Screamfest

Poor Nate has an ear infection again. He was awake last night from midnight until around 1:30, totally inconsolable — indeed, when I tried to sing the usually insta-soothe “Baby Nate Song,” he just slapped me in the face. Hard. At which point I had to just put him in the crib and walk away. Thankfully, the Tylenol had kicked in by then and he fell asleep soon after.

I was actually ready to chalk it up to just teething (he has a tooth coming in on the bottom left) but he also has a runny nose, and was pretty miserable all morning, too. I mentioned to Mike the singing thing, and he immediately said “ears?” Thankfully, our pediatrician has Saturday hours, and we got our call in just in time. Sure enough, Nate’s left ear is fluid filled and red and icky, he was borderline feverish, and the congestion was ever-worsening. The doc gave me samples of a prescription decongestant for Nate, and sent me off to fill a prescription for antibiotics. After a nap, some lunch, and a dose of Motrin and a dose of decongestant, he was in much, much better spirits this afternoon. He was ravenous at dinner and had four helpings of spaghetti with spinach and baked salmon (though at least 2/3 of a helping was in his lap by the time it was all over).

I felt like a drug pusher at bath time — I approached him with three different syringes: Motrin, decongestant, and antibiotics. The humidifier is running in his room, his sheets are fresh and clean, and I hope he (and we!) get a full night’s sleep tonight!