora of questions and wanted to know how I have handled his symptoms.” Yes…and your point is?

THE PSYCHIATRIST’s Report, Part VI: Conclusions, p. 19: “THE DEVIL tests as evidencing internalized psychopathology that reflects its proneness to convert Psychological stress in to physical symptoms, which results in hypochondrical features.”

Monday, 1/16/06

From: THE DEVIL [mailto:msdevilshine@carrier.net]
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 4:34 AM
To: TOKEN MALE
Subject: children

TOKEN MALE,

When the children are ill, I expect that you will be taking care of our children and not placing that responsibility on anyone else. The children have been more than clear they wish to be with mom or dad, especially when they are ill. If you have a problem with this request, please let me know if this will be a potential problem, as I feel caring for the children, especially when they are ill, is soley [sic] the responsibility of OUR DAUGHTER & OUR SON's parents. If this is not going to be the case, then we need to find a solution we can agree on.

I also want to make it known that when you are unavavilable [sic] to be with our children, during "your" scheduled visitation time (for whatever reason) I will always be available to care for our children, even if that means rearranging my schedule. The children want to be with us. There is absolutely n o reason the children should be left in the care or anyone else when one of their parents is available. The only person I ever leave the children with is my mother and that is not for child care but to visit their grandma. Again, if this is not acceptable and agreeable, I would like to know.

THE DEVIL

I didn’t respond to THE DEVIL’s nasty email; however, see 1/17/06 and 3/23/06 for my unsent responses.

5:25 a.m.: Following is another email from THE DEVIL...although this one was actually intended for its attorney and it inadvertently sent it to me instead. My responses to its lies and accusations follow its follow-up message (see 1/17/06).

From: THE DEVIL [mailto:msdevilshine@carrier.net]
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 5:25 AM
To: TOKEN MALE
Subject: Fwd: children

ITS 2ND ATTORNEY,

I have informed TOKEN MALE that OUR SON is ill and have asked him to take the day off to care for our child. He said he would but then called back to ask me a plethora of questions and wanted to know how I have handled his symptoms. Then he indicated to OUR DAUGHTER he would pick our child up at 7:30am, which is unheard of for him as he usually makes me late for work. [LIE] This tells me as always, he is planning to drop his fatherly responsibility of caring for his ill child onto his girlfriend/wife?, [Wife, thank you very much!] and this IS NOT ACCEPTABLE to me under any circumstance. My children do not like. [incomplete sentence]

Cathy, I requested and made it very clear from day one, I wanted "the first right of refusal" why is it okay for TOKEN MALE to DUMP his parenting responsibilities he has fought so hard for, off on someone else?[ ]especially when my children have made it clear they DO NOT WANT to be with MY LOVE [LIE] only their dad or I. They don't want to live with dad [LIE] but understand they have no choice, but now this? I have a MAJOR problem with this especially when TOKEN MALE he has sick time that he can take.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER COURT DATE TO SORT ALL THIS OTHER BULLSHIT OUT.
I want you to know, I am NOT AT ALL PLEASED with the way ANY of this divorce has turned out. I am not pleased with Unger as our Judge, and her 50/50 circus agreement one day with dad, the next with mom, what kinda of [sic] stability is this for our children. It heard absolutely none of our case
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

THE COURT[S] DO NOT do whats [sic] in the best interest of the children. I have lost ALL RESPECT for our so called court of law. The system is unjust and wrong.[ ]It's an unethical money making industry. Now you know how I really feel.

I'm not going to allow TOKEN MALE to shift his parenting responsibility which he has fought so hard for off onto someone else. Isn't that a dead beat dad??? Unger is so stupid she couldn't see this whole thing is about money, of coarse [sic] maybe if she had heard any of our testimony she would have figured it out. I WILL continue to fight for my children and the truth. I do not have a problem with TOKEN MALE parenting his children, or the children living 43/45% with their dad, even though the schedule is a dog and pony show! and is reaping [the word is “wreaking,” you idiot!] havoc on my children! I have a HUGE problem with DEAD BEAT TOKEN MALE DUMPING HIS PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES off on ANYONE else, especially someone who is seething with hatred towards the mother of his children.

I am supposed to believe that is not going to affect how she treats our children when he's not around? She already has "OUR DAUGHTER big a s [sic] a house"???? [LIE] You know Cathy, it wouldn't be such a slap in the face if he had exhausted all his sick leave, but he gets 5 weeks a year. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME HE TOOK A SICK DAY FOR OUR CHILDREN. I will tell you the honest to God's answer, NEVER! In 3 1/2 years!

Maybe TOKEN MALE & I should be forced in to mandatory counseling with our children. I don't know if this is a solution but what am I to constantly do? It [sic] clothing, it's nasty emails, it's his constantly changing the rules to his advantage, the schedule, the holidays. When are the courts going to facilitate a parenting plan? Isn't this what we have been paying for??

I WILL FIGHT FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FORCE TOKEN MALE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE!!!

THE DEVIL

Note: forwarded message attached.

I didn’t respond to THE DEVIL’s nasty email; however, see 1/17/06 and 3/23/06 for my unsent responses.

THE PSYCHIATRIST’s Report, Psychopathology, p. 13: “THE DEVIL is unable to accept aggressiveness in itself or in others and will react to stresses with clinging and petulantly demanding behaviors. Some women with THE DEVIL’s profile developed [sic] anxiety symptoms or acute anxiety attacks.”

6:02 a.m.: Thirty-seven minutes later, THE DEVIL sent me an “apologetic” message once it realized its error (which it had copied to its attorney):

From: THE DEVIL [mailto:msdevilshine@carrier.net]
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 6:02 AM
To: TOKEN MALE
Cc: its2ndattorney@carrier.com
Subject: email sent by mistake.

TOKEN MALE,

Your [sic] going to get an e-mail which was mistakenly sent to you intended for my attorney. I apologize for not being more careful when I hit send. It happend [sic] when I was forwarding the other two e-mails I sent you earilier [sic] and didn't notice your address was the address attached. I apologize as you will take offense however try and remember it clearly was not intended for you to read. I am very embarrassed.

I imagine you will be very upset, but now you know how I honestly feel.

OUR DAUGHTER & OUR SON are our children and parenting them should be between us. You need to care for them when they are ill, nobody else.[ ]You need to be with them when it's your scheduled time. This is all I ask. When you can not be with them during your scheduled time, they need to be left with their mom. To assure you, I do not leave the children with any sitters, ever. [LIE] They visit their grandma on occassion [sic] and thats [sic] all.

We need to be agreeable for the sake of our children. I will do whatever I can to facilitate a peaceful environment with you, for them. Again, my e-mail was not intended for your eyes as I think is clearly evident. Please accept it was mistakenly sent and not intended to strike up any warfare between us. I don't need some lengthy response from MY LOVE as I will no longer welcome her emails, and frankly this is between us.

All I ask TOKEN MALE, is that you will do whats [sic] best for our children. Ask them how they feel. Nobody will take as good of care of our children as we will. Please parent them when they are with you and don't put that responsibility on anyone else. This is all I ask.

THE DEVIL

I didn’t respond to THE DEVIL’s “apology”; however, at the end of my 2/6/06 email to THE DEVIL, subject: Your 2/6/06 Note and 2/3/06 Voice Message (see 2/6/06), I wrote the following: “Oh…and by the way…just because I didn’t respond to the nasty, lie-riddled email you sent to me instead of your attorney (as you’d intended) doesn’t mean I’m okay with it.”

Also see 1/17/06 and 3/23/06 for my unsent response to THE DEVIL’s nastiness.

6:30 a.m.: Today was a school holiday (the observation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday), so MY LOVE and I stayed in Our Town last night on our way home from Squaw Valley. Because we had only one vehicle with us, MY LOVE rode with me to Our New Town this morning to get ready for work there.

9:30 a.m.: MY LOVE climbed in to her van in our driveway to leave for Our Town. Just then, THE DEVIL pulled in to our cul-de-sac, driving so slowly that its SUV caught MY LOVE’s attention (she’s only seen THE DEVIL’s new SUV a couple of times and didn’t immediately recognize it as THE DEVIL’s). MY LOVE thought it was strange that the SUV was driving so slowly and intently past our house. I said, “I guess they’re here.” “Who’s here?” “The bitch is here with the kids.” Regardless of THE DEVIL’s untimely arrival, I leaned in to MY LOVE’s window and gave my wife a quick kiss goodbye before she left for work. I didn’t do this to upset THE DEVIL, but I wasn’t about to let my wife drive off without a proper goodbye just because THE DEVIL happened to show up at an inopportune moment.

THE DEVIL’s Reaction to MY LOVE. At this point, neither MY LOVE nor I had seen THE DEVIL’s ugly emails. Blissfully unaware of its most recent spate of nastiness, upon THE DEVIL’s arrival MY LOVE considered that she could pretend not to see THE DEVIL, or she could be cordial and acknowledge its presence. Because we’re living closer to THE DEVIL and we’ll likely be seeing more of it, she decided to start things off on the right foot and acknowledge it. As MY LOVE backed out of our driveway, she glanced at THE DEVIL, meeting its red pig eyes, and gave it a small, friendly wave and smile. THE DEVIL was leaning over its steering wheel with its mouth gaping open as it sat staring toward us. In response to MY LOVE’s wave, THE DEVIL continued to hold its mouth open and blatantly rolled its eyes as if to say, “Give me a break!” MY LOVE left knowing that she had done the right thing by being cordial. We also both understand that THE DEVIL will always be difficult. After all, it's the devil!

THE DEVIL was obviously upset as it clomped around on its cloven hooves and barely spoke while we exchanged the children. This was the first time it had been to our new home, and I don’t know if it was upset by our house or its location, by MY LOVE’s earlier presence…or what. And, personally, I couldn't give a shit.

OUR SON’s Doctor Visit. I took OUR SON to urgent care; he was seen by the Internal Medicine doctor on duty, who diagnosed him with contact dermatitis. He indicated that OUR SON was NOT contagious, and that he didn’t have chicken pox or poison oak as THE DEVIL had stupidly speculated. He surmised that OUR SON’s rash was caused by something external that he’d come in to contact with, which had likely been on his hands and transferred to his face. He recommended that we treat him with an oral allergy medication to control any itching and apply hydrocortisone cream to the affected area to help speed healing. He said it would be okay for OUR SON to attend daycare, and that we should monitor the rash for a day or so to make sure it didn’t get worse. When I communicated this to THE DEVIL, it accused me of not being “pushy enough” with the doctor, and said that it would just take him to a “real” doctor tomorrow versus an urgent care doctor…keeping in mind that he had been seen by my personal doctor.

I purchased Children’s Claritin Syrup for OUR SON’s rash.

Tuesday, 1/17/06

I took OUR SON to daycare this morning and sent him to THE DEVIL’s house with the Claritin elixir that I’d purchased for him yesterday. Unfortunately, I’d failed to label the bottle as belonging to me.

Not surprisingly, THE DEVIL didn’t take OUR SON to see his pediatrician today as it claimed that it would yesterday. (Of course not…that would’ve cost it $15, and it leaves the co-pays to me.) Furthermore, it didn’t keep OUR SON home today due to his “illness.” It worked a full day while the children attended daycare.

I, too, worked today after taking the day off with OUR SON yesterday. At some point this afternoon, I was able to check my work email and noticed the 1/16/06 messages from THE DEVIL. Following is my unsent rebuttal, which counters each of its absurdities and out-and-out lies:

“When the children are ill, I expect that you will be taking care of our children and not placing that responsibility on anyone else.” [1/16/06] You cannot dictate to me how to parent our children.

“The children have been more than clear they wish to be with mom or dad, especially when they are ill.” [1/16/06] The children turn to me or MY LOVE equally, even when they aren’t feeling well.

“The only person I ever leave the children with is my mother and that is not for child care but to visit their grandma.” “To assure you, I do not leave the children with any sitters, ever.” [1/16/06] I am very aware that you DO leave the children with individuals other than your mother. Let’s start with teenaged babysitters to include Nicole and Jessica. You’ve also left them with your neighbor Kris, your boyfriend Tom, and your friends Pam and Mary, among others. Shall I go on? Regardless, it’s absurd to compare MY LOVE to teenaged babysitters and family friends. She’s the children’s stepmother. She’s family, not a babysitter.

“This tells me as always, he is planning to drop his fatherly responsibility of caring for his ill child onto his girlfriend/wife?” [1/16/06] As always? MY LOVE has never taken time off from work to care for our children. Beyond that, I’m perplexed as to how you jumped to this conclusion in the first place given that in no way did I give you any indication that this is what I’d intended to do. (And, for the record, MY LOVE is my wife.)

“My children do not like [MY LOVE].” [1/16/06] OUR DAUGHTER and OUR SON adore MY LOVE. They won’t admit this to you because you’ve made it clear that for them to appease you they must despise her. We know the truth and the children know the truth because they live it every day. Regardless, I’m confused…don’t you want me to be with someone who is kind, compassionate, supportive and loving of our children? Or would you prefer the alternative, that she was horrible, wicked, degrading and loathing of them? As any selfless parent would, I expect that you would choose the first scenario rather than the latter.

“…I requested and made it very clear from day one, I wanted "the first right of refusal” [1/16/06] Please clarify. Did you actually want me to offer you the option of taking the day off to care for OUR SON when that’s what you were asking me to do? (THE DEVIL: “OUR SON isn’t well. Can you take the day off to care for him?” TOKEN MALE: “No, but because you have the first right of refusal, rather than have MY LOVE care for him, can you take the day off instead?” THE DEVIL: “Sure, no problem.”) That doesn’t make sense. I’m sorry…I just don’t get your point.

“…why is it okay for TOKEN MALE to DUMP his parenting responsibilities he has fought so hard for, off on someone else?” [1/16/06] It was never my intention to leave OUR SON with MY LOVE. I took the day off from work, I took OUR SON to urgent care, I purchased the doctor-recommended over-the-counter medication for him, I explained the outcome of this visit to you, and I had the children in my care until the following morning. Enough!

“especially when my children have made it clear they DO NOT WANT to be with MY LOVE only their dad or I.” [1/16/06] The children have in no way, shape or form ever given me or MY LOVE any indication that would even remotely support your claim. In fact, they often ask to stay home with MY LOVE when we have errands to run, and OUR SON has asked more than once if he could stay home with her rather than go to daycare when we’re both heading off to work. Your claim is not supported by the facts.

“They don't want to live with dad but understand they have no choice…” [1/16/06] Interestingly enough, both children have expressed to me at one time or another that they wished they could live with me. I’m sure they’d love to live with both of their parents, but they also know that it’s not even a remote possibility and it would not be a happy situation for anyone.

“I'm not going to allow TOKEN MALE to shift his parenting responsibility which he has fought so hard for off onto someone else. Isn't that a dead beat dad???” [1/16/06] This assertion is so insane…so out there in “left field”…that I cannot even attempt a response. Oh, wait a minute, yes I can: "FUCK YOU!"

“THE JUDGE is so stupid she couldn't see this whole thing is about money” [1/16/06] THE JUDGE could see that for me this is all about spending quality time with my children. Do you really think that I increased my mortgage payment by $1,000 a month just so I could save $400 a month in child support?

“I do not have a problem with TOKEN MALE parenting his children” [1/16/06] I don’t need your consent to parent my children.

“I have a HUGE problem with DEAD BEAT TOKEN MALE DUMPING HIS PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES off on ANYONE else” [1/16/06] You know full well that this is a lie, and yet you attempt to undermine my integrity and credibility by lying to others (albeit to your attorney) about me in a manner that makes it impossible for me to defend myself.

“…especially someone who is seething with hatred towards the mother of his children.” [1/16/06] She doesn't think much of some of your tactics or motives (nor do I), but MY LOVE is not “seething with hatred” toward you as that would only hurt her.

“I am supposed to believe that is not going to affect how she treats our children when he's not around?” [1/16/06] Could it be that you can’t accept that MY LOVE always treats our children in a fair and loving manner because you’re not sure that you would be able to do the same if the situation were reversed? (It's called "transferrance," DEVIL.)

“She already has ‘OUR DAUGHTER big as a house’” [1/16/06] Just because you reject the truth in favor of perpetuating this cycle of lies and hate, doesn’t make what you say any less of a lie. It’s amazing that by repeating your lies, you actually begin to believe them.

“WHEN IS THE LAST TIME HE TOOK A SICK DAY FOR OUR CHILDREN. I will tell you the honest to God's answer, NEVER! In 3 1/2 years!” [1/16/06] Really? Then how do you explain the fact that I’ve taken time off from work to care for the children on 3/17/03, 5/9/03, 5/12/03, 6/13/03, 5 days in 11/03 for OUR DAUGHTER’s tonsils, 1/14/04, 7/15/04, 3/30/05, 1/16/06 and 1/18/06…just to name those days that I’ve documented? I could pull my work records for a more complete representation, if necessary. Beyond any of that, how do you justify to yourself that you invoked God’s name in support of your lie?

“I apologize for not being more careful when I hit send [in sending an email intended for ITS 2ND ATTORNEY].” [1/16/06] Excuse me, but let me get this straight…you’re sorry for not being more careful, but you’re not sorry for blatantly lying about me and MY LOVE? I do NOT accept your apology as this is no apology at all.

“OUR DAUGHTER & OUR SON are our children and parenting them should be between us.” “…and frankly this is between us.” [1/16/06] To me, “us” means you, me and MY LOVE. Nothing is just between you and me. I’m married and, as my partner and co-parent, everything involving me and/or my children will also involve MY LOVE.

“You need to care for them when they are ill, nobody else. You need to be with them when it's your scheduled time. When you can not be with them during your scheduled time, they need to be left with their mom.” [1/16/06] You cannot dictate to me how to parent our children.

“I will do whatever I can to facilitate a peaceful environment with you, for them.” [1/16/06] You have done little in support of this; however, I would truly appreciate it if your actions supported your claim as actions speak louder than words.

“Please accept it was mistakenly sent and not intended to strike up any warfare between us.” [1/16/06] I am not the one who continues to make war between us; therefore, your indiscriminate act will not strike up any warfare between us.

“I don't need some lengthy response from MY LOVE as I will no longer welcome her emails...” [1/16/06] My emails are from me; they express my opinions, my concerns, my requests and my expectations.

“Ask [the children] how they feel.” [1/16/06] I am not going to put our children in the middle. They freely tell me how they feel with their own words and actions. I refuse to make them feel that they must choose sides. My home is their safe haven and I’m not about to take that away from them.

Wednesday, 1/18/06

8 a.m.: THE DEVIL called to tell me that I’d again have to take the day off from work to take OUR SON to the doctor. According to it, his rash had worsened. It’s obvious that it’s documenting this “incident” as it not only left me a voice message and spoke to me about this on the phone, but it sent me the following email with a copy to its attorney, as well:

From: THE DEVIL [mailto:msdevilshine@carrier.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 8:11 AM
To: TOKEN MALE
Cc: its2ndattorney@carrier.com
Subject: OUR SON

TOKEN MALE,

OUR SON woke up this morning and his rash is worse. It appears it may be traveling down his back. He is itching and crying. He is very uncomfortable. His glands on the right side of his neck are extremely swollen and protruding. He needs to be seen by a real doctor, a pediatrician. Someone that is not just going to pat him on the back and tell us everything is okay. I am calling this morning to make an appointment for him. He does not feel well and is sick.

I have been the one who has taken the children to work with me and taken the time off work every time they have been ill. [LIE] I am training a new girl for ITS 1ST JOB and starting a new job Monday. I will not have the flexibility that I once had, especially being new to a property.

[T]he doctor need[s] to know I treated OUR SON with benadril [sic] for 3 days, have been using topical benadryl [sic] and cort aide [sic] for 5 days.[ ]Nothing is helping. The opening of his air passage in his throat is very small. If I take him I will demand they do tests to figure out what is wrong. You need to do the same.

The only thing different I have given him to eat was Special Kay [sic] cereal with red berries. It had a lot of dehydrated strawberries in it.

THE DEVIL

I didn’t respond to THE DEVIL’s nastiness; however, following is my unsent rebuttal to its assertions and allegations:

OUR SON woke up this morning and his rash is worse. Upon my examination later that morning, I determined that it had only spread slightly from the day before, and was still not severe.

It appears it may be traveling down his back. He is itching and crying. He is very uncomfortable. After speaking with THE DEVIL, I learned that it had applied lotion to OUR SON’s face on Saturday to treat a dry patch. The doctor who saw him today believes that this is the cause of OUR SON’s rash.

His glands on the right side of his neck are extremely swollen and protruding. This is an extreme exaggeration, but his slightly swollen glands are because of his tonsils, not the rash.

He needs to be seen by a real doctor, a pediatrician. He was seen by a real doctor…MY doctor…who was working at Urgent Care on Monday.

Someone that is not just going to pat him on the back and tell us everything is okay. The doctor did not “pat him on the back.” He thoroughly examined OUR SON and made a determination as to the cause and severity of his condition.

I am calling this morning to make an appointment for him. He does not feel well and is sick. He was feeling fine and is not sick. THE DEVIL is exaggerating, as usual.

I have been the one who has taken the children to work with me and taken the time off work every time they have been ill. This is a lie. I, too, have taken time off work to be with the children when they are ill. However, why would I take time off from work to care for them THE DEVIL doesn’t tell me when they are ill?

I am training a new girl for ITS 1ST JOB and starting a new job Monday. This is the first I’ve heard of this. I’m assuming that this means THE DEVIL will be earning more money.

the doctor need to know I treated OUR SON with benadril for 3 days, have been using topical benadryl and cort aide for 5 days.Nothing is helping. The opening of his air passage in his throat is very small. If I take him I will demand they do tests to figure out what is wrong. You need to do the same. Then why doesn’t it just take him instead of trying to dictate to me.

The only thing different I have given him to eat was Special Kay cereal with red berries. It had a lot of dehydrated strawberries in it. OUR SON has eaten dehydrated strawberries in cereal at my house several times and experienced no problems.

OUR SON’s Doctor Visit. I took OUR SON to see a pediatrician. She indicated that his rash was likely caused by THE DEVIL’s application of lotion to his face…something THE DEVIL had communicated to me for the first time only that morning. When I later spoke with MY LOVE about this, she agreed with the doctor’s assessment, saying, “If it had just mentioned that right up front, I could’ve told you that that’s what caused it. You’re never supposed to use lotion on your face unless it’s hypoallergenic and noncomedigenic!” The doctor recommended that we continue to treat OUR SON with allergy medication to control the itch and apply hydrocortisone cream to the affected area to help heal the rash.

OUR SON was fine, so I dropped him off at daycare for the remainder of the workday. I sent him with the Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Cream that I’d also bought for him; however, because THE DEVIL almost never returns products that I’ve purchased to my home, I wrote “TOKEN MALE’s House” in indelible black ink across the tube…which is what it does with everything it sends with the children that belongs to it.

Thursday, 1/19/06

4:30 p.m.: I picked the children up from daycare after work today and noticed that, as expected, THE DEVIL hadn’t returned the Claritin Elixir that I’d purchased and sent with OUR SON for his use at its house. It knows that he needs to take an oral allergy medication for his rash, and yet it didn’t send the medicine that I’d purchased for him to take.

On the way home, I purchased a generic cherry-flavored Children’s Allergy Medicine (equal to Benadryl Liquid) to replace the Claritin.

Friday, 1/20/06

I picked the children up from KIDS’ 2ND DAYCARE after work today for our weekend together. THE DEVIL left the following, handwritten note inside OUR SON’s backpack:

TOKEN MALE

Ive [sic] been researching and we should try not putting any cream on OUR SON’s rash. It could possibly make it worse. Ive [sic] read it may leave a barrier from air and lock the heat in. Instead try a luke warm[sic]/tepid bath with the bath treatment [Aveeno*] and let him soak.

Im [sic] calling 1ST PEDIATRICIAN today as the rash has now spread to his back.

THE DEVIL

I didn’t respond to THE DEVIL’s note.

*THE DEVIL sent home a packet of Aveeno Skin Relief Bath Treatment and actually returned the marked Aveeno Hydrocortisone Cream that I’d purchased for my house.

THE DEVIL’s request that we “try not putting any cream” on OUR SON’s rash was referring to the Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Cream that I’d sent with him the day before. Its so-called “research” findings contradict my discussions with both doctors; therefore, I took a few minutes to do my own online research and found the following advice to support the use of 1% Hydrocortisone Cream:

Source: Shands HealthCare (http://www.shands.org/health/information/article/003220.htm)
Common Causes:
Contact dermatitis following exposure to:
- Dyes and other chemicals found in clothing
- Chemicals found in elastic and rubber products
- Cosmetics
- Feminine deodorants
- Poison ivy and poison oak
Home Care:
Most common rashes will improve with gentle skin care and avoidance of irritating substances.
- Avoid scrubbing the skin.
- Minimize the use of soap (using gentle cleansers when possible).
- Moisturize frequently.
- Eliminate any newly added cosmetics or lotions.
Hydrocortisone cream (1%) is available without prescription and may soothe many rashes.
Call your health care provider if:
- Home treatment is ineffective, or if symptoms persist or worsen.
- Other symptoms accompany the rashes.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
Depending on the cause of your rash, treatments may include topical medications, oral medications, and/or skin surgery.

I ignored THE DEVIL's note and continued to treat OUR SON's rash as recommended by his doctors, and it improved while in my care. Idiot!