Breathe...

Monday. 11:35 AM.

As I pull up to preschool to pick up Chayse, my cell phone begins ringing. Reluctantly I answer.

As the school nurse introduces herself, I feel myself inhale sharply. I hear "...breathing difficulty...perspiring...wheezing...left lung...PE...rested...back in class."

I exhale slowly.

Then I hear. "Why doesn't she have an inhaler? According to her records..."

"Admittedly," I state, "she has been stable for several months, so I had let it lapse." I assured her I would contact the doctor.

By late afternoon, I had an inhaler in hand.

Tuesday. 10:30 AM.

Telephone rings. School nurse. I hold my breath. Listening as I scramble to find the keys.

"...Nikela here...yesterday...inhaler in pocket...speaker phone...discuss..."

Suddenly I realize that Nikela is in trouble for carrying her inhaler. I stop in my tracks. Exhale.

"...students cannot carry...doctor's release...administered by nurse...four hours...best if kept in office..."

"What about track? I would like her to have it available for track."

"If only one inhaler...(pointed pause)...check it back out to her at the end of the day...remind...send paperwork...need original packaging...doctor's note..."

I exhale slowly. First I am in trouble for not having an inhaler available for use at school. Then without thinking about protocols...Nikela is now carrying the requested inhaler.

Breathe...In...1...2...3...Out...1...2...3...as I fill out the necessary paperwork while wondering if I will hear from the nurse again tomorrow...

In the meantime, neither of us is breathing easily.