A Visit to the Pediatrician

Alexander is sick. What started out as weather related allergy/sinus issues has become full blown sinus and double ear infections. He has green goo coming out of his nose and both ears, and to make matters worse, he has diarrhea from the antibiotics. He coughs all night despite the Delsym-Sudafed-Tylenol cocktail, and with the lack of sleep and drug haze he walks around like a zombie. This explains why he tripped on his own feet and slammed head first into the table. Add a black and blue forehead egg to his list of tortures. My poor baby.

So it's time to find a pediatrician. We chose a 4 doctor practice near the mall, about 10 mins from our new house. They were able to see him at 4pm yesterday, but that meant I had to wake them up from their naps. Nobody was happy about that. We got there on time, despite getting lost once in the forest that surrounds the mall. I'll bring bread crumbs next time.

The office is large, cavernous actually, with well and sick waiting rooms, and lots of happy murals. Their only mistake is the flooring. It's that hollow laminate "wood" floor. You know, the kind 2 year olds like to tap dance on. I check in and sit down with my extensive paperwork, while Christian aka Michael Flatly performs Lord of the Dance. The sound is deafening. In between insurance ID numbers and completing my family tree, I alternate between shushing him and begging him to be a good boy. Did my great grandmother have thyroid problems? Christian...you are too loud! Scarlet fever? Didn't they cure that? Christian stop spinning and sit down! Mental Illness? Bingo! Surely they'll go easy on me if I confess to that. Christian, I have MM's in the car if you sit quietly (total bluff.)

They call us in and the surly nurse stands there watching Alexander struggle to take off his shoes while I juggle a diaper bag, three coats, the clipboard, and corral Christian. Apparently his performance is not over and he refuses to follow us down the carpeted hall. Where's the fun there?

We manage to get in an exam room where Christian discovers the stained concrete floors echo and amplify his voice. Can we go back to the carpeted hall please? What deaf, childless person is responsible for this acoustical nightmare?! Are you kidding me?!

After a 20 min wait, and 5,000 "SHHHHH’s!” young Dr. John comes in to examine Alexander and proceeds to ask me 95% of the questions I just answered on the forms. Are they testing me?

He prescribed a stronger antibiotic, ear drops, and gave us samples of a new prescription strength cold/cough cocktail. Sweet! Alexander will have the munchies for sure.

He's a little better today. His ears are still draining, but he slept through the night with very little coughing.

Now we wait for Christian's turn.