Trying to Break the Grandparents' Hearts

Sorry mom and dad, but I finally had to take a picture of this today. Little miss sick moppet.

I know I'm not supposed to find this adorable, and trust me, in stereo it isn't half as charming, but I love how her lower lip forms a kind of "w".

This has been our week. Tylenol, Lysol, blankets and Kleenex. Yesterday and today have been a bit better, but it has still been one long crying jag. Since last Monday night Eleanor has been nice and sick. Since last Friday I've been sick too. Ugh. She went to the (freak of a) doctor on Thursday and got some meds but hasn't seen much improvement. He said she had bronchiolitis and that it was non-contagious. He acted like it was no big deal but then again, he was a big freaking freak. Now don't get me wrong. I appreciate doctors, normally I adore them! They bring an end to pain and answers to questions and I love them for training for so many years to be able to do that for us.

That said, here is my "Holy crap that doctor was awful" story.

This guy. He was the dr assigned to us by our insurance, so we just went assuming he would be ok. First of all, his office was icky gross, like old stained pictures of Porches and dusty models of tracheas from drug reps. (exam room 1- go see for yourself) How does a frame get stained dark black on half of the frame? Why doesn't someone change it or take it down once that happens? Second, he didn't have a baby scale! They weighed me holding E, then I handed her to the nurse and they weighed me again. Then the nurse did the subtraction in ink on the back of her hand. The back of her hand people! Am I crazy here? Or is that a little low rent? After the nurse took her vitals we waited for over a half an hour (the yellowed Claritin clock kept us well informed) before the doctor showed up. Now that's pretty standard, but it was a tiny room and it was hard to keep a sick baby happy even with her books, toys and bottles and what have you. So this guy shows up and he has another guy with him that writes down everything he says. The doctor tries to look in Eleanor's ears but gives up and says he can't see anything anyway. Um, what? He doesn't look at her again, doesn't listen to her breath, ask me any questions... just starts barking at his assistant by saying something then spelling it. He then asked the guy for some of the earlier vitals stuff which the guy can't find so I offer it (as I heard the nurse say it) but he scolds me saying "I was asking him!" Um, ok, freak. It was impossible to know when he was talking to his assistant or me as he never looked at either of us, but instead two feet to your right. I started to wonder if he was blind, but then remembered that he did pretend to look in her ears... So odd. He was talking loudly to his assistant and also into his tape recorder but of course Eleanor is crying now so I am desperately trying to keep her distracted, only to be scolded again at "touching" stuff. Good mother folks! Come on! Heaven forbid I hurt one of your free drug rep freebies from the 80's that are piled up to the rafters. He mentions that her abdomen was soft, um, he never touched her tummy, but whatev. We were in that room for over an hour at that point and I hear him say into his recorder "child is very agitated." Ya think? I'll show you agitated. I asked him if she was contagious and he waves his hand at me like you would dismiss a servant, all flick, flick. No. Um, ok then. Until you look at bronchiolitis online. Ya it's not contagious, but the infections that cause it are. Like RSfreakingV! Could you maybe give me just a touch of information here? Nope, apparently not. Then the cherry on top of this disaster was the pharmacist questioning the dosage on the meds. As the doctor prescribed the antibiotic for twice the amount of time that is normal. Ya, call me risky, but I think I will go with the pharmacist (and the subsequent internet searches) on this one. Freak. We are suppose to be going back in about ten more days, but I think I will be finding a new doctor in the meantime. Like not one who specializes in "medical weight loss" and perhaps has a baby scale. My mom asked if she got a lollipop at the end of her visit and I almost cried.

P.S. Um, so much for this post.