Doctor's offices...

Since Alex began day care in September he has been sick. By his 3rd day in day care his voice became hoarse, by the 4th day he had a runny nose, and of course by day #5 he had a full blown cold.

We have had a struggle with sickness since September. I am sure that we are at the doctor's office every 3 weeks with something new. That doesn't include the "follow up" appointments to make sure that the illness is being treated correctly and that "the virus" is running it's course. 

The latest illness is a repeat of the illness 3 weeks ago. After antibiotics and steroids we really only got 1 week of relieve. Probably no even a week, more like 4 days! So I call the day after the holidays. Yes, my kid would be the one to spike a 102.6 fever on Christmas Eve!! The office was only opened for a half day and was only taking sick calls. The appointment times were not convenient, considering I already was at work. If I knew that I could have gotten in within the next 2 hours, I would not have come to work in the morning. So, instead of making an appointment that day, I decide to ask the receptionist some questions.

This is what gets me when I call the doctor's office....

Every time I call the office I talk to someone different. Which is fine, it is a very large office, maybe 6 or 7 doctors in the practice. I don't expect to talk to the same person every time. Thankfully they have a very organized and friendly staff, with a great electronic system so they get things right!  But, the thing that frustrates me is that every time I talk to someone new, they always have different medical advice. Notice I said, different and not conflicting medical advice (which is a relief). Sometimes I just wish that with a practice so big that they have a website for parents to check out their "tricks of the trade" when handling a sick toddler.

With every phone conversation I learn something new from one of the receptionist! It's so frustrating because of course I try it out, and it works. All the time I'm thinking, I wish the lady 3 weeks ago told me about this remedy!! 

I should start jotting down all of the remedies that I have learned over the past few months of having a sick toddler!! Bet it would really add up if I took the time.

Hopefully, with the breathing treatments my little "A" will be feeling better soon so that we won't be making the frequent stops to the doctor's office!!

Wrapping time...

I started wrapping gifts last night for Christmas! It was pretty annoying -- and I didn't have much patience for it!! Corners were tearing and my scissors were so dull it was just a pain to cut a straight line! 

I remember when I was a kid and the gifts looked so perfectly wrapped. My Mom is much more of a perfectionist than me so that may explain her beautifully wrapped gifts?? I really wanted to be creative with wrapping this year but after I had done a few presents, I really just wanted to be done with it!! 

Looking forward to having the next few days off -- although I'm not not looking forward to rushing all over the place over the next few days!! Hoping I can get some relaxing done this weekend...

Always Worrying...

I understand now why my mom continues to worry about me. I am 35 years old yet she still worries. No matter what the situation is, she worries. I now know that this feeling will never go away...

I am a parent now and have this constant feeling of worry with my son. Every minute of the day, I worry...

This isn't an anxiety issue, this is just this nagging feeling of wanting to always know my child is safe.

I wake up in the middle of the night, worry about my son, go check on him and realize he is ok. I go back to bed. He wakes up in the morning and I worry about getting his diaper changed and worry about staying on schedule to get to school and work on time.

I worry ALL day when I am working and hope that he is safe at day care and having a good day.  We get home from day care and the worry continues... Did he get enough veggies at dinner, is he developing a cough, did I read long enough to him??

Today, parents had a much larger worry, a much deeper worry for their child...

Today parents worried about their children's well being in a sense of.... Is my child still alive!!

The fear and terror that these parents had in Connecticut today is unreal to me. I can't even imagine the thought process of these parents as they learned that there was a shooting at their children's school. Is my child alive? Will I see my child again?? Are they scared?? Are they in a safe place? Did we talk about what happens if they are in danger in school? Is my child alive?? What was running through their heads when they learned of a school shooting??

My heart goes out to the families who lost their children. Lost their children in an environment which is supposed to be safe. A place for learning and play. A place where we would never think was so unsafe that innocent children would be gunned down.

Because of todays' events, I worry for the day my own son goes to school. I am afraid for his future. What can we do to keep our children safe?? These parents in this small, suburban town probably never imagined that their world would be turned upside down and have to face this tragic and senseless act of violence.  It's bad enough we have to worry about when our child reaches the age of parties, peer pressure, and independence. Parents should not have to worry about their young children coloring, cutting, and gluing papers together!!

Praying and thinking of all of these families, school staff, educators, and the community that is suffering through this horrible time. Hugging my own baby tighter tonight and trying to remember that things are not as bad as they may seem at the moment. I'm going to go to fall asleep tonight not dwelling on what I don't have... I'm going to count my blessings and just be thankful that my baby is safe tonight...

How can we make things safer for our children??

'Tis the season for germs

Over the past 2 weeks we have been fighting infections in our home. 

The first round of infections started on a Monday morning, 2 weeks ago. A begins screaming in his crib which of course startled me! He usually just talks when he wakes up, or tosses his blanket out of his crib when he's ready to get up. I hear the screaming and go running to his crib. He is crying and looks scared. No more than 30 seconds goes by and he is my arms and I'm carrying him to the bedroom door. Then I hear it. Sounds like the "silence reflux" we dealt with so many months ago! I stop in the middle of the room to listen closer. That's when it happened. I get puked on -- all over the front of my shirt and down my leg. A is very scared at this point and is hugging me, arms around neck. Figured we would try and keep the carpets clean by heading to the bathroom. We sat in the bathroom for about 10 mintues until the coast was clear and there was no vomit, for the time being. 

This went on for a few hours. He was sick, would take a sip of pedalyte and just throw it back up. We went through this until the afternoon - after a long nice nap we were feeling a little better... Both of us.

After the vomit session on Monday, we went right into a bad cough into Tuesday. Even though I was scared to have A in my bed in case he puked again, I figured it's the only sure way to get him some rest. So, Monday night we crashed in the same bed so that I could keep an eye on his coughing/breathing, while keeping him propped up. By Tuesday we were in a full coughing fit and luckily Grandma came over to sit with him for a few hours. 

After that doctor's appointment we were prescribed antibiotics for the double ear infection (first ear infection in his life and of course it's a double whammy!) and steriods for the coughing. We noticed a difference after the first dose of steroids. It wasn't until the 3rd and 4th dose that A developed an aversion and as soon as the liquid dropped on his tongue - he puked all over the place. Now of course we were already concerned because A had lost his appetite the day before from the constant throwing up. Now we finally get some food into his stomach and he develops an aversion. We attempted to give the medicine in a cup of milk but A figured it out too soon. So, another call to the doctor and we got dissolvable pills. Which, although A put up a bit of a fight, he didn't barf with every taste!

By Thursday the antibiotics were causing diarrhea which just made things messy... And stinky... 

Back to school the following week and then of course, we go for the 2 week follow up this past Tuesday and everything seems to be ok. Left ear checked out just fine, right ear has some fluid but healing fine. A had a bit of a red throat which was a little concerning because 2 kids in his classroom have strep. 

Then, we start the ferris wheel again... Wednseday I check on A before I leave from work and my husband tells me that he thinks A has pink eye. Another call to the doctor so we can be fit in that same day and we all head to the doctors. Pink eye in one eye - both by the car ride back home. So, we got some more medication from the pharmacy. 

Doctor said to keep an eye out on wheezing since A's chest seems a little crackly. 

Aaaahhh, and they say that it could be until March until the illnesses are over!! 

The rest of November

Well, wasn't really able to finish the month of November with the "Today I'm thankful for..."

The holidays came along and went so fast. Then, A was sick for over a week. My blogging time was quite limited. 

So, I guess I could summerize and just say that I was thankful to share the Thanksgiving holiday with family and that we had a fun long weekend together. I am also thankful that A's health is improving and that we made it through that rough week. It was a long week with lots of puking, pooping, and whining. Poor baby was so sick with a double ear infection and bronchial infection. Stomach bug to start everything and then aversion to medications!

What a week!