Derailed

On Monday I had just finished rewriting the opening chapter of my MG mystery (and realizing it wouldn't work) when I got the call. Snuggle monkey was running a low-grade temperature and really out of it. Could I please pick him up?

source

Nothing like the unexpected to completely derail progress. If you can call rewriting eight pages for nothing progress. But it made me realize how great it's been this year: everyone's been healthy!

During the last school year, we spent eight solid months with one of the two boys home for one or two days each week. I had three weeks last year during which I had a whole five-day work week to get things done. Yep, three weeks.

This year, they've had about five sick days between them.

*knocks on wood*

*stops to appreciate just how wonderful it's been that we've all been healthy*

*knocks on wood again*

I can't begin to express how grateful I have been for that time.

It even makes up for the dreaded email that landed in my inbox on Friday: lice. At the school, in the rooms where Boss Man's been lately. The same rooms where I recently found him wearing a crown.

Saturday involved a fine-tooth comb, a bright light, a magnifying glass, and a lot of time with the kids in front of a movie and me inspecting every inch of their scalps and hair.  We got lucky—no need to shave their heads.

*knocks on wood some more*

Now, back to that chapter...

What unexpected events have derailed your efforts of late?

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