>> ADIA: I DON'’T ACTUALLY ENJOY SUMMER ALL THAT MUCH.

TEMPERATURES ABOVE 75 DEGREES AND TROPICAL HUMIDITY ARE THE STUFF OF LOW-GRADE MISERY.

SWEATER WEATHER IS THE BEST WEATHER.

HOWEVER, SUMMER IS WHEN MY CHILD WILL BE ON SCHOOL BREAK, WHICH WILL, HOPEFULLY, GIVE US ANOTHER BREAK, SUSTAINED FREEDOM FROM ILLNESS.

I THINK WE'’VE HAD A TOTAL OF, MAYBE, SIX WEEKS SINCE EARLY SEPTEMBER WITHOUT SOMEONE IN OUR HOUSE BATTLING SOME KIND OF GUNK.

I THINK WE'’RE IN THE CLEAR AND THEN THERE'’S A CONGESTED, "“MAMA, I'’M HUNGRY,"” FROM THE OTHER ROOM, AND THE DESPAIR WASHES OVER ME, KNOWING IT'’LL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE THE SNOT FACTORY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN.

SERIOUSLY, I WIPE MY CHILD'’S NOSE, TURN MY BACK, AND NOT 30 SECONDS LATER, HIS NOSTRIL LOOKS LIKE AN EXTRA IN A TOY SLIME COMMERCIAL.

THESE GERMS SURE ARE HAVING FUN, EVEN IF WE'’RE NOT.

NO MATTER HOW MANY TISSUES I STUFF IN MY POCKET, IT'’S NEVER ENOUGH; NOT TO MENTION THE NEED TO VISIT FIVE TARGETS BEFORE WE CAN FIND ANY KIDS'’ MEDS IN STOCK.

I KNOW THIS WILL END.

AT LEAST, THAT'’S WHAT I SAY TO MYSELF TO MAINTAIN MY SANITY.

ONE DAY, WE'’LL ALL BREATHE FREELY, LITERALLY.

IN THE MEANTIME, I'’VE GOT AN EXTRA NOSE FRIEDA I'’M WILLING TO PART WITH FOR SOME CHERRY-FLAVORED CHILDREN'’S TYLENOL.

ANY TAKERS?