Trouble! A Yucky Birthday Gift

Zeke got a terrible gift right before his birthday: his first ear infection! As I had written, Zeke had become a Velcro baby -- super attached and clingy. He also had been nightwaking frequently and had a runny nose. All of these things had made him a grumpy baby. All of these things, though, I could attribute to teething (that sixth and seventh tooth are coming soon) as well as normal developmental behaviors for a one year old. It was just bad luck.

Our "run of bad luck" kept nagging at me, though. I finally called the pediatrician though when we developed nursing problems. In brief, Zeke is a boob man. It wasn't an easy start, but Zeke and I ended up with a strong nursing relationship. At one year, we still nurse four times a day. I had just told some moms I know that I was pretty convinced that Zeke would nurse for as long as I would let him, maybe until his second birthday. So, it was really disturbing when for two days, the child kept biting me. It was terrible. I attributed it some to teething, as well as his using a sippy cup. After two days of trying to correct him, he just stopped taking to the breast altogether and would have a meltdown if in the nursing position or even if we were sitting his nursery rocking chair. It was a nursing strike! So, I took old friend breast pump out of the closet and started up with that again. Ugh. Love nursing, but was so glad to put that thing away when I left work. Also had to take out the old bottles, bottle warmer and whole rigamarole. I admit I wouldn't be altogether sad if Zeke weaned as I tire of special beautiful bras with flaps and only wearing what can be lifted up to my head quickly. Still, I didn't want it to end so suddenly and out of the blue.

I called the pediatrician's office after one day of this and started to feel dread as I listed everything that was going on. I know ear infections can be persistent and painful, and I just hated to think that Zeke might have an ear infection. I don't think I ever had them, but Aaron had them as a child and tells me they were awful. I still thought that it was just a 10% that this was an ear infection, but the nurse said that we should come in. She said she was concerned because it was only our second call to the office in a year, so that I really must be noticing something unusual.

So, you know the end of this story: Dr. Vic said that Zeke had an ear infection in his left ear. Poor baby! We agreed to antibiotics because we feel it had been going on for awhile. To assauge any inkling of guilt, I bought Zeke a toy cell phone (!) while we were filling the prescription and got some probiotics from the food co-op. After 48 hours, he did seem much more himself and the runny nose disappeared. He also started nursing again. It is just unbelievable all the new things that babies have to go through in the first year!