Reid may have the pox. We aren't sure, but we're going to see the doctor in a little bit to find out. Reid's grand-dad, who happens to be a physician with an excellent diagnostic record, listened to a brief description of his symptoms and said, "well, he has chicken pox."

Ulp.

When we travelled to Egypt, we were given special dispensation to get the one year vaccines early, since he would actually be out of the country on his first birthday. However, on the actual date on which the vaccines were to be given, our pediatrician balked, choosing only to administer the MMR vaccine, and not the chicken pox vaccine, known as varicella.

We were of two minds on this subject. The more serious diseases are undoubtedly the mumps, measles and rubella covered by the MMR vaccine. However, there was a higher chance of Reid getting chicken pox than any of those. In the end, we accepted the doctor's concerns and went with the MMR only.

Now, I'm regretting that a little bit. Still, everyone says (anecdotally, of course), that getting the actual pox is a lot better than banking on the varicella vaccine. I recall the chicken pox as a painful and annoyin experience, and I have a perfectly round scar in the center of my forehead to prove what happens if you scratch and pick at your pox.

We're going to the doctor in a little bit. They've asked us to sneak in the back door, like second class patients, because the pox is highly contagious. Here's hoping Reid's just had an unfortunate rendez-vous with a particularly aggressive insect.