Rash Anyone?!

I don't have too many new pictures to post because the boys have not exactly been picture-worthy recently.  We have never really had kids with skin issues, however the past month or 2 has been a whirl-wind of weird viruses that is leaving me an expert in anything rash-related.  

It started about a month ago with Micah developing several little white pimple/bumps on his face and back of his head.  I just thought it was baby acne and didn't think much of it until they started to get bigger and look sort of infected.  So I took him to the doctor and they thought he had a skin bug (gross - who knows what that means!) but the culture came back as Scarlet fever - a variation of strep apparently.  

Then a week or so after that, Caleb started to have reddish arms/cheeks that I just chalked up to heat rash, since of all my kids - he has the most sensitive skin.  I had him along at Micah's 6 month well check and just asked the doctor if I should make a separate appointment for Caleb, to which she told me it was not necessary because he had Fifth's disease and there is nothing to be done except wait for the virus to pass.   

Then this past week, Micah started with a little fever, which I thought was teething (don't you think I would know by now not to assume!!?).  After 3 days of the fever not going away and getting up around 102, we took him in on Saturday and found out he had white patches on his throat that were Hand/Foot/Mouth disease - awesome.  

Not over yet though...Micah woke up today with a rash all over his body, different from what Caleb had or I could have diagnosed him at home, and so back he went to the doctor to find out he also has Roseola (also known as Sixth's disease!), along with some new teeth almost in.  Poor child.  

Ironically, through all of this, Caleb never even felt sick, Micah has been a bit cranky but nothing more than what I would think of as teething, and Noah seems to be escaping everything.

I feel fairly grossed out by this point however, partly because I have no idea where we would be picking all these weird things up.  We have been going to our community pool and the older 2 were at Sesame Place last week so maybe some of the viruses came from one of those places - but who knows.  

The doctor said they are currently getting lots of people with rash viruses like these in the office.  If you happen to have a kid that comes down with a rash - let me know and I may be able to spare you a co-pay because by now I certainly feel like I have a wealth of knowledge in the area of skin abnormalities.  I also will understand if you don't want to come anywhere near our family for a little while (even though the doctors have all said these viruses/rashes are only contagious if the child has a fever)!

Aside from all that fun, here are a few pictures from our last couple of days (I'll spare you pictures of strange looking skin)...

Face of determination!

Noah riding bike...

Micah's hat was flopping down in his face so we pushed it up like this and he was much happier!

The boys in a fort - all too obvious that this was a forced picture!

My brother Dave just had birthday so Caleb and Noah made special cards for him!

Noah even made a special picnic for Uncle Dave:)