Nurse Nightingale

Around 11:30 last night, Alanna woke up to go to the bathroom.  I happened to be up reading, so I went to check on her.  I noticed she felt warm, and when I asked if she was feeling okay, she said her forehead hurt "on the inside."  After giving her some motrin, I put her back to bed, and she fell asleep for about an hour.  I heard her starting to whimper in bed, and she said her head still hurt.  I called the pediatrician's triage line to be sure there was nothing I needed to do.  They suggested I wait another 30-40 minutes and call back if the headache hadn't subsided.  Fortunately, she fell asleep and didn't awaken until about 7:00.  We wound up with an MD appointment for this afternoon.  Alanna was so excited to go; Aidan wanted to go with us so much that he pretended he had a hurt lip and needed to see the doctor.  They love their pediatrician, but she is out on maternity leave, so I clued Alanna in that they would be seeing a different doctor today, and Alanna was okay with that.

We arrived a little early, and our paperwork somehow didn't get to the nurses until I inquired after sitting in the waiting room after quite a while.  Up to this point, Alanna was just fine, waiting happily in the waiting room, and Aidan was so patient, too!  FINALLY, a nurse came to get us.  She was nice enough, but a little hard to describe...brawny is the best adjective that springs to mind.  I can see how a three year old would be a little intimidated by her stature, and unfortunately, her personality didn't do anything to soften her image.  She spoke a little too loud and overexaggerated her articulation while unsuccessfully attempting to talk to Alanna in motherese.  Alanna wanted nothing to do with her and just tried to curl up into my shoulder as much as possible.  To make matters worse, she stood up and peered down over her glasses at Alanna and said "Honey, I can tell you this much.  No one is going to give you any shots today.  No one is here to hurt you.  You're not getting any shots.  Okay?  You're not going to get hurt today."  And on, and on.  Oh My God!!!  Did she think it would actually help to repeatedly reference pain and injury???  Even in a sense that it wouldn't be happening??  Alanna has no fear of doctor's offices, and she wasn't worried about any of this.  I can only hope that she doesn't remember this next time we have to go to the doctor!!  She would barely look at the doctor when he came in, and she wouldn't say a word. 

No word yet on what it is, but we are waiting on results of a strep test...