First Sick Visit to the Pediatrician

It's pictures like this that keep me going after the trauma of a sick baby. On Friday, Harvey woke up with discharge glueing his eyelashes together. So we got a prescription for antibiotic ointment. OY-ntment is more like it. Trying to get that stuff in a little baby's eye is like threading a needle with invisible thread. On Saturday we went out to a party and the babysitter reported that Harvey wasn't his usual happy-g0-lucky self. He has had a little bit of a cough, too. Yesterday and today I knew he really wasn't doing too well at all. His temp was up to 99.3 and he was sleeping later and not nursing very well. So I had to cancel some piano teaching and scoop him off to Dr. King. He was resting so peacefully when I had to transfer him to the examination table. First the Doctor checked his torso and throat (which was a little red) and nose (a little mucus). BUT! Then Harvey was subjected to the dreadful eardrum check. The pediatrician used a special instrument to remove earwax. This was the worst part of all. I had to pin my poor boy down while he had his ears scraped. Fortunately there was no ear infection, but he screamed and wrenched his body with all his might and gasped for breath the whole time and I was so traumatized by his yelping that I could hardly drive him home afterwards. The receptionist insisted that I take a lollipop for the road! Harvey was quivering in my arms for quite a while in the doctor's office with tears running down his cheeks. I think this has been the most difficult day of parenthood. I was hardly able to keep myself from crying until I got to the car. Pauvre Harvey! Mommy loves you so much and hopes you feel better soon. I am glad that Joe didn't have to hear his cries.