Just after I posted my “Happy Toddler” picture, this is what I have. A poor sick little boy. Caden has been acting strange for days now. He’s been defiant and moody. I was quite afraid this is just what the so called “Terrible Twos” were about, but then I realized otherwise. On Tuesday night he just did not seem right. About 2 hours after he went to bed I went in to check on him, and he was covered in sweat. Just completely drenched. I took his temperature, and it was 104! I was a bit freaked, and ready to go to the ER. My husband convinced me to give him some Children’s Tylenol (although because of all the recalls we gave him Advil), to take all his clothes off, to cool his room down, to make him drink a little, and to see where is was in an hour. Rather than freaking out I decided that my husband was right, and we gave it a try. An hour later his temperature was 101, and by two hours later it was just under 100. The Advil and room cooling did a great job. We checked on him (and medicated him) throughout the night, and although it was clear he did not feel well, he was doing okay.
Wednesday morning I was torn on if I should take him to the Pediatrician, or give him some time to let his body fight whatever he had off. I was torn because I had no idea what was wrong! He’d become lethargic, and had a temperature, but did not show any signs of pain, had no sneezing or coughing. Finally I decided to get him checked out, and I’m glad I did! He has a double ear infection. It’s only his second (well, second and third, counting both ears) ear infection. His pediatrician said the last one was mild, but the ones he has now look pretty bad. I was amazed that he was being such a good sport if he was in that much pain!
By the end of that day it was clear he was miserable.He was screaming, he was clingly, he had no desire to eat/drink/walk, and he was just not himself. Currently he’s on an upswing, as long as there is no gaps in between his Advil doses. He’s also on an antibiotic, and has ear drops, so hopefully soon he will be his perky self again!
I’m generally not one to drug up a child, but in this case it seems the medications are really doing their jobs to keep him on the right track. Hopefully he will be 100% by sunday because I’m sure there will be plenty of excitement for him on the 4th of July!
