I received a phone call from Justin’s school nurse today around 11am. She gave me a head’s up that Justin has the beginnings of an ear infection.

Apparently he’s been sick since Saturday. His dad said that he’d had a low-grade fever, cough, runny nose, etc. I asked if he could stay at Dan’s for a few days til he was better, since I’m counting down the days til the baby comes, and if I get sick right now, I’m throwing in the towel. Dan kept him on Sunday night and Monday all day.

Tuesday Dan dropped Justin off at my parents’, telling them they had to decide by 8:15am if Justin was going to school. I received a phone call about 8:10am, which was Justin asking if he should stay home. After running through the usual list of questions, he seemed fine, so I sent him to school.

After school he wasn’t feeling too good, so I told him he wasn’t going to his karate class, which suited him just fine.

Today, however, I learned things didn’t go as I’d planned.

My ex-in-laws have a serious mental block against believing that anyone gets sick, or could be sick. Maybe they come from healthy stock, both having grown up on farms. Maybe it’s because their kids were pretty healthy as well. Maybe it’s because Justin’s great-grandma is now something like 93 years old and healthy as they come. Whatever the root cause, they just cannot fathom that my child gets sick.

I don’t come from such healthy stock. Once a year like clockwork I would get a nasty case of bronchitis (probably due to my mother smoking in the house - after all, it was the 70’s). I had allergies to kill a person during middle and high school. Even now, when there’s a bout of flu going around, I’ll get it.

So, when we last left off, Justin was under orders not to attend karate. However, when my dad dropped him off at Dan’s parents’ house, his grandma told him that he had to attend karate, because his dad had spent a lot of money on the lessons.

My dad’s comment, which I agree with, is what is more important? Dan’s lousy 20 bucks or Justin’s health? Who cares about the money? If I’d heard that conversation I’d have lost my temper in a big way. Of course, if I’d heard that conversation I’d have NOT allowed him to attend karate either. Unfortunately, because of a lack of respect for me by my in-laws (and ex-, by the way) Justin attended karate.

So today at 1:00pm I received my second call from the school nurse. He’s worse, she said, and he needs to go the doctor. I’d already set an appointment, so I left work early and picked him up. He was in a quiet room, in a recliner. When he saw me, he got tears in his eyes. My poor heart broke, and I was totally furious with his dad and grandparents.

The doctor determined a massive inner ear infection. Shocker. We got a prescription for antibiotics and made it halfway down the medical building hallway before Justin lost his entire lunch.

My poor baby.

Dan swears up and down that Justin was showing no signs of illness this morning or last night. I don’t buy it. More like, he doesn’t bother to pay any attention. I am sick and tired of that side of the family treating illness like it’s no big deal. This is Justin’s second relapse in a month.

Why is it I have to fight everyone to keep this kid happy and healthy? School, and now family. Give me a break.

Frustrated,
michelle