Doctor Trip

Everyone,

The boys were up all night long again last night. I think Pirate finally slept deeply around 3am when Professor woke up screaming and yanking his ears so hard I thought he would pull them off. I crawled into bed with him and let him nurse/sleep on me until 7:30am when Butterfly got up. I put him down to do something for Butterfly, and he screamed so hard. I've never heard him scream like that. So. Off to the doctors almost positive they have ear infections.

Butterfly ate breakfast in the car after dressing herself (everything was on backwards, including her underwear) and she was very patient in the doctor's office. The nurses yelled at me for carrying both boys and not using a stroller. I am waspish when I am tired and I snapped back at them that their office was not exactly stroller friendly. Especially my huge double wide stroller. Besides, they just want to be held! What harm is there in that?

I did wow the doctor with my ability to hold all 4 hands and both heads at the same time so they wouldn't grab the ear checker. Ears look fine. Huh. He decided to swab their throats and noses and see what came up.

All cultures were negative. We were free to go with our snotty, sick boys. Just a cold. Dang, I was hoping for some sort of medicine to help them feel better. So we could all get some sleep!

We went out with my mom's group to the pizza/game place and Butterfly had a great time. I put Pirate in the sling on my front and Professor in the backpack on my back and wandered around with Butterfly playing games and cheering her on the rides. She had a great time playing with her friends. One of our members moved away and she was in town for the holidays so it was great to catch up with her and see her kids. We all had pizza together. It was great to get out with her and see some people and let her play. I think she was getting a little cooped up at home.

I come home (with both boys screaming and Butterfly whining that she was tired and couldn't walk and why can't I carry her?!?!) and the phone is ringing. I ran to get it and it was the doctor's office. Doctor on the phone. He asked several times if everything was all right because of the level of noise in the background. I said it was nap time and was there anything wrong? Yes, one of the cultures was miss read. The boys have RSV.

Ahh...the answer! What do we do for RSV? Nothing. Nothing? Seriously? Yep, nothing. And it can last up to a month. And it's highly contagious so we should probably keep them away from other babies and elderly people for awhile. I do have to make sure that it doesn't become worse as it can change into pneumonia pretty quick. Pirate has it bad. Every time he sneezes, gallons of snot come out of his poor little nose. If the snot turns green or they are wheezing or having a hard time breathing, I need to take them back. Lots of sleep, lots of fluids, and lots of nose sucking is all I can do. Ugh.

So sorry everyone at the pizza/game place for infecting you with RSV. Looks like I'll be home for awhile longer.

Safire