Two Doctor Visits, Lots of Waiting

The third time is the charm...but let's hope we don't have to find out.  Liam was at the pediatrician's office on Friday.  He has lost 1.5 pounds in six weeks due to impaction issues.  Poor guy.  His doctor was very concerned and directed me to give him an adult dose of a laxative everyday for 8 weeks.  She wants to check his weight in three weeks.  He truly hasn't had a good appetite for months but I chalked it up to a toddler (read stubborn) stage.  But lately he's been lethargic and very uncomfortable.  I had hoped that the pediatrician's advice would do the trick but we were back in the office on Monday.

One hour before the end of the school day, I received the call that Liam was feverish at daycare.  He was complaining of tummy pain.  Of course I thought the worst.  I found someone to cover my last class, called the pediatrician's office and rushed home.  It was the worst possible timing as traffic between my house and the doctor's office is nightmarish in the afternoon.  With both boys in the backseat and Liam crying out in pain, I sat among bumper to bumper cars inching toward the next stoplight.  I had plenty of time to think as we traveled the six miles and I was convinced that he was going to end up in the hospital.

We always have to wait a long time to be seen at the pediatrician's office.  On average, the doctor comes in 45 minutes after our appointment time.  It is one of my least favorite things to do in the whole world to sit in one of those tiny exam rooms with two boys bouncing off the walls and touching every surface.  (No matter how sick they are,  Henry and Liam always get a surge of energy when we are closed up in those 8x8 rooms.)  Since we had just been there 3 days previous, this time I remembered to be proactive.  I brought my laptop and a Disney movie.  The boys watched Goofy without being goofy and for once, the wait was tolerable.

As we sat semi-patiently, I noticed copious amount of fluid dripping from Liam's left ear.  Seriously, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have known that much liquid could flow from one little ear.  Could this, and not some intestinal obstruction, be the reason for his fever?  Sure enough, when the doctor arrived, he confirmed an ear infection and sent us home with not one but two more prescriptions.

I could not face another encounter with the Walgreen's pharmacy from hell, so the boys and I went straight to Target.  No, they do not have a drive-thru window.  I have to unload the boys and walk through the store but the quality of service makes it all worthwile.  They treated me like a VIP.  It didn't matter that Liam was not in their computer system, they happily filled the prescription.  The pharmacist very kindly showed me how to administer the ear drops and use their awesome medicine bottle with a syringe.  I didn't ask, he just offered like he was a neighbor who cared about a tired family and wanted them all to be well.  Seriously.  I almost never have something good to say about service in today's world--but this was stellar and very much appreciated.

Upon arriving home I began to make arrangements for missing work Tuesday.  I needed a substitute teacher for my classroom but I also needed a certified staff member to take my morning students on a field trip that had been scheduled for three months.  Go figure.  I needed to call one student's parent to arrange for his medical care on the trip, a fact that had escaped me until I was pulling out of the pediatrician's parking lot.  Go figure. 

I found someone to take my class on the trip.  The student's mother arranged for his care, accepted my apology for the late evening call and wrote an extra release/waiver for him to bring on the trip.  Henry ate dinner and Liam took his medicine.   In the end it all worked out but it's one day I would rather not re-visit anytime soon.