The blessings of "one more time..."

If you're like me, you read the word "illness" and think cold, flu, stomach bug, migraine, or something equally common to children. However, this weekend, pneumonia invaded our household.

Will started getting sick on Wednesday evening - of course, directly after our well-baby check for Susanna. It was mostly a fever, and I didn't think too much of it simply because he's had fevers before and they never lasted longer than about eight to twelve hours and they've always been low-grade. This one, however, lasted through Thursday and into Friday. Along with that, he became lethargic, sleeping more and lying down while he was awake. Also, he stopped eating and getting him to drink anything became a real struggle. He often complained his head hurt, that he was chilly, and that his body ached.

On Friday we went in to see the doctor. We weren't able to see his pediatrician (whose office is closed on Fridays - WHY?!!!), but we got in to see our family practitioner, who immediately took his temperature and discovered it to be over 104 degrees. Initially they thought strep, but discounted that after a rapid strep culture. Then they thought perhaps flu, but that was also a no go after another rapid culture. They were playing with the idea of bacterial meningitis when the doctor checked his lungs "one more time to be sure." Lo and behold, down at the very bottom of his lungs he heard the "crackle." The PA who had started the visit hadn't heard it and was still unable to even after the doctor showed her where to listen. In any case, he determined that it was moderate pneumonia, likely a complication of a very mild upper respiratory infection.

During all of this, Will was just on fire. The medical assistant, physician's assistant, and the doctor all commented on just how hot his entire body was. He cried, too - large slow tears that rolled down his face. He wasn't upset; he was just so uncomfortable that he couldn't control the crying. It was so sad - I felt like crying, too.

For treatment, they gave him a shot (in his bum - he handled it as manfully as he could in his weakened state) as a jumpstart and then three days' worth of azithromycin. Fortunately, he began feeling better very quickly as the doctor had said he would. We kept him on alternating doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen to combat the fever for the first twenty-four hours, and fortunately his fever has disappeared and he's much better. He's still not wanting to drinking and eating as much as normal, but he's improving.

Unfortunately, we missed a swim lesson, a family baptism and the ward Halloween party, but we weren't interested in taking any chances. We want to make sure he's well enough to enjoy the actual holiday later this week. Anyway, bless modern medicine. It's frightening to see your child in such pain and so unlike himself. I'm grateful to the doctor who wanted to check just one more time.