Here We Go Again

Do you ever get the feeling that you are always at the doctor?  Maybe that's partly just the result of having four children.  Maybe it's because we're suddenly exposed to a whole bunch of new international bugs...  I definitely wouldn't say we're a sick family, but since coming here I feel like it's been one unwell child after another, or illnesses that never fully clear up. We've had two simple well checks that turned in to more, two bouts of tonsillitis, one persistent cough and crackly chest, two separate weeks of everyone being floored after returning to school from holidays, and another bowel issue that is now on its second doctor and requiring frequent visits with samples and consultations and results and prescription pick ups and yet more consultations.

On Monday we visited our fourth medical institution in this city and after being referred to a specialist, on Tuesday we were at our fifth.  Turns out Joey also has a recurring issue, plus a bit more, and is now in need of another surgery on both sides of his groin in a fortnight.

That last surgery though most definitely scarred him mentally against anyone wearing scrubs or a white coat.  Previous to last May he would happily open his mouth for a dentist, or smile when he saw our paediatrician.  After two failed attempts at cathetarisation and a two day hospital stay I can't get him to stand on the scales for nurses to take his weight let alone calm him down enough to get his temperature checked.  It required three of us to hold him down while he was screaming like a banshee and thrashing around violently on both Monday and Tuesday so the poor doctors could take off his nappy and examine him.

Nothing coming over him now!

So starving him and then canulising him on the 12th is gonna be fun...