Baby's First....

Is there anything so sweet as a baby's first?  A first smile, laugh, roll, or step.  Or chest x-ray.  Ah so sweet.  Robin is a sick baby once again.  As you may recall, Robin got sick just before MLK Day with an upper respiratory infection.  His rattly breathing never really went away and he caught a different cold two weeks later.

During his second cold, Robin saw an audiologist at Children's.  There we learned he had some hearing loss.  Robin has congestion in both ears that don't allow him to him to hear lower tones, even if they are loud like a fog horn.  I'm sure his cold wasn't helping things.  Robin has several more audiology tests in his future.  Rattly breathing continued.

Over the weekend, Robin started coughing and ran a low fever.  Today Robin was supposed to see the ENT.  They called this morning to cancel and reschedule.  This was probably a good thing because Robin woke up much sicker.  He coughed up breakfast.  Dave and I thought it best to take him in to the doctor.  The doctor was concerned as well and ordered a chest x-ray.  Robin did not like getting x-rays one bit.  He was pretty upset with me.  Considering Eileen had x-rays last Monday, I am worried a trend may be starting.

The good news is that Robin does not have pneumonia.  The bad news is he has bronchiolitis (he had this last winter as well).  The doctor didn't think we needed to take him to Children's just yet, but wants to see him again in two days.  Robin thanked me by throwing up on me.

sick and stoic

Just before Robin and I took off for the doctor, the phone rang.  Normally, I avoid all phone solicitations, but this one had a Seattle number and a person name.  Tricked!  It turns out it was WA CAN (Washington Citizen Action Network) and they were calling to ask for money to fund lobbying efforts for a single payer health care system.  They caught me on a good day.  Given how often we find ourselves at the doctor and how many services Robin needs, I am grateful that we have health insurance.  Of course we pay an arm and a leg for it every month.   At this rate we should meet our yearly deductible by the end of the month, if not sooner.  I can't help but think about all those people who don't have access to what we do.  I fully support a single payer system.  Everyone has a right to medical care.  Of course making this a reality isn't going to happen on the backs of a few noble volunteers.  I did not have to think twice about giving the man on the phone money.  It's a small way I can be an agent of the change I want to see in the world. 

Stepping off soapbox.....

In addition to health insurance, I am grateful that I do not hold down a full time job.  I do not know how I could possibly work regular hours given how often the kids get sick, all of Robin's appointments at Children's, and his weekly in-home therapy.  While I still question the wisdom of all the student loan debt, I am glad my degree allows me to be a substitute teacher and implement a very flexible work schedule. 

Stepping back on soapbox.....while we're at it.  Let's hear it for affordable childcare!  Off soapbox.

Robin visits the ENT next week.  Hopefully, he will be recovered from his most recent illness and not have acquired a new one.  Maybe then we can try for more positive baby firsts.  Baby's first trip to an exotic location has a nice ring to it.