The Young and the Restless

What started on Friday night as a hoarse cough and watery eyes slowly elevated to a runny nose, refusal to eat much of anything, and a warm bath after losing the small contents of his stomach all over mama during a terrible coughing fit. I'm not one to rush to the Dr. but by Sunday night, I was counting the hours. Sebastian and I got up extra early this morning to take Brett to work so we could then scoot on over to pediatric urgent care after a fitful night of sleeping on the big couch with my little one tucked into my side. We gathered our diaper bag gear, made sure we had the insurance card, cell phone, wallet, and directions and took off.

We made it to our googled destination only to realize they didn't open until noon. Noon! The nice lady at the hospital information desk next to Urgent Care told me to try the place down the street. Get in, drive down the street, get out. Not open for 30 more minutes. Sebastian is crying and coughing like a 70 year old smoker. Sit in car and watch the tractors. Get out, ask at front desk if we're in the right place. No. Try the other Urgent Care place down the road. We were just there. Oh. Well, there's another place down this other road.

We finally made it to the correct Urgent Care waiting room and got checked in. We're expecting a short wait as we're #3 in line and it's only 8:40 a.m. at this point. Thankfully, Diego was on and then Wonder Pets and then 20 more people in line behind us and finally it was our turn. Go in, check temp, ask questions, go back out and wait some more. No problem. Sebastian thought we were going home. No, more waiting. More Wonder Pets. Are you still with me?

The nurse called us back and we waited for the nicest doctor in the world to examine S and tell us he had the start of an ear infection (his first) but that his lungs were clear and that we'd have to ride it out with a prescription available just in case it got worse. Great, thank you. Wait for the nurse. Billing lady comes in, does her job, leaves. Wait for the nurse some more.

I'm not sure if it was my bedhead that put the billing agent in a sour mood or the terrible task of hauling around a computer/credit card machine on wheels but the most she could muster as I yelled out the door that I was about to faint was, "Well, you should probably sit down then, shouldn't you."

Super doctor rushed in an told me our paper work was almost ready and then realized I was as white as a ghost and went and got me some water and crackers remembering that important part in our conversation earlier. I started crying. The kind of crying that just happens to you and you're not sure how to explain yourself. No, I'm not in pain, no, I'm not sad. Exhausted, hormonal and experiencing low blood sugar? Yes.

Needless to say, we made it home in one piece.

I suggest eating breakfast before any sort of adventure that includes medical attention, urgent or not. I appreciate all hospital staff, minus the billing lady, and wonder at the magic they've been given that allows them to deal with snotty-nosed, virus-infected, hurting, moaning people all day.

And yes, I'm pregnant. :)