Teddy has had 3 ear infections in 3 weeks.
He was fussy a lot starting Feb. 24 but he's getting his canines, so we figured that's what it was all about. He was such a mess by bed time we had to miss church that weekend, he just needed the sleep. Church is at his usual bed time so it can be really difficult to get there or even remotely enjoy it if he just needs the sleep. We've tried, but pushing his bed time forward doesn't workTY.
Monday, Feb. 27th was his first day at daycare. My mom went out of town to visit her sister in California for nearly 2 weeks, and then ended up staying down in VA Beach helping take care of my sick grandma until yesterday, 3/23. Anyway, it seemed like a good time to transition him to day care, we'll use her and our friend as back up sitters.
But we had snow on that day! More than what was expected too. So, some of the teachers didn't make it in, including Teddy's usual one, and of course a lot of students didn't show up either. Anyway, DS spent the whole day in the infant room and only slept about 10 minutes. We thought it was just because in the infant room they're not on the one long afternoon nap schedule, so there was noise, light etc.
A co-worker was sick and my boss was out of town, so I ended up working Tuesday. Daycare is only Monday and Wednesday and has to stay regular days, I can always add more if needed, but they have to keep them consistent. So I asked the sitter on Tuesday at pick up if he was acting weird or anything because he had a runny nose. She said he was fine.
Wednesday Feb. 29th he woke up at 5 am with a 102 fever. Since my co-workers were out I had to work. DH took off and took him to the doctor: ear infection #1. That night was awful. He was up screaming for hours. Thursday night was pretty good. I worked some on Thursday and some on Friday as well. It was a killer week. Friday night he was up screaming for hours. There was no way we were making church on Saturday. Saturday night was terrible, rinse and repeat for Sunday.
But, Sunday night he slept good so we sent him to daycare. He only slept 45 minutes. We figured it would just take a while for him to get used to everything. Monday night and Tuesday night he slept ok, his nap was a little short on Tuesday for me instead of 2 hours. Wednesday at daycare he only slept 10 minutes again and he was up screaming for hours in the middle of the night. So we took him back in to the doctor, they said he still had the ear infection and also some on one of his tonsils. They gave him a baby z-pack and said he should perk up within 24 hours. And he did, I thought. He seemed great on Friday and Saturday until about 5 pm, and then he started rubbing his eyes. We decided to try to keep him up until 6:30 and do a slightly early bed time, there was no way we were giving him a nap at 5 pm and even if we did, we'd still end up late to church.
Sunday he was great, we were all set for church and then our car was making really funny sounds on the way to pick up our friend so we decided not to risk it. I'm a worry wort but it was Doug making that decision, which I think really says something. It's been misfiring for months but we were told it wasn't anything to worry about. We finally got it in a few days ago and again told nothing to worry about. It was fine on Monday morning. Really frustrating to miss church because of the car.
Monday he slept a little over an hour at day care, things were looking up! Tuesday he only slept a little over an hour for me. Wednesday he only slept 45 minutes but said 5 new words during dinner, so we thought perhaps he was hitting the 18 month sleep regression/word explosion a little early. His night time sleep had been fine during all of this but he kept waking up screaming at 5 am. Thursday pretty much the same deal.
Friday morning he woke up at 5 and would not go back to sleep but he didn't want to play or eat either. He kept flopping around, practically looked like he was writing in pain. He didn't have a fever. But he just seemed really lethargic and pale so we just wanted to double check it wasn't his ear still.
This time it's the other ear, we don't know about his throat, he wouldn't let the doctor look. The docotr said he usually refers to get tubes after 5 infections within a short period of time or 2 months of consecutive problems and we're halfway there on both points. Everyone please pray that they will clear up without the need for tubes! I would just rather avoid surgery. We don't have insurance right now but I did apply him for medicaid a few weeks ago and should hear back soon. Right now the medications we're paying weekly are costing us an arm and a leg.
I'm getting really frustated with things. Doug quit his job so he could spend more time with us and actually make it to church. We put things in God's hands and it's been 9 months. He does at least have a job, and it means plenty of time with us and time with God and that's absolutely great, a true answer to prayer. But it would be nice to be able to afford a place to rent, groceries etc. We're so blessed that we're able to stay with my father-in-law right now but it's really just not the best situation. I know God is meeting all of our needs but I don't know how much humble pie I can eat. I grew up on assistance and from what I saw it was because people made really bad choices in life. I didn't make those choices. I got a college degree, I have a good relationship, a good marriage, I didn't have a child until I was 25 and we could afford it. Of course circumstances change but this is frustrating for me. I'm on WIC now so I can buy Teddy's milk and cheese and now the possibility of Medicaid. We were told we make $60 a month too much to qualify for anything else, which is really frustrating because we can't afford our own place, gas and groceries are really expensive too. We don't live for free here. We pay the incredibly high electric bill ($300 a month) but it's still cheaper than rent we've seen. Right now, there's not money left over, especially with the addition of day care. But it's physically too difficult for my mother and this is cheaper than the sitter and the gas to get there. But every time I drop him off with someone else it kills me. I know God is more than able to bless us with the desires of our hearts and that he has a plan for all of this but it's all just too much sometimes.
Right now taking care of Teddy, even when he's healthy and happy, takes a lot of my energy so I don't dwell on these things very much which is good because it just makes me want to run away and bawl. So, pray for me, pray for Teddy, pray that we can at least get to church for a change!
