Right Answer Please

My daughter returned from a long, fun weekend at Grandma's. One of the first things she said to me is, "My throat hurts." Great, because she's still on antibiotics (third set) for ear and sinus infections that have been around since at least September. She's coughing a lot more and harder too.

And "great" because her baby brother has a sore throat. In fact, they're growing a culture to check for strep as I type. I took him in for pink eye (as I wasn't sure if they do antibiotic drops in someone under one, everything I read gave contradictory answers). I learned that he has an ear infection and a very red throat. I guess it doesn't surprise me looking back as he has been fighting a cold on and off since his baptism in September, and his sleep and eating has been weird the last few days.

Then there's my middle child. He's snotty, has been ever since he got off his second round of super-antibiotics for a weird super-bug, but they assume this "cold" is something different since there isn't any fevers or other stuff. But his chest is a little raspy and he's coughing more, sounding junky more. They have given him the label of asthma because when Grady gets sick, it ultimately leads to wheezing (coughing) and rattling meaning congested or contstricted airways. It's not induced by exercise, basically having a cold or respiratory illness brings it about in most cases with him.

So that seems to be the common denominator. A cold.

My oldest has been tested for allergies, and we are going with the notion that our middle one has them, too. Those things can irritate them and get them started or basically make conditions favorable for cultivating a bug really well.

There are over 200 viruses that can cause a common cold. And they thrive in daycares and schools - where my kids are! Those colds cause bigger problems in my kids. Like ear infections. My daughter had a few as a baby, and has had a few a year since then - this year being the worst.

Ear infections are common in infants and children, in part because the eustachian tubes become easily clogged. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up. When this happens, germs such as bacteria and viruses can multiply and cause an infection.


Now the question is - what to do about it. I've read that in 80% of cases an ear infection will clear up on its own in 7-10 days. Not wanting to overuse antibiotics, I've waited it out with my kids many times...but it's never seemed to work. One way or another, we always seem to end up on them.

I just never know if it's right. I mean, you're supposed to trust the medical professionals, but it sure seems like a lot of meds. It feels like a catch 22 all the time.

I don't want to destroy their own ability to fight off bugs, but if they can't shake them...
And if I could get rid of all the bugs we're all exposed too all day long, I would - but there is no such thing, no bubble to put them in.

So I continue to ponder the right answer.
It will mean a call to the pediatrician in the morning to second guess the course the doctor today (Sunday) put us on.

But, with 3 sets of tubes for the middle child and a set likely coming for my eldest...we may just be on an inevitable path here with our baby.

I just wish that I didn't feel like no answer is right.
Sometimes doing your best as a parent just doesn't feel like enough.

Un-Fond of Fishing for Floaters

There's very little I like less than cleaning poop out of a bathtub.
As I quickly scan the list of nasty things I get to do as "mom," nothing is topping it at this moment.
It had been a good 20-some years since I had to do such a chore.

Then this summer, while my middle child was on antibiotics, it happened.
I had gone 5 years as a parent and never had to fish floaters from the suds.
But once the dam was broken, it seems to not stop.

Tonight for at least the fourth or fifth time since that horrible day this summer, I once again got to scoop nasties.
I did a ton of babysitting when I was little, and very little grosses me out, unlike my husband who first had to change diapers by pulling his shirt over his nose and gagging.
But poop in the tub does it every time. My tummy actually got a bit queasy.

And that makes twice this week, as two days ago, thanks to not listening to me, my oldest lost a fight with the shopping cart and ripped her nail right out. I can do blood to a point, but her finger is kind of mangled and I just can't handle seeing my kid in pain like that. I was queasy trying to take care of the situation.

But back to the poop.
Yes, I did set him on the potty before the bath, and yes he did go #1 and told me he was all done.
And although there was quite a bit in the tub, there was still more that made the pot as I lifted him from the tub.

So do I declare that a potty-training win? I mean, I did get the potty in the potty chair before the bath...and I did get almost half of the bowel movement in the pot...

Ahh...but alas. I did have a ton of it in the tub to clean...and as I cleaned he did follow up that fiasco with streaking which involved going potty on the bathmat and the kitchen floor. Where does all the pee come from???

So no. Not a win.
Ugh.
I don't even care tonight for a win.
I just don't want to clean poop out of the tub again.
I'm shooting for that.

Potty Progress

I think it's funny how elated potty-training progress makes me.
I'm pretty sure as a young girl, even when cheering on my little brothers, I never thought to myself that I'd find deep joy in something likes this.

Potty training my little man with Down syndrome has been an intereseting trip so far. It's competely up to him, as he's demonstrated over and over.

As of this week, I've sung silly made-up songs with him to "trick" him into giving up the potty and tonight it even worked to get #2 out!

For example: "Tinkle, tinkle in the potty, poo-poo and pee-pee in the potty..." (sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")


It isn't the first time, but it is feeling (this week at least) that it's getting a little more consistent again.

And we even had one time this week when he woke up in the morning completely dry and went right away on the potty when we set him there.

I know that when he's done being stubborn about the whole thing, we'll have this hurdle checked off the list.
"In his own time..." I've heard and experienced that phrase so much since July 2007.

I wonder what life will be like when I'm not focused on "owie butt" prevention, diaper levels at home (school, daycare, etc.), who's gone which number a healthy amount of times per day, and timing, timing, timing.

Oh, well. I'll continue to delight, along with my little man, in the little things.
Even if they come in wet or stinky forms.

Life Lesson #72,568

You don't tug on Super Man's cape,
You don't spit into the wind,

and you don't take three kids age 5 and under for a successful family photo.
What you get at home is good enough. :)

*Much thanks to Jim Croce for the use of the above lyrics which have been in my head a lot lately.