From Charleston, we made our way to Baton Rouge on the 18th. By the time we arrived in the wee hours of the 19th, I was ready to drop. I managed to get a few hours of sleep, but I knew I needed to wake up relatively early.
After a visit with my niece & nephew with everyone, I dropped the boys back at the grandparents and decided to completely and totally veg out in quiet while Logan & The Girls went to church. After some very complicated "Cat Math", I lay down for a VERY long winter's nap.
After years in the medical field, there is a large difference between an emergency and discomfort. Though I never wish for my children to be uncomfortable, I refuse to rush off to the emergency room for what was likely a result of him having flown with a minor cold. 15 minutes or so later, I'm informed "I'm fine now, Mommy. I burped and it stopped hurting."
The next day, I discovered quite a bit of blood on his pillow and realized that his TM had likely burst. Max spent the next several days in no discomfort but with a very noticeable drainage from his ear. He stated he had some muffled sound in that ear. Very classic signs of a ruptured eardrum. I called the doctor and was told what I was already fairly certain of. Not much to do but keep it clean, avoid water in the ear and keep checking on his hearing.
We will have him checked out and cleared for flight before our return to Germany.
He currently reports complete return of hearing, no more drainage, but I'm still concerned a bit by the spots/sores around his outer ear. I'm not sure if they were brought on by itching while the ear was draining, if the itching/sores are PART of the problem or a combination of the two. We'll find out when he goes to the doctor. In the meantime, he seems to be on the mend.
Coming soon...A short reprieve...
After a visit with my niece & nephew with everyone, I dropped the boys back at the grandparents and decided to completely and totally veg out in quiet while Logan & The Girls went to church. After some very complicated "Cat Math", I lay down for a VERY long winter's nap.
Cat Math
There are 8 cats total.
Cat A gets out.
Cat A is retrieved.
While replacing Cat A, Cat B gets out.
During retrieval of Cat B, I notice Cat X outside.
Unsure if Cat X is one of the previous 8 cats, I grab it anyway.
Return Cat B & Cat X to house.
Try to count cats.
Unsuccessful. I come up with 7 cats.
Conclusion? Cat Math makes my brain hurt.
Shortly after all this furry math, I receive a phone call that Max's ear is hurting. I ask the vital medical questions. There is no fever. I am told he was given Tylenol. I advise some Ibuprofen and a decongestant. Turns out, he was given Tylenol Cold & Flu that contains a decongestant. The beginning of the phone call was fairly panicked and included "You must come right away!!!" I wasn't able to leave right then and requested to be kept apprised of the situation should anything change. There are 8 cats total.
Cat A gets out.
Cat A is retrieved.
While replacing Cat A, Cat B gets out.
During retrieval of Cat B, I notice Cat X outside.
Unsure if Cat X is one of the previous 8 cats, I grab it anyway.
Return Cat B & Cat X to house.
Try to count cats.
Unsuccessful. I come up with 7 cats.
Conclusion? Cat Math makes my brain hurt.
After years in the medical field, there is a large difference between an emergency and discomfort. Though I never wish for my children to be uncomfortable, I refuse to rush off to the emergency room for what was likely a result of him having flown with a minor cold. 15 minutes or so later, I'm informed "I'm fine now, Mommy. I burped and it stopped hurting."
The next day, I discovered quite a bit of blood on his pillow and realized that his TM had likely burst. Max spent the next several days in no discomfort but with a very noticeable drainage from his ear. He stated he had some muffled sound in that ear. Very classic signs of a ruptured eardrum. I called the doctor and was told what I was already fairly certain of. Not much to do but keep it clean, avoid water in the ear and keep checking on his hearing.
We will have him checked out and cleared for flight before our return to Germany.
He currently reports complete return of hearing, no more drainage, but I'm still concerned a bit by the spots/sores around his outer ear. I'm not sure if they were brought on by itching while the ear was draining, if the itching/sores are PART of the problem or a combination of the two. We'll find out when he goes to the doctor. In the meantime, he seems to be on the mend.
Coming soon...A short reprieve...
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