Ears, doctors and packing up

It's raining and overcast, and my mood is matching the weather today. The baby is down for a nap, and I really should be having one, too. But, once I get all cozy and drift off, he'll wake up, and then I'll feel more tired than I do, now. Jesse hasn't been sleeping or napping well since the weekend. He's been waking up 4 and 5 times a night SCREAMING since Friday. I thought maybe it was just a separation phase or something, but then I noticed the ear grabbing. By Tuesday, he had a full blown cold and a cough and hasn't been interested in eating, which is NOT at all like my little Jesse. We saw the doc yesterday, and sure enough, the little monkey had a nasty ear infection.

I know that health care is a touchy issue, but I have nothing but the best of things to say about my health care provider, and her office. I called yesterday at 10am, and we were given an appointment for 11:30am. We only waited 5 minutes to see the doctor once we arrived, and the care was awesome, as usual. When I first had Jesse, we probably saw the doctor 8 times within the first month for a variety of issues. The office has a number of doctors, and if yours isn't working that day, or filled up, the walk-in doctor or an associate doc. will see you. You don't have to walk in and wait though, they just book you in. I have never waited more than 15 minutes, and the one time I did, the doctor apologized profusely. The doctors are also fantastic people. The 2 we see the most are moms, and so they give advice, based not only on their medical expertise, but their own experience. It's nice to know that they aren't just throwing text book answers at you. At about a month into Jesse's birth, I came down with mastitis. I felt miserable, and when the doc asked how I was feeling and doing, I just BROKE DOWN.... like sobbing about how everything kept going wrong, and I was so tired, and felt so awful using up so much of their time with issues. My doctor told me everything was going to be ok, and that they were there to help. No matter how many times. That was good and all, but what really sold me on her amazingness, was that she called my house the next day to see how I was feeling emotionally and physically. She is also great because she offers practical and natural ways to deal with things, as well as the information and options regarding drugs, etc. It's nice to hear both sides, and not feel pressured....just informed. Dr. Musca is the best. She is actually on Mat. Leave right now with her third child, and the replacement Doctor has been very good, too. Wow. That was a rant.

So...back to the present, Today I'm staying close to home to try and give Jesse lots of opportunity to sleep and rest. He's only napping for 40 minutes at a time, so I'm just gonna try putting him down every few hours during the day. Cooper has been a touch under the weather, too. He's been pooping out bright colored tinfoil: pink, green, blue, since our egg hunt on Monday. The little crazy got into the basket of tinfoil wrapped chocolate, and it appears he couldn't figure out how to open them- so just ate them tinfoil and all. I know chocolate is fatal to dogs. But, our little Cooper is special. He ate a full toblerone bar once, as well as a good amount of hot chocolate mix, and is still with us.

I am also, working on packing up a suitcase for my road trip. Jesse and I are leaving this Saturday after my work shift for Fredericton for a few days to visit the fam. This will be our 4th road trip together, and I'm hoping that he's feeling better by Saturday. I did end up going with the antibiotics for his ears, and last night he was up coughing like crazy, but not screaming. So, I'm hoping for quick improvement. I also have some GF gingerbread flax bars to try out for the new recipe of the day. I tried some ricebran and raisin muffins a few days ago. They were good. A touch dry, and in gluten-free fashion best right out of the oven smothered with butter. They didn't keep very nicely past the first day, though. Oh gluten-freedom! How you distress me sometimes! Ok. I'm done with the drama. They were a nice substitute for cereal or eggs for breakfasts the past few days. I also broiled some spring steak kebabs for supper the other night as a new recipe. Dave loved them. I wasn't the hugest fan.

Alright, well I'm not sure when my next blog update will be. I have work tomorrow and Saturday, then we're off to the great and wonderful East Coast. Wish me luck. Thanks for reading. I'm off.