Here we go again?

I took a picture today that I thought was worth sharing, and I figure it might be wise to make sure I document the diagnosis. Hopefully there won't be more, but I am not overly optimistic.

Parker (and Thomas) has had a cold most of the week. He has been coughing some (mostly at night for 20-30 minute intervals once or twice a night). He seemed generally okay though. This morning he woke up normally and seemed to be relatively fine until he refused most of breakfast and then got progressively clingier (is that a word?) and more and more pathetic as the morning went on. He only wanted me to hold him and he just kept whining "Mommy. Mommy." in this terribly sad and pathetic whimper. Trey had planned a morning out with the boys (I had a productive morning planned!) to include a trip to the fire museum and Parker didn't want to give that up.

Soon he had a fever and I knew he couldn't go. He was in terrible shape. He didn't even want me to put him down for a second if I wasn't holding him. Trey left with Thomas and I stayed so I could take Parker to the weekend peds care when they opened at 11. We left a little after 10:30 and he was asleep before we even got out of our neighborhood.

We got to the hospital (where the after-hours place is) and got checked in. It wasn't long after we started waiting that I looked down to this:


He was snoring and completely out. I can't tell you the last time he fell asleep in my lap (or sat completely still with me when we were waiting anywhere). There was no doubt that something was wrong. And in the end, the diagnosis was a left ear infection and fluid in both ears.

Last year he ended up with five ear infections (starting in late October/early November). By the time the fourth and fifth came around it was already spring and starting to get warmer and the doctors said that even though they usually refer to the ENT after four in that time period (for ear tubes), since it was starting to get warmer and out of "ear infection season," they said we could wait. So we did and he hasn't had one since (despite about 4-5 trips to the ped for a false alarm).

This time will be different. If he gets one more in the next two months...we are heading to the ENT. There is just no need in little man being so sick and pathetic!