Fourth Time's A Charm?

Almost exactly one month ago I was fighting (more like crying) with Kaiser to find someone who would see our sick baby girl. After countless phone calls, and three separate visits, we were on our way to getting better. The antibiotic seemed to be working and we were on to our general teething crankiness.

Lily's sleeping and eating patterns have changed the past couple of weeks and I decided I would see if she was ready to drop down to two naps. But just as I decided to play with the schedule, she went crazy! She wouldn't nap for more than 45 minutes. I blamed the teething. She stopped eating solids after maybe 3 bites. I blamed the teething. She was cranky overall, and not her normal self. She wanted to be held all of the time, and cried every time I left the room. I blamed the teething. This was not my baby! That night as we battled to eat sweet potatoes (her favorite,) she started playing with her ear. I finally called my sister and said "I can only blame teething so long. I think she is sick." Then the cough returned. That terrible body wracking, mucus rattling, makes you want to cry for your child, cough.

I began the mind games. Am I a crazy paranoid mother? Is it just a virus she needs to get over? What if I play the wait and see game and she gets worse? Do I really want to pay my copay just to hear my doctor tell me "It's ok Mama, she's fine?"

I ran the humidifier for two nights and on Tuesday morning I made an appointment for 2:30 that afternoon. By 3:00 I was heading to my car antibiotic in hand. (Yay! for no longer waiting in Family Medicine for 30 minutes after my appointment time just to see my doctor!) She may have a new ear infection, but it is quite possible that the previous one never fully cleared up. So we got a stronger, longer, antibiotic and directions to eat yogurt.

After two doses she is already napping longer, eating better, and is no longer crying every time I walk past. Although, antibiotics made for some crazy diapers this afternoon. But she is on the mend and hopefully her normal, mellow self shortly.