Alex's First "Sick Visit" to the Doctor

Let me start this post by saying, that yes, I do know I am a paranoid first time mother, but that Alex's welfare comes first and I don't care who thinks I am crazy :))))

So, yesterday I took Alex to the doctor for his first sick visit...and boy was it an adventure. Alex has had a rash under his chin for over a week and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I called the doctors office last week and they recommended a cream to put on it and call back in a week if it isn't any better. So we buy the cream and put it on and go on our merry way. Well, to me, the rash didn't seem to get any better...just seemed to get redder and bigger and worse. So I called the doctor again yesterday and they recommeneded that we bring him in just to check to make sure that he was OK.

So, I leave work early and start my trek to the doctors. First stop: picking Alex up from daycare. Alex is currently in an in home daycare facility near to where Henry works in Newark. So I had to drive all the way from Wilmington to Newark to pick him up. I get to Donna's and he is all happy and cooing and smiling. We get him in his car seat and head out the door for the doctors. I put him in the car and start driving and no joke...BEFORE we even leave the driveway I hear this grunting coming from the back seat of the car. The grunting continues for a few minutes and I am like..fantastic...he is pooping. I keep driving and every once and a while I get a wiff of an unpleasant oder but keep hoping it is coming from outside the car. An hour later (our pedi is still in Paoli..I really need to get one closer to Wilmington) we make it to the doctors. I get Alex out of the car and check his diaper. Sure enough, the little angel decided that it was time to poop.

Now, one of the selling points of daycare for me was the fact that I wouldn't have to change as many dirty diapers anymore (that and she will potty train him when the time comes)...that he would have them at daycare and Donna would have to change them. I do realize not all would be at daycare. Well guess what?! This hasn't quite worked out the way I thought...guess who still gets to change ALL the dirty diapers...that's right MOMMY! I swear he waits until he is home or in the car on the way home to go. When I tell people this, instead of sympathizing, they laugh their heads off like loons. According to my mother, kids tend to do this and don't "go" unless they are comfortable...and mommy=safe supposedly. Ugh.

So I carry him into the doctor's office and get into the room and change him. They also weigh him and my little peanut has gained over 2 pounds in less than 2 months! He now weighs 13 lbs6 oz!!!! We officially moved him up to his 6 month clothing this week, and they are fitting him MUCH better. So anyway, the doctor comes in and we start talking and I tell him what is wrong. He takes a look, then looks at me and says "now what exactly is the problem? Where is the rash?". I go..."under his chin" So the doctor takes another look and is like "oh, OK I see it now...it is really nothing..just some irritation.." and looks at me like I have grown four heads and am a crazy paranoid person (which I already admitted to people). He told me to put some hydracortisone cream on the rash and sent me on my merry, embarased way.

I take Alex up to the lobby and when I enter the lobby area there is all this comotion by the pay station. I see people refusing to come into the lobby area from outside and these two cleaning people running around like crazy with brooms. I think you know where I am going with this...yes, there was a rat running around the lobby. So this brave man takes a broom and smashes it on the rat and the lady gets a dust pan and puts the rat into a trash bag. I make my hasty exit and on the way out I hear her exclaim "OH MY GOD it is STILL alive in there"....needless to say I did not look back and started my long trek back to Wilmington.

I think it is time to get a pediatrician closer to home....