January 30, 2008
Wednesday
Henry woke up at four am screaming because he has an ear infection. I still find it difficult to believe, even though we’ve been to the doctor and she looked in his head and confirmed that yes indeed, he has a TERRIBLE infection in his right ear.
I just cannot believe that someone in this house is STILL SICK.
I am exhausted from all this sickness. It’s not really the virus that has worn me out, it’s the constant drain of needy sick people. Henry started screaming at four and screamed pretty continuously until nearly 7:30; he dozed off long enough for me to take a speedy shower and started up again as soon as I stepped foot on the bathmat. Most of the screaming was directed at me, in the form of a long incoherent rant about how I could CURE his ear infection if I would just TRY. There was also a complicated story about how the first time he had an ear infection, as a baby, I put my hands over his ear and a big ball of light appeared and he floated away in it and the ear infection was cured. And then there was a lot of screaming that I hated him because I wouldn’t do that again.
I have no idea what that was about.
Henry is a terrible sick kid; he gets anxious and overwrought and irrational. He is convinced that he is going to die from whatever ailment he has — stomach flu, fever, ear infection. And it both breaks my heart and infuriates me, at the exact same moment, because it is impossible to comfort him and also impossible not to be aggravated by the screaming.
The doctor gave him some drops to numb his ear, and he came home and fell asleep. But I’m having a hard time bouncing back from that first few hours this morning, and from the entire last week.
And the real irony is that today is the FIRST day that I’m feeling all better.
Posted by Susan @ 1:12 pm • Henry&Charlie
RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI
January 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pm, Sister Honey Bunch Says:
You poor, poor thing. I’m sorry but I found GREAT humor in Henry’s hallucination of the big, magic ball of light. He needs to be reminded of that when he’s a tad older.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm, Headless Mom Says:
Is this what I have to look forward to? The children have just started coming down with the crud…
January 30th, 2008 at 2:07 pm, Amy Says:
“And it both breaks my heart and infuriates me, at the exact same moment, because it is impossible to comfort him and also impossible not to be aggravated by the screaming.”
That pretty much sums it all up, doesn’t it? I hope the Sickness Gods have mercy on you soon!
January 30th, 2008 at 2:09 pm, Pamela Says:
Oh holy suckdom. I’m glad that you’ve recovered enough physically to care for the little guy. Also, that you had a shower. Showering and the brushing of the teeth are really the most you can hope to cross of the to do list on days like this. Hang in.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:36 pm, Mir Says:
Dude. Remember how you were going to buy me a pony? Or a Porsche? And yet I get no props, here. I am only going to forgive you because clearly the last week has caused you undue trauma.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:10 pm, Erin Says:
I so sympathize. My almost-2 year old had double ear infections that solicited a “WOW would you look at THAT?” from her pediatrician, followed up by my husband’s days-long bout with the stomach flu.
I am also sick and 6 months pregnant so…good times all around! Here’s to everyone feeling better SOON!
January 30th, 2008 at 3:20 pm, Marti Says:
Three words. Hyland’s Earache Tablets.
These are the most wonderful things ever invented. You can find them at Walgreens. The package is pink, white, and blue. I think they also sell them in drops too.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm, slynnro Says:
I used to get the worst ear infections as a child. There is nothing worse. And I would scream and scream and scream. Poor everyone!
January 30th, 2008 at 4:03 pm, All Adither Says:
Well, at least you’re healthy now. I swear I’d rather be sick than have one of my kids come down with something. Er…maybe.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:09 pm, gorillabuns Says:
I feel your pain…..I feel your pain.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:11 pm, Kian Says:
It’s amazing how the ear ache hurts SO BAD and yet all you want to do is scream, which makes it WORSE. I was just like that as a child.
I think, that in this case, a nice glass of vodka will work wonders. Doesn’t matter if you give it to Henry or yourself, it’ll work
January 30th, 2008 at 5:27 pm, standing still Says:
I’m so sorry about the earache, and the never land of virus and illness. Here’s some perspective … on the 13th of December, Child shattered his femer, and he’s been bedbound since. And, he cannot do anything for himself except what he can do sitting in bed or a wheelchair. And, mothering sometimes really sucks. Except when I give myself the afternoon off and he plays a videogame and I read a historical novel. But, then it sucks again, and I pray he will thank me when he accepts the Pulitzer.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:13 pm, Undercover Mutha Says:
It will get better soon. It has to.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:29 pm, Stephanie Says:
Ugh. That sounds like just ridiculous amounts of fun.
The ball of light story was both funny and obnoxious.
Tell him to rub some dirt on it. Or maybe the Vodka. I think the Vodka is a brilliant idea.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:52 pm, Jenn @ Juggling Life Says:
It sounds like it’s just one of those years. I think every family has one when their kids are young.
For us it was the winter of 3 cases of pneumonia, 5 of flu, 1 UTI, 3 ear infections, 1 bronchitis, and an allergic reaction to antibiotics. That was followed by the spring of head lice–4 kids, 4 weeks running.
We survived, and so will you–you’ll just be on pins and needles waiting for the other shoe to drop for the next few months. And then summer will come, and all will be forgotten!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:39 am, Sheryl Says:
Man, that sounds positively draining. I hope you get some down time soon
January 31st, 2008 at 7:48 am, Shan Says:
Oh my Lord! Susan! How can you possibly even still be alive? Let alone blogging? I feel terrible for you and your whole family. Although I do have to say that the part about the screaming about you not quite TRYING hard enough to cure the ear infection, and the cured infection of Henry’s babyhood, made me laugh out loud. I am so sorry to be laughing out loud at your sick household’s expense.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:16 am, Deva Says:
I am so so so sorry that Henry is sick. When I get sick I become clingy and just want to be held, or petted, until I fall asleep. It’s funny, because I only tend to do it for my boyfriend.
the first night that my boyfriend and I spent together, I woke up two hours after we had fallen asleep with pain that felt like a dental pick was being shoved into my left ear. My squirming and crying in bed half awake woke him, and he promptly found me some tylenol. The next day at the student health center i learned that my eardrum had ruptured. and that my other eardrum may that evening. I had a double ear infection. That night is very memorable. and we’re still together almost two years later
January 31st, 2008 at 10:16 am, RuthWells Says:
Lord have mercy. I’m so sorry and hope things are back to normal soon. You deserve a massage, or a martini — or maybe both?!
January 31st, 2008 at 12:37 pm, Penny Says:
My daughter screams at me when she has an ear infection too. Never mind that I am the one who kisses, loves, wipes, feeds and cleans all day. When she has an ear infection, she looks at me with accusing eyes as if she KNOWS it’s my genes in her that allowed this to happen.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:15 pm, Susie Says:
Dude. This is so depressing to me. My 7 mos old still doesn’t sleep through the night and to know at Henry’s age this crap still happens makes me want to weep. Tell me more stories of having to drag them out of bed. Those keep me warm at night as I pace the floors.
Glad you are better. Sorry for the illness beat down you are suffering. I had mine in Nov-Dec. I’m hoping there isn’t a spring beat down coming my way.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:15 pm, Kristen Says:
So, what’s involved in getting one’s tubes tied? Because I think I might be all about that.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:22 pm, STL Mom Says:
Oh, I’m right there with the sad/annoying sick kid thing!
Night before last my daughter woke me from a dead sleep conplaining about her ear pain. We had no drops, so I gave her Tylenol and let her climb in bed with me (her dad’s out of town). After what seemed like HOURS of her thrashing and grabbing my arm and moaning, “it hurts!” I lost patience and said, “It’s time for you to go sleep in your own room.”
She said, astonished, “But I still hurt!”
At which point I said, “Yeah, but keeping mommy awake all night isn’t going to make you feel any better.”
Just hand me that ‘Mother of the Year’ award right now - I’ll get it melted down and save the cash for my daughter’s therapy bills.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:49 pm, Suebob Says:
I’m so sorry Susan.