Friday, September 12, 2008

If You Think She's Happy Now...






I love that when somebody finds out that my husband is a pediatrician, they all say something in the way of, "oh, you are so lucky," or, "how convienent". If they only knew. James and I both had physicain fathers. As a result, James lived with a herniated disk in his back for over a year. His dad told him just to live with it and to stop playing basketball. James finally took himself to the doctor after a year and was scheduled for surgery. When I didn't feel well, my dad would just prescribe me something that was probably the drug of the day and sent me one on my. I have promised myself to not let my kids be victim of a physicain father who claims that if his kids are still breathing... let them be. This promise to myself was put to the test yesterday. Naomi woke up yesterday morning screaming like I have never before heard. Her nose has been running for about a week and she was slobbering all over her clothes. The shrieking scream that lasted for over two hours was finally becoming less and less toleralbe...both for her and I. Luckily, Jake didn't seem to phased. Probably neglected middle child syndrome. I paged James and told him Naomi's symptoms. His response. "Don't take her in. She probably just has a virus." I hung up the phone and was at the end of my rope. This was not normal behavior for my four month old. The shrieking continued. I waited 15 minutes and decided to give in to my maternal instinct. The phone call was made. Two hours later I was in the pediatrician's office. The very office that James was scheduled to work at in less than two hours. He would be on his way from the hospital in a short time and I had to make sure that I was out of the clinic before he arrived...just in case nothing was wrong. The nurse checked us in and I threatened her life that if nothing was wrong with my baby, she was not to tell James that I had been in that morning. She laughed and said that she would let the other nurses and doctors know. The doctor saw us and within 5 minutes I had a prescription for a "very nasty" ear infection. I was elated. Instead of telling the nurses to let let James know that I was in, I gave them permission to do the exact opposite. The physicain that James works under told me that he would give him a hard time for me and that he, himself, let his own son live with a broken wrist for a year. Poor physican's kid. It's not like they don't have health insurance. Upon James' arrival home, we greeted each other with a warm smile. He simply asked, "how was your day today?" "Terrible," I retorted. "How was your day?" "Great, as soon as I got to the clinic everyone in the office found me and said, "ohhhh, you're in trouble tonight." He said that they all had a good time making fun of him. I am grateful for a husband who can laugh at life and the experiences that we share. We both had a good laugh. James told me that the nurses said that the funniest part of our visit was that Jake was dressed in his Spiderman outfit and as I was waiting to check out with a screaming baby, Jake was running around the clinic webbing everyone. They said that I was completely clueless to what was going on. Again, neglected middle child. My son, dressed as Spiderman, was off shotting people with pretend webs while I was rocking a screaming car seat, signing papers and pacing back and forth. I smile when I think of the image of our family that was left at the clinic yesterday. A pediatrician who doesn't believe when his own kid is sick, a mother coming in thretening the nurses not to tell her husband that she was there, a 3 year old dressed as Spiderman webbing everybody he saw, and a four month old baby shrieking at the top of her lungs. I am sure that the office on West Market Street sighed a big sigh of relief when they said good bye to the Ford family...even if only for a few days.

5 comments:

James and Jessica Ford said...

So, I must defend myself on this one. I never said "don't go in", when I called Jessie back, she told me that Nene wasn't crying and seemed to be doing better (she was fine when I fed her at 5:45 that morning). I said I'd look in her ears when I get home. Instead I was subjected to endless mocking and having to explain to the physician (a former cheif resident, who interviewed me last year, btw) my wife's comment "not amoxicillin, that's like water". I am glad she went in though.

Sarah C said...

I LOVED that story. I totally agree with you 100%! I am sorry she has an ear infection. I am glad you took her to the doctor so she can get better fast. I have been in your shoes before. Being a mom is great, but it can be hard. Your children are really blessed to have you and James.

Cassie said...

I never thought about this before, I can totally see Mitch doing that to our kids! I have to beg him to see the doctor when he is sick or hurt and he says he never needs to! Yesterday he got smacked in bball and cut his eye pretty bad and of course was not going to go to the doctor, luckily he listens to friends more than his wife and he went in and had 3 steary strips (glue things) put over his cut!!!

Christine Fotheringham said...

Jessie . . . that Naomi is so cute! I think she looks like you. I love those pictures.

Becky said...

Jessie! Naomi looks JUST like you. Holy cow. That last picture = YOU. Oh, and so true and physician dads.