He's still got it...

Carter's ears STILL look bad after a course of Omnicef, followed by a course of Zithromax. We have been trying to clear this last ear infection for a month now. Dr B said his ears would have had to look "perfect" yesrterday in order for us to avoid going to the peds ENT. Sooo...we have a referral and will be taking him in to see about getting him tubes. Unfortunately, the doctor is booked until July 20th! Hopefully, we will be fine until then.

On a brighter note, Carter is starting to use the potty!!! We have been talking about it & sitting on it off and on for a couple of months, but he is finally starting to show interest in using the potty. (I'm sure the M&M's we're using for bribery are helping some.) So far, he has gone pee-pee a handful of times...no #2, yet. I have mixed feelings about potty-training and am not looking forward to the messes and the rush to find public restrooms when we're out & about. However, my hope is that if Carter is driving the learning process & we follow his lead, it will not take forever to get him into big-boy undies. I was anticipating him working on this well into age three, so if we get it done sooner---great! I'll keep you posted!

another one

We found out today that Carter has another bilateral ear infection. The only reason I took him in was that yesterday he was guarding his left ear when I went to put sunscreen on him. He has had a cold the past few days and didn't go to "school" on Monday, but kept denying that his ears hurt & he hasn't had a fever.

This is his third infection in six months, so we are starting to talk tubes. I'll take him back in two weeks to see if it has cleared on the Omnicef, but even still our Pediatrician thinks it is worth considering the tubes. She thinks he may just be used to his ears hurting so often that he has been compensating for it longer than we realize. Plus, I would rather do the tubes than have him build up a resistance to the antibiotics we are needing to use so frequently. Anyway, it won't hurt to have an Ear/Nose/Throat consult and see what they think. We will wait to make any decisions until our follow up appt.

I just feel so badly for him, it has to be miserable to be hurting like that (according to Sean who had a ton of ear infections as a child). He is such a good boy at the doctor's office and always sits still during his exam, never cries & then politely asks for a sticker (the nurses have spoiled him) when we leave. I am so proud of him--what a big boy! Side note: Dr. A was impressed by Carter's vocabulary and clarity of speech for a 2 1/2 year old. I held back from bragging to her that he has known the alphabet for months now & can count to 20 & knows how to use a Phillips head screwdriver better than I do...because I'm sure she gets tired of those moms! :-)