Today, the boy got his first serious flu. He made it three years without one, so I suppose he was long overdue. He was throwing up continually, not understanding why, upset and it broke my heart. He vomited on top of several blankets, five sets of pajamas, and was screaming his lungs out in between bouts of short naps.Both grandmothers were consulted with differing advice.One suggested Gatorade and jello, the other Pedialyte and saltine crackers. The boy had an opinion of his own that he wasn't going to eat or drink anything, because it might come back up. He had gone eight hours without drinking anything so we got a fourth opinion.
Mrs. Trifecta's friend's mom is a pediatric nurse. She suggested trying a popsicle first. It did the trick. It was like getting a treat for being a sick, which was very cool. He then decided to drink some gatorade, and pedialyte, and ate crackers and three cups of jello. All our bases were covered.
We have health insurance for him, and were going to take him to the ER if he refused or couldn't hold fluids for twelve hours. It did make me think about the parents without coverage for their kids who are terrified of out of pocket hospital bills for something that might clear up by itself. It is to our nation's shame that we make people choose between health care for their family, and financial ruin.
The boy is now in the tub with extra bubbles and making a ginormous mess. I can breathe again.
3 comments:
That is indeed a rough time. TLC had something like it when she was two and the whole night went like this:
1. Wake up
2. Vomit
3. Dab face with damp washcloth
4. Fall asleep for half an hour
5. Wake up
6. Dry heave uncontrollably
7. Cry pitifully
8. Dab face with damp washcloth
9. Fall asleep for half an hour
10. Wake up
11. Dry heave uncontrollably
12. Cry pitifully
13. Dab face with damp washcloth
14. Fall asleep for half an hour
15. Wake up
16. Dry heave uncontrollably
17. Cry pitifully
18. Dab face with damp washcloth
19. Fall asleep for half an hour
All night long.
And yes, the wife is a teacher, so our insurance is a beautiful thing to behold. It's so wonderfully comprehensive that I want the same for every single person in this nation. Meanwhile, every time there's a levy up, the usual dingbats squawk about the teachers' "cadillac benefits." Why is it there exists a group of people who'd rather take something like that away from someone rather than assist others in having it too?
I can only imagine the nightmare for a parent without insurance in such a situation. Or consider ear ache. Is it an infection or something that'll clear up? Guess we'll just have to wait and see while your child suffers. Diarrhea? Is it just a passing bug that requires rest and the BRAT diet or could it be something much, much worse? Guess we'll just hav to wait and see while your child suffers.
The biggest reason I'm a liberal is because I think it's a good thing that we as a people alleviate the sufferings of others, moving onwards and forward with that utilitarian goal with each generation. Because the status quo is never quite good enough, because there is always good to be done.
Yep. Popsicles. Definitely the way to go.
Which reminds me. I need to get some popsicles. I had some, but they melted when my power went out while I was in exile ...
Hope the boy is feeling better.
The boy is doing better now. He had fever overnight that broke. But now the baby is sick with a cough. When it rains, it pours.
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