Suck It Up

Soren and I just got back from the doctor. This poor kid has had a rough month, health-wise.

• 3 1/2 weeks ago: He was diagnosed with an ear infection and was on antibiotics for ten days.
• 2 weeks ago: He came down with a stomach bug and threw up ALL night. Luckily (?), it was the day after Christmas, so at least he was able to enjoy the holiday. Extra-luckily, we were at my parents and had help when he was sick. And when I got sick. And when Ren got sick. And then I was able to help when my parents took turns getting sick. The rest of us largely recovered after two days, but Soren took about a week to totally recover.
• 1 week ago: He got over the stomach bug and came down with a cold. It seemed to get better for a few days, then got WAY worse (feverish for several days.)
• Last night: His cough was finally starting to diminish, but halfway through the night he woke up crying and spent several hours in a lot of pain. ("My ears hurt!") Turns out he has a double ear infection, so he's back on antibiotics for another ten days. 

The thing is, he hasn't even been around other kids (either at nursery or at day care), because he's been sick enough, long enough, that we haven't gone anywhere. It's so hard to sit while he cries and know all I can do is pray and wait for medicine to work. I'm definitely grateful for priesthood blessings that provide comfort and reassurance and aid in healing. 

In addition, while many of you may already know this, regularly suctioning a kid's nose when they're sick is the #1 way to avoid ear infections. (If they can't effectively blow their own nose.) So guess what I'll be doing a lot more often? :-D