Angry

Almost two weeks ago, I heard these words: "Your son is fine. His ear is slightly red, but it's not infected yet. But you'll probably have to come back in a couple of days. Oh, and I don't hear any wheezing. Just give him some cough syrup." This mom believes her because A. she's a doctor and B. maybe I just overreacted. This was on Friday. On Sunday, my son is in the hospital with full blown pneumonia. Oh and he stops BREATHING a few times that night. But yet he was FINE on Friday. He stays in the hospital UNTIL Thursday.

At this point, I'm mad at myself because I should have known better than to trust her. She was not our regular doctor. She was new at our doctor's office. I knew my son. She did not. I knew how quickly my asthmatic son can go from a runny nose to pneumonia. I knew it. I should have followed my instincts, but I didn't.

Fast forward to today. A wakes up with a fever. No big deal. I pop him some tylenol and put him back to bed for a day home with daddy. This afternoon, I get home from school. I take one look at A and rush him to the doctor's office. He has black circles under his bloodshot eyes. His lips are dry and cracked. My hubby has trouble waking him to get him up to go to the doctor. I give him Motrin on the way to the doctor's office because his fever is scaring me.

We get to the doctor's office and literally wait two hours to see a doctor, but that's alright. I'm just glad one could see him. And then I see her: the fool that cost us five days in the hospital. But I am calm. We all make mistakes. I let her check out my son. He gets a flu test. It comes back negative. And then she talks to me. "He doesn't have the flu at this moment. You've probably just brought him in too early. However, he has all of the symptoms. His ear is red, but not infected yet. However, since he has asthma if he gets the flu, bring him in early because it will be worse for him since he is asthmatic." Does she not hear her contradicting herself???

At this point, momma bear comes out. "Do you realize your misdiagnosis cost me five days in the hospital?" Then she has the nerve to look at me and ask what she missed like it was a fly ball at the ball field. It took everything I had to keep my cool. I took my "non-sick" child out, paid the receptionist, and vowed once again to never let that woman lay her hands on my child again. I will call our regular doctor in the morning. The one who knows how quickly A goes downhill. The one who is very proactive in his treatment because of the hospital stays. But at this point, I am watching him sleep and praying.

Swan Flu?

Early Friday morning, K wakes up with a fever and an upset tummy. After a few children's motrin and tummy rubs, she gets settled back in for a day at home with Mommy. Realizing, it is now time to wake up her siblings, I procede to have the following conversation with M:

M: How come K gets to stay home?
Me: Because she's not feeling well.
M: Well, I hope she don't got the "swan flu."

After reassuring M that her sister was going to be fine, the youngest two went off to school. I later received an email from K's teacher, letting me know that she was also at home that day with her own son. In K's fifth grade classroom, there were 11 children absent that day!

When A and M returned from school, I asked M about her spelling test. She informs me that they didn't have a spelling test that day because 18 children were absent from her class. In A's class, there were six absent. So this mommy got out the Lysol can and went on a spraying frenzy. Because we sure do not want a repeat of this from a couple of weeks ago:



Yes, that is a blanket and a Pooh in my seven year old's hands. He'll probably take those things with him to college.

Introducing...

On a beautiful, although hot day in August, I became a mom. At seven pounds and thirteen ounces, my beautiful daughter, K, entered the world. Fast forward nine years, and this beautiful baby is now a lovely, little girl with a gentle personality and wisdom beyond her years.

Almost two years after that warm August day, eight pounds and twelve ounces of beautiful bouncing boy brightened our month of May. Now seven years later, this little boy, A, often complains about being surrounded by sisters, but he melts my heart when I hear him call them "my girls."

Our family became complete in July of 2003, when our youngest daughter M was born. Now this charming child came into the world before our doctor could even get to the room. I think that should have been a clue for us. Nevertheless, this six year old ball of fire is completely fearless, and she adds a bit of mischief to our family.