Last week, we were visited by my parents and niece, from Oklahoma. We spent two weeks getting things organized (and still didn't accomplish all of the organization we'd hoped), and then they were here. The morning of their arrival, we decided to get out of the house and go up to the Eagle Center. A nice family trip to Wabasha.
It was LM's first time seeing many of the animals we saw... eagles, tortoises, snakes, a small crocodile. He put on his brave face, but I really don't think he cared for the scaley reptiles. After spending some time at the Raptor Center, we decided to have some lunch at a little pizzeria (great food... yum-o), and headed home.
I had to get bags packed so LM and I could accompany my family members to Wausau, WI to visit some of my relatives. Of course, the first night, LM started to run a troubling fever. A snow storm greeted us the next morning, along with a 103 temp for the little one. I gave him ibuprophen, cool juice mixed with water and put a cool wash rag on his legs to try to cool him off, then called my parents.
We waited for his temperature to fall... then went to visit the relatives. Poor little guy just oscillated between a decent temp and a high temp most of the day - thanks to administration of ibuprophen and infant Tylenol.
That night, after his temperature was being troublesome all day, my parents decided to rotate shifts with me in my room... so that I could get some rest. That's right... that's the kind of parents I have. In one word... awesome. I can't say how comforting it was to have one of them in my room with me at all times, especially my father. (He has many years of medical training under his belt... and knows what to do in a crunch.)
Somewhere around 10:45, we began to doubt the accuracy of the tempanic thermometer (another reading of 103? Really? Even with ibuprophen on board??). It was just so inconsistent. So my father, the saint that he is, went to his room and got his clothes on... and drove out in the nasty weather on a quest to find a thermometer. Luckily, County Market (right down the street) was open. He called from there saying they didn't have tempanic thermometers... I told him just grab what they had and we'd figure it out. Once he got back, we took the temp and it was at 100.7. That made us both breathe a sigh of relief... because the next option was going to be a trip to the er (the only thing open at that hour)... and likely a hefty out-of-network bill... or a long fight with insurance.
Needless to say, we rose early the next morning, LM seemed to be in better spirits... and his temperature was hovering around 99. We loaded up the car, ate breakfast, went to say goodbye to relatives... and were on our way. The next day, LM saw the doctor - just to make sure. The culprit? A minor ear infection coupled with teething. Hooray for antibiotics!! He's now feeling more like his normal self and wreaking havoc and chaos all over the house again!
You see, before you are a parent, you don't really pay attention to the silence. Sometimes, you even enjoy a few moments of silence... cherish it... and revel in it. Once you become a parent, silence is eerie and even suspicious. If your child is sick, you crave the noise of them feeling better. If your child is quiet for too long, you head out searching for them, expecting some sort of trouble or impending doom.
Silence is no longer golden... it's the enemy.
We love our noise.
Needless to say, my parents deserve a HUGE shout out on this.
I have the type of parents who sacrifice of themselves willingly - not just for their children and grandchildren... but for others as well.
I have the type of parents who will come to my house and help me, no matter what the task. Whether it be cleaning... building stuff... installing tile, helping with a newborn baby... when they are needed, they are there... no questions asked.
I have the type of parents who practice random acts of kindness daily.
I have the type of parents that refuse to lie, cheat, or take from their children.
I have the type of parents that give of themselves to see their children and grandchildren have the things they did not have.
I have the type of parents you can call awesome... and mean it.
I love my parents. I respect them. We don't always agree... but I know they are usually right.
And I am endlessly grateful to them for being the people they are and helping me become the woman I am today.
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