Is the Ear Infection Going Away?

Yesterday we had our 18-month well baby check at the pediatrician's office. I was my usual nervous wreck for her weigh-in and Elizabeth's subsequent screaming through the entire visit. The news was mixed: she gained 7 oz. to maintain her current growth percentile at 20lbs, 5oz, which was the good news, but she has a double ear infection. Grrrr. There's always something, isn't there?

I've been suspecting either teething or an ear infection for three days, so I wasn't very surprised. We've decided not to give her antibiotics for the time being because she has no fever, seems to be improving a little, and I'm nervous with her sensitive system that she might get diarrhea and diaper rash as a result of the medicine. Which would make the cure worse than the ailment! She slept pretty well last night, so I'm really hoping she is kicking it on her own.

These visits wear me out because they're never quite as positive as I hope they'll be. I remember the very early doctor visits when she was gaining lots of weight and it was so fun to see how much she was growing. These days, I'm physically exhausted by the end from holding a child who cries through EVERY appointment. So in times like these, I immediately go home and make a Duncan Hines cake and DEVOUR every bite. This time I shared some with Jon, but I have one piece left from yesterday and since Elizabeth is taking a nap, I'm about to go eat it. :-)

I also like to think about how fun she usually is. After her nap yesterday, we went outside and played in the sprinkler. She loves to run around naked and dip her head in the stream of water. Then she laughs and shivers and comes to give me a big wet hug. I end up nearly as wet as her, but it's so cute that I don't care (much). It's awesome. I'll do almost anything for those smiles.



*UPDATE on Sunday, August 23rd:
We had our good friend Jeffrey, who is an ENT, look at Elizabeth's ears after church today. The ear infection has cleared up! Yay. Just teething now- I can actually see the tip of one just starting to come through. Elizabeth HATES having her ears checked, but Jeffrey and his wife Katie spent a long time using the otoscope to look in her baby's ears first (and each others') to try and ease her into it, with some success. She still cried, but not as hard as she does at the doctor's office....