Can You Say...Cryptosporidium?

Last Wednesday I took my kids to the Tempe Town Beach Park for a few hours of fun in the water. We had a great time and Taryn was so cute playing in the water. I even thought it was so cute when she tried to drink the water that was spouting out of a little whale's head. Little did we know that the water was contaminated with a feces-born parasite called cryptosporidium!!!

Friday evening on the news it was reported that the park was shut down because of the parasite. Great, I thought, I hope none of us get sick.

Saturday around 5:00 a.m. it hit me. I was running to the toilet and it's been my closest friend even up until today.

I called the City of Tempe and they were very kind, sympathetic and apologetic about what had happened. Apparently, I was the first one to call and report an illness. My kids have been o.k., thank heaven! Taryn has a bit of diarrhea but seems to be acting just fine.

We're supposed to leave on a vacation this Saturday. I've lost two days of preparation and I still don't know how much longer it will be until I feel like myself again. I get a little stressed when I think about everything that needs to be done before we go. Steve is a huge help, though, and I know he'll do everything he can to help us get ready.

Lesson: expect the unexpected when you go to public recreational swimming venues, make sure kids have clean swimming diapers, don't drink the water, maybe just don't go at all :(