A Somewhat Less Than Comforting Story

Posted on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 09:36

On Wednesday, our 3yo dd woke up with a fever.  She doesn't often get sick, but when she does, her temperature usually shoots sky high right away.  This time, it was only 100.5, so I didn't worry too much, as she had no other symptoms.  Thursday, more of the same.  She did throw up one time Thursday morning, but then ate and drank normally all day with no more problems, just this mystery fever.  Friday morning, she wakes up with a bright red rash in her armpits and on the back of her neck.  I called our doctor's clinic, and the nurse said they'd have to see her.  I take her in Friday afternoon, they look at her, tell me it's strep, write out a prescription for antibiotics, and we head home.  By 10:00 pm, her fever has broken, and she's doing much better.  This morning, our 5 yo ds wakes up with a fever.  His is higher; 102 F.  We're scheduled to attend the local homeschool group Valentine's Day party, so dh stays home with the three younger kids, and 6 yo dd and I go to the party.  Of course, everyone wants to know why the other children didn't come to the party.  I give them the whole story.  One of the ladies pipes up, "You know, recently one of my husband's co-workers had a 17 month old who had a fever with no other symptoms, and the doctor told them to go home, it was just the flu, and she died two days later."  Now, this lady is very sweet, very kind, and I'm sure she meant no harm but what kind of a story is that to tell a mother with a sick child?!  If I were a worrier (which I'm not!) that would probably have thrown me for a loop!  My sil, who I love dearly, is the complete opposite of me, in many ways.  We have the same faith in God, and the same conservative values, but when it comes to day-to-day life, we're very different.  She is a worrier.  If her children cough too loudly, or look flushed, they're at the doctor.  My children have to be running a fever for days before they get to the doctor.  I rarely give tylenol, etc, because I believe God designed our bodies to take care of themselves, for the most part, and a fever has a purpose- it's burning up the illness.  Now, I'm not totally against medications, don't get me wrong.  If my children are truly miserable, I don't make them tough it out.  I just want to give their bodies a chance to work as God intended.  I would never keep them from seeing a doctor; I just don't believe doctors are necessary for every little pain.  We have a joke that her house is museum clean, while mine is carnival clean.  We both come by our traits honestly- while my mom was always up for a mud pie contest, her mom was outside, sweeping not just the sidewalk in front of her house, but the street as well!  Her kids get bathed every day, ears cleaned out, hair brushed, fresh clothes.  At my house, you might hear- "Didn't you wear those pajamas two nights ago?  Have you had a bath this week?"  Now, part of it is that I don't believe a daily bath is necessary- every other day is fine.  Too often just washes away the body's natural oils and leads to dry skin.   However, I'm not very organized, and sometimes I just don't realize they haven't bathed for three days.  We always laugh together, because she's constantly trying to be more laid-back like me, and I'm constantly trying to be more organized and mindful, like her.  Oh, the dangers of comparing ourselves to others!

A funny story about my 3 yo on the way to the doctor: We got halfway there, and she says plaintively, "Mommy, I decided I don't want Doctor Burke to take the itches out of my armpits." 

"You don't want him to take the itches out?  Why not?" I ask.

"I think it's really going to hurt when he cuts them out." she replies.
After I stopped laughing, I explained to her that she didn't need to worry, they might give her medicine to take or ointment to rub on the rash, but that was it.  Nothing scary happening to her underarms!

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Posted by Vickie on Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 11:28 - Link

I hope your children are feeling better. I liked the story about the armpits! LOL
Hope you have a great day.

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Posted by gabbie427 on Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 08:44 - Link

How precious....cutting the itches out of the armpits. LOL I hoep the kids are doing better.

I am with you, I know that lady meant well, but sometimes people don't think before blabbing do they????

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo