Elsie's first day of school.

Elsie's school career didn't start out in the most promising fashion.

She finished a round of antibiotics for an ear infection five days before her first day of class was scheduled, but woke up 24 hours later with a rebounding infection.

We spent our Labor Day in urgent care getting a second round of antibiotics, and being reassured by the doc that she would be pain-free and ready for her first day of school on Wednesday.  Instead, we had a horrible night of no sleep and headed back to urgent care the next morning only to be told her ear drum had ruptured.  More antibiotics, and a firm reassurance that she would be ready for her first day of classes in the morning since the rupture had allowed the pressure to be relieved.

Instead of a restful night, though, we had our second night with a very sad girl.  By morning her whole ear was swollen and red.  When I called the clinic, we were told to come in immediately as it was likely she had developed a rare but extremely dangerous complication.  Yikes!

After a very thorough evaluation by her primary care doc, we were told that it looked like her ear was developing mastoiditis, but was not actually acute yet. We were told to watch it very carefully, and immediately go to the ER if we noticed any changes. As we were heading out the door to go home, our sweet doctor said, "Well, with all the antibiotics she is on, she should either wake up happy and healthy and be ready to go to school tomorrow, or it will go the other way and I will see you tonight in the ER."

My dear friend Heather had called that morning to see how Elsie's first day had gone, and when she hear that we were in urgent care again she said she wanted to do something special for Elsie. I got a text a few hours later saying there was something waiting in the mailbox for her. When we got home from urgent care, Elsie ran to the front door and found a signed copy of one of her favorite stories, Chrysanthemum, along with a finger puppet of the main character. On the title page was a lovely little illustration and note from the author himself!

Needless to say, Elsie was THRILLED. Yet another reason why we are SO INCREDIBLY BLESSED to have Miss Heather in our lives.

And, in the end, after getting up to check on the monkey every hour that night, she woke up with a pain-free ear the next morning and made it to her first (second) day of school. The following series of photos outlines the rest of her saga, beginning with a picture of a sick girl with a red, swollen ear, reading her new book, and ending 24 hours later with her happily walking home after a successful first day of school.

Her first read-through with Chrysanthemum...and a very swollen ear.

Fourth read-through...making sure that Chrysanthemum can see the pictures!

The next morning she woke up happy and pain free, so we jumped in the car for her first (second) day of school!

She was pretty overwhelmed, but felt a lot better after grabbing the hand of her good friend and classmate, Lucy.

Waiting in line with her good friend (and classmate) Antoinette.

Walking home after school let out three hours later with a happy girl!