Yummmm. Doesn’t THAT sound appetizing?? Well, that is how my morning started. Crisana woke up with a VERY crusty nose, which has been happening off and on for about 2 weeks. I’ve been wondering if she was developing allergies, or just fighting off a persistent cold. But this morning was THE WORST. Everything was fine until breakfast, when she uttered those words that just send shivers up my spine…”Mommy, my ear hurts.” Praise the Lord she uttered those words on a Friday. Normally, it’s on a Sunday afternoon, around 4:59, or on some night, at around 3:00 A.M. But glory be, this time it was on a day when the doctor’s office is OPEN…AND it was DURING OFFICE HOURS!! Hallelujah!
But my bliss was short lived as the ear-infection-that-ate-New-York quickly infiltrated both ears, producing excruciating pain, and reducing my precious little girl to a crying, complaining, grouchy, whimpering, pathetic little creature. By the time we got to the doctor’s office, the crying gave way to screaming, yelling, and such discomfort that nothing would help. “Hold me, Mommy” turned to “DON’T TOUCH ME!!” “Read me a story, Mommy” morphed into “I DON’T WANT TO TALK TO YOU!!” I now know what she will be like in labor, and to her future husband, you have my pity. Don’t worry, she rebounds quickly, it’s all worth it.
According to the pediatrician, it’s a pretty severe ear infection, both ears. She’s alternating between Motrin/Ibuprofen and Tylenol with Codeine every three hours, and getting ear drops twice a day as well as antibiotics. Bless her heart, she’s been a trooper all day, but this morning was no fun for either of us.
So no ketchup today. I’ve dealt with enough mucous today to ruin any appetite.
(Oh, and one positive note from today’s doctor visit: When they weighed her, she had not only NOT gained any weight, she actually dropped below where she was last time! So, that’s good news! Made me feel like what we’re doing is working – and redeemed me from feeling like a failure as a mother. And I believe we are making positive changes as a family, because the scale at my house – that mean old scale I’ve given up on – actually said I’ve lost 10 pounds. So, YAY.)