"Mama Called the Doctor"

On Friday night/Saturday morning (not sure which), I woke up to the sound of Derek moaning in his sleep and saying, "Hurt, hurt."  I asked him what hurt, but he went back to sleep.  He woke up several more times that night crying.  Not good, because we were at the lake--three hours from our regular doctor.

When he really did wake up Saturday morning, he woke up screaming.  He held his right ear and yelled, "OWIE!!!"  Uh oh.

On the one hand, high-five for communication, buddy.
On the other hand, terrible timing.

I scrambled to find a walk-in clinic that was open on a Saturday morning.

I told Derek that we were going to the doctor and that they were going to fix his ear.

I was not prepared for the way Derek handled the appointment.

While we were waiting for the doctor to come into the examination room, we read a book about Winnie the Pooh visiting the doctor.  Derek compared the stethoscope and other medical instruments with the ones in the book.  He'd match them and smile.

When the doctor came into the room, Derek scrambled onto the table and said matter-of-factly, "Hurt.  Owie." Then he pointed to his ear.

 I had to struggle not to laugh when he sung under his breath, "Mama called doctor and doctor said, no more monkeys jumping on bed."

Then the doctor looked at his ears.  He cried a little when she looked at the ear that was bothering him, but as soon as she was done, Derek lifted his hand for a high-five and said, "Yay! We did it!!!"

The doctor gave him an orange balloon for being so good...and he tried to put it in his infected ear.  I think he thought it would help fix it faster?  I explained that we had to go pick up medicine.

I have no idea what the doctor thought of my child (it was a very small clinic in a very small town), but I thought he was adorable and I couldn't have been more proud.

Usually doctor appointments are challenges.  Derek tends to be uncooperative.  He fights the doctor, cries, flops around on the floor, etc.  This time was different.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe Derek was in a lot of pain and he knew the doctor would help him?

What I do know, is that my baby is getting better and better at communicating his needs and telling people what is wrong.  For that, I am thankful.

Sad he can't swim.