Is it the weekend yet?

I love Madeline's pediatrician. He's an older man who has seen it all and now practices with his son who is also a pediatrician. I love that every time he opens the door to the exam room, he's always the same. He wears a kind expression, speaks with a hushed voice and is extremely gentle.

I trust him implicitly. Madeline trembles in fear and bursts out crying at the sight of him.

Yesterday, I brought Madeline back to him for the third time in two weeks. After much trembling and crying during the exam, he said she moved from a reaction to full-blown allergy to the amoxicillin. (Apparently, the bubble-gum flavor brings joy; the drug brings a rash.) Since it was progressively getting worse, he prescribed her a steroid to stop it.

I was very relieved to not be told to go home and wait it out; I'm all for taking action. But the word "steroid" sounded very harsh, especially considering my daughter was completely covered in itchy red patches from the world's most basic drug.

Me: "What are the risks to giving a steroid to such a small child? Could we maybe wait one more day to see if she gets better on her own?"
Dr. C: "Like with any drug, there are risks. But the risks of letting the reaction continue are greater. Since the rash is about as bad as it can be, the next progression is the throat closing up and convulsions. So I strongly recommend giving her the steroid as soon as possible."
Me: "It's fine! It's fine! It's fine! The steroid sounds fine!"

For the next 30 minutes, from the doctor's office until I was handed the drug, ripped it open right then in front of the pharmacy tech and Madeline swallowed it, I was in fear of watching her convulse, gasping for air. My imagination is unnecessarily very vivid.

She's getting better and I'm relieved that this week is finally ending. I'm very ready to dye eggs with her, eat resurrection rolls and plan her first egg hunt this weekend.

It is so true that we don't appreciate our health until it's in jeopardy. I'm so incredibly blessed to know Madeline is healthy. Even though no one gets a choice, I'll take an allergy over a sickness any day.