If you have a hacking, gross, constant cough do us new mothers a favor and stay out of the big Issaquah Starbucks (you know which one I'm talking about).

Seriously, with all the crap going around you'd think that people would stay out of crowded, public places when they have a cough so bad that it sounds like they should have an oxygen tank attached to their side.

My mommy friend (MF-I will grant her anonymity) and I decided to stop by the Starbucks near REI since it's all raining out and gross instead of loading up the babies, again and driving, etc.  So, we get to the (smaller) crowded Starbucks and, seriously, not kidding, there was a little girl there who looked like she was knocking on death's door and had the cough to prove it.  MF and I look at each other, attempting to play it off, but on the 7th cough we decided it wasn't worth a week of lost sleep, a possible visit to an emergency room, clutching our babies' hands while they took shallow breaths - so we left.

We went to the BIG, BIG Starbucks and decided it would us more space there to dodge any potential hacking coughs that may cross our path.  Of course, there was a lady, sitting smack in the middle of the Starbucks hacking away and I mean hacking.  Constant. Cough. And honestly, it wasn't even so much that she was coughing (in the middle of the crowded Starbucks) it's that she wasn't even really covering her cough. People of course were giving her the stare-down along with MF and me.  

I so wanted to walk over there, show her the bags under my eyes, that somewhat resemble this set minus the smooth wheels, from the cold that Austin had a couple of weeks ago having yet to recover.  "Look lady, look at me!  Please, for the love of GOD stay home if you are so sick that you are hacking and coughing everywhere, all over everything! And P.S. if you are sick you should not be drinking coffee!" (Sorry Starbucks.)

We ended up at a small table near the very back, far enough away from Ms. Hacking McCoughing to enjoy our drinks.  

Now, I know that most people will say, "Well, the babies will get sick, you can't protect them from everything."  And this I know is true, but let me tell you, if it can be prevented I will do all in power to prevent it because it was heartbreaking seeing Austin sick, so exhausted and tired.  Not to mention Scooter (he was sick too!) and I not getting much rest.  

Just please remember during this time of year to wash your hands before handling babies.  There's just too much crap going around.  And if you feel sick or think you might be sick, just don't handle babies at all.