Quick Change Act

Friday evening, the youngest starting running a low grade fever with a minor cough.  Despite my dislike for spreading germs, I took him to a playdate at an indoor playground.  He was happy and had fun running around the playground with all the other children.  Upon arriving home, he was exhausted and of course fever free...

Saturday morning I wake up at 4 am to his cries.  I drag my self out of bed tripping on everything and rubbing my eyes.  I even poked my eye once as I ran into the wall.  The little guy was burning up.  I rush for the Tylenol, Motrin, and Be Cool Strips.  His temp. is around 102.  I dispense him some Tylenol, apply the Be Cool Strip I cut in half to his forehead and the back of his neck, tuck him on the couch where he can watch cartoons with his sister (who he woke up with the screaming), and make sure he has a cup of cold water.  Then I head back to my room to get my cell phone off the nightstand, so I will have it when my husband calls around 5:30 as usual.  The phone of course, is on the opposite side of the bed and I crawl across the bed to get to it.  Instead of getting the phone, I fell asleep diagonally across my bed while reaching for it.

Around 6:30 my daughter wakes me up.  I walk into the living room to find my little one full of energy and feeling fine.  He has somehow figured out that if he throws the Be Cool Strips at the ceiling, they will stick up there...  The fever was gone...  By 8:00 the coughing had gone from a minor cough to that horrid hacking nonstop and the fever had come back.  So he lays down and sleeps for a few hours.  While he sleeps the fever goes away and he does not cough. 

This continues all throughout the day Saturday and through the night as well...  The fever gets up to 103, we do the Tylenol/Motrin dance, he started refusing food and liquids, I manage to get him to eat maybe 5 frozen grapes, then he sleeps, sweats, and fever subsides.  With each episode of fever/sleep, his appetite decreased and he became more and more lethargic.

Finally this morning I am convinced the fever has broken, but I was wrong.  He wants water, I get water.  He takes one sip and began belching.  For an hour he belched continuosly.  Then the fever comes back even still with the Tylenol/Motrin in his system.  I put him in the bathtub where he usually plays and he just sits there.  The fever finally hits 104 despite every effort to break it. 

So I take him promptly to the Minor Emergency Clinic nearby.  I have to carry him in as he whines and can barely keep his eyes open.  I lay him down in the big comfy chair so that I can fill out the necessary paperwork.  As soon as I write down all his symptoms, he begins to come to life.  He wants to drink out of the water fountain, play with toys, run around, and is just full of energy...  The nurse calls us back and I have to go through the rundown of his symptoms, medications, and all that fun stuff.  She is looking at me like I am stupid, because he isn't acting sick.  In the waiting room he hacked like crazy, in the exam room, his cough is nonexistant...  The doctor comes in and explains that despite my concern over him getting dehydrated and not having to "go" for a full 24 hour time period simply doesn't make sense with his lack of symptoms to justify my claims.  (They were unable to get his temperature as he refused that)

Is there something we parents aren't aware of???  You know what I am talking about.  I know you do.  You take the child to the doctor and they suddenly experience a miraculous temporary recovery... 

Yes he has an upper respiratory infection and he was given a prescription for antibiotics.  I am not a complete idiot.  I swear that my claims and concerns were and are valid.

I told him I'd take him anywhere he wanted to get something to eat.  He picks his favorite place and we get the food to go.  On the way home, he is again suffering, and of course isn't going to eat or drink anything...  The boy has turned down ice cream, slushes, popsicles, candy, and anything else I put in front of him.  Now his fever has gone up to 104.  Perhaps if I take him back to the clinic and try to get him to eat, he will... 

$75 for the visit, $20 for lunch, $15 in ice cream/slushes, $15 for Gatorade popsicles & other assorted treats (plus a tip for the errand runner), and uh knowing he will temporarily recover the moment I take him to the doctor...  PRICELESS!!!