Humoring the medical staff

Elem made a trip to the pediatrician's office this week, just to check on a few things.

First off: he was running a slight fever, and had a yucky cough, and a lot of congestion in his head and nose. So we figured why not get the ears checked out just in case. See what was going on with all the stuff draining down his throat. Second: He also had this weird bump on his bottom, that was progressively getting worse throughout the end of last week and into the weekend. In my head, I truly felt like it was a boil, even though I always thought that kids who got boils only got them because the parents were not proactive in getting their kids treated for some kind of infection. However, after speaking with his doc, they quickly assured me that there is nothing you can really do to avoid them, just apply a lot of heat to the area to hopefully bring out the infection. Ewwww! Yuck. And yes, it is a result of staph infection. Ewww, even grosser. They also stated that staph is everywhere, and is so easy to pick up, there is just not a lot you can do about it. So I attacked it the only way I knew how. Multiple baths per day, and with a reminder from my mother in law, a dash of baking powder to the bath to dry out the skin. A little topical antibiotic cream, and lots of washing of his clothes, and everything he touched! After a little more research I knew that if the "stuff" didnt come out on its own, that the docs would have to drain it-which I can not even tell you how bad that would have hurt Elem! I have had so many kids at the shelter who have had to have that done. Ugggh! We kept on it, and by some miracle by Sunday night, the "stuff" came out!!!!!! It was so sick, but whatever, it came out and I was sooo happy that he was not going to have to have it drained.

So Seth still took Elem to the doc on Monday just to get it checked out, along with the minor cold symptoms. Luckily-just a slight cold, and no ear infections. Good deal. Even better, nothing would need to be done for the... boil (yuck, I shiver every time I say that word!) just some oral antibiotics to make sure everything was gone and help in further clearing it up, and to also help with the little cold some. Whew! It could have gone very differently from that, and I am oh so glad no ear infections and no draining of the....boil!

On an even better note, Seth informed me of some conversation that went on at the pediatrician's office between Elem and the medical staff. And I couldnt help but want to remember it looking back.




The nurse came in to check Elem's temperature. And so the conversation went:
Nurse: Okay Elem, when it beeps, that means we are all finished. Listen for the beep.
Thermometer: BEEP.
Elem: Popcorn ready!

Hahahah! The funny thing is, we dont even eat that much popcorn around our house or at school! But we do heat up a lot of food in the microwave, and make toast in the toaster oven etc. So all things that make a beep, or ding rather, to let you know the food is ready! What else could we expect. Come on. :)

Next up, Dr. Ledbetter was checking Elem's ears. He checked the first one, all was well.

Doc: Okay Elem, looks good. Can you turn your head so I can check your other ear?

Elem: Like penguino?

Hahahaha! Let me better explain.

A. Elem loves him some Dora the Explorer. And on the way to Gulf Shores, if you recall, he watched his fair share of this one particular Dora episode, where Dora and Diego were helping this little penguin find his way home. Of course, Dora called the penguin, penguino. So ever since then Elem has referred to all penguins as penguinos. And there is no turning back. He just will not accept that they are really called penguins here in America.

B. We read to Elem A LOT!!! More than a lot, and he loves this one particular book HEAD TO TOE, with illustrations by Eric Carle. In the book a bunch of animals are basically asking if you can do what they do. And there is a penguin (or penguino) who turns his head from side to side, and asks if you can do it too. :) hehe.

Smart baby. What are we going to do with you?