Wiped

After a day and a half of running a fever, the little one was diagnosed with Strep yesterday. She and I stayed home and tried to rest and relax with quiet time, movies, and cuddling. Katie seems to be doing fine, but Mommy is not, and I'll tell you why.

Administering medication to a toddler is not fun. Actually, it is extremely emotionally draining to this Momma. Katie does not want to take her medicine, so administering it to her usually consists of me holding her arms down and my husband having to hold her head still while we try to squirt enough of the medicine in her mouth. A lot of it will be spit out, and spills down Katie's face, neck and into her hair, creating what I affectionately call "crunchy hair."  The poor little thing is so traumatized by the whole experience (as am I). Having to hold down your child is one of the worst things. And the tears, let's not forget the tears that follow.

When I laid her down last night for bed, I told her I was sorry she was sick and having such a hard time taking her medicine. Then I went into my bedroom and just cried. It was such an emotionally draining day. And to think she has 8 1/2 more days of the meds.

Secondly, I am feeling like crud. I woke up with a sore throat, cough, and feel like I've been hit by a mack truck. I really hope it's all just because of the crying last night, which usually wears me out the next day. I see my doctor tomorrow, so we'll just hope it's nothing.

If any of you have advice for giving medicine to a fighting child, please let me know. We've tried offering her hershey kisses before and after (to help coat her tongue), offering a drink after to help chase the med down, letting her squeeze the medicine in her mouth by herself, and changing the flavor of the medicine. Nothing has helped.

8 1/2 more days. 8 1/2 more days. 8 1/2 more days...