Real Life

I'm not good at the level of open discussion that seems to be required of blogging, especially when it comes to my kids. I dote on every cute action, and worry about lots of things, but that's about my kids. I don't observe other peoples' kids at the same level. Do you?

But it is hard to avoid talking about LittleSister right now. She has a lot of minor issues going on. Several months ago I noticed a little lump at the base of her neck. At first I thought it was a swollen gland, but it didn't go away. When we got to the pediatrician she said "not a swollen gland" probably not major; watch it. She said she'd like to discuss it with my sister, who is also a pediatrician (they trained together). My sister took a look and also thought "not major, but can't quite identify the type of cyst."

Then LittleSister started having episodes of vomiting. She'd be asleep and wake up very grouchy. We couldn't calm her. Then she'd throw up, and then she'd calm down. It happened four times over about a week and a half. So we went back to the pediatrician, who went ahead and gave her a referral to a pediatric ENT for the cyst, and gave us some heavy-duty antacid for LittleSister.

And, oh, has getting that into her been fun. She purses her lips and twists her head and yells while I hold a syringe over her mouth and try to get it in before she spits it out.

Despite the antacid, she had another episode of vomiting. This time it was about 10:30 p.m. She'd been asleep and woke up and wouldn't settle. We took turns walking her around, then she threw up all over my husband. Unfortunately, this time it still didn't settle her and she kept crying and contorting her little body until we all finally passed out around 2 a.m.

So I called the pediatrician again. And tomorrow we go in for an upper GI. LittleSister must fast for three hours before the 8:30 a.m. appointment, so she promises to be in a very good mood. And I have to get some kind of barium drink into a 14-month-old who can't be persuaded to drink any kind of medicine or really anything except water or breastmilk. Wish me luck.