After hemming and hawing all day about whether or not to take the kids to the doctor, I finally made the call. The nice thing about my doctor's office is that they will get you in even if you call at 2:30 and they close at 4:00. I am always reluctant to go to the doctor for fear the diagnosis will be "something viral" and the prescription will be "liquids and rest". Maybe if we didn't have a $3000 deductible and not a happy little copay, I might not be so irritated.
Today we were in luck, Ava is rocking her second ear infection at just 5 months old. She was given a yummy antibiotic. Of course there is still the coughing and green ooze coming from her nose which the nurse practitioner thinks is probably viral. Rrrrr . . . viral. Grant, on the other hand, has clear ears, nose, and chest. I think to pacify me the nurse gave him a steroid (I could make so many jokes here but won't) for the croup and told us to come back Monday if the fever doesn't break. It was 103.5 when we got home. Looks like we are in for a weekend of movies and snuggling on the couch. :)
Why does it feel so right to indulge our children when they are sick? Grant is currently sitting in front of his computer with a plate of cookies and cheetos. (Yes, he is four and has a computer in his room. Just one of the many things I said I would never do when I was a parent.) Perhaps it is not so much that he is running a 102.3 fever, but more the fact that I just realized it after two days of Micah saying, "Grant sure does feel warm." In my defense, Ava has been congested, running a fever, and uncharacteristically whiny. Grant, on the other hand, has been his usual upbeat self. I just figured if he felt bad he would let us know. Of course, I should know better. This is the child who was running around the doctor's office with a 104 fever. The doctor said, "He's not acting sick," and abruptly sent us home with the advice to pick up some OTC pain reliever. Two days later Grant was taken by ambulance to the ER in respiratory distress. Four days in ICU and a pretty penny taught me that even when Grant doesn't "act sick" he very well might be sick. You live and learn.
A lot can happen in
a year's time. Micah and I have a new baby girl, Ava Grace. I am still amazed that she is really here. Micah and I discussed the name Ava when we began dating over 10 years ago. We agreed that if we ever had a daughter we would name her Ava Grace, Grace after my great-grandmother. There were many discussions about this little girl (mostly between my mother and I) long before her conception. There were many outfits and toys purchased (again before her conception and mostly by my mother). :)
I often wondered if I would have to mourn this life that would never come to pass, but God saw fit to bless us with this precious little girl. Some days I can not believe Micah and I are parents to these two darling children. I pray that God gives us the wisdom to raise them up in a way that glorifies him.
