Thursday, July 06, 2006

Dark Sunday

Just when you thought the lil' one is getting the routine right after months of deprived sleep, and you are feeling proud of yourself as you slip into the comfort zone, the whole family went back to the drawing board as we figure out how to cope with a sick baby. It all started one Sunday night, when the fever shot up and we realised that the stinking ear thermometer we have sucks. I went to buy another snazzy one that is easy to use, not knowing that regular (every 15 -30 mins to be exact) temperature-taking become the only thing on our mind for the next one week, coupled with wetting of forehead, bouts of bad tempers, coping with a baby that don't want to drink or eat, and scream till he lost his voice (and can only croak), and a general sense of guilt, helplessness and exasperation. We visited two docters, got the same diagnosis (viral) and instructed to wait out. Got more desperate when baby's temperature is as stable a seismograph plotting an earthquake, and our emotions racing across the spectrum of euphoria to depression and back. During this period, his favourite toy was the cheapest one we bought, a plasticky rattle of sort with a smiley face imprint that makes an irritating eee-ooor sound as you shake it. It's his only source of comfort during this period. And being responsible parent, my wife and me decide to go ahead with our holiday plans on the seventh day. Cool. Well we did call back, and in Bangkok, gave 100Baht to a half-blind lady cradling a visibly sick child wrapped in blankets and a wet towel on his forehead on a chilly wet evening. We could emphatise for one, and she was grateful and shocked. I pray for her and the child, and hope both boys (hers and mine) can get well soon. Posted by Picasa