Manage Your Pain

As parents, Ed and I have never been ones to coddle the boys. That doesn't mean we aren't affectionate or caring, we just don't give in to crying or complaining.

While the boys were growing up, our philosophy was always that of "manage your pain." Alex was such a "fragile" child, physically, that he would come to us with every little paper cut. My response was usually something like "You think that hurts, trying giving birth to a nine pound, eleven ounce bowling ball! When you can top that, then come back to me." However, I will admit, the time his tooth was ripped out of his mouth after getting caught on the basketball net and was flung down the driveway did get my attention. I like to think that our philosophy on pain management was what helped Alex overcome his doubts of playing high school football, along with seeing his buddies survive it freshman year. The daily bumps and bruises he came home with this last year almost caused my eyes to pop out of my head, while he barely noticed them. He's come a long way since being a toddler.

Cameron, on the other hand, could have his leg amputated while riding his bike and not even notice it. "Uh...why is there blood gushing from your thigh, Cam?" He would respond "I don't know." But, for as tough as he was physically, his feelings could be crushed in an instant if you looked at him sideways. Go figure.

We quickly learned that kids take their cues from their parents. So, if you're going to be freaking out about every little thing, so will they. If  you're going to be afraid of experiencing life, so will they. Thus, daily events at our house were regularly met with comments like "you know, people are dying of brain tumors today...deal with it."

Sick days from school and trips to the pediatrician were far and few between. We learned that so many of life's ailments could be solved with a little practicality. You have a stomache...eat less junk and go to the bathroom more. You have a headache, drink some water and get some food in your stomach. You've got a boo-boo, get a band aid.  You're tired, go to bed. I don't need a doctor to tell me "It's just a virus...take some ibuprofen...be practical....it just needs to run it's course....that will be $50 please!"

The boys learned that stomachaches or headaches weren't going to cut it. Unless they had a gaping wound or a very high fever, they knew better than to even bring it up. On the occasions the boys have stayed home from school sick, I do try to make them feel special because I know they have earned it.

This might include some type of meal in bed (food in the bedroom is a major no-no in our household) like soup or ice cream.   Renting movies, snuggling in my bed to watch TV, or sleeping the whole day is usually how they are spent.

Over the weekend, Cameron developed a bug. He mentioned he had a headache and had a bit of a cough start yesterday morning. I took his temperature and he did a have a fever of 101. So, we gave him some ibuprofen, instructed him on drinking lots of water, and getting some rest (after he worked on his homework, of course). Late last night, before bedtime, I decided to take his temp again after performing the ritual "forehead check" on him. Hmmm...you do feel kinda warm. The thermometer read 103.2! "Holy crap" I thought to myself. "I'm going to go talk to dad...I'll be right back. Here, have some water." 

I headed out to the family room and announced "Cameron has a fever of 103, do you think we should call the doctor's office?" Alex screamed "103! You want me to call Oakwood (urgent care)?"   Ed and I decided to call the pediatrician's office and speak to the nurse on call. I suppose the swine flu uproar, was cause for a little concern. Not much, but a little. Cameron said someone in his class that he sits next to was out of school for four days. 

As we suspected, a temperature of 103 is really not too much cause for concern. The nurse said this was a good temperature for fighting an infection. Cameron did seem to be somewhat okay (snacking on Skittles was one of my first clues). He was not bedridden all day, although he had complained of chill. Him wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt while out in the sun during the gorgeous weather we were experiencing did make me stop and wonder if he was okay.  (Now that I think about it, he probably was suffering from heat stroke last night.) He wasn't unresponsive throughout the day  and his mood wasn't too different from normal. After seeing he had a temperature of 103, however, I was surprised he wasn't a little more lethargic. During the winter season, I had a fever of 101 and felt so achey. My limbs felt like dead weight. Of course, they kind of felt like that after a week of weeding, planting, and yard work, so who am I to judge?

Anyway, the nurse recommended we continue our regimen of fluids and ibuprofen and keep an eye on his fever. If it were to go a degree higher, then we should be concerned. After we spoke with the nurse, the pampering began promptly with Alex being instructed to bring up a popsicle for his ailing brother to eat on Ed's side of the bed while watching TV. Nothing feels better than your parents waiting on you, unless it's your older brother dropping what he's in the middle of, climbing a flight of stairs and waiting on you.

This morning the fever is down and Cameron is catching up on his sleep. Of course, after he wakes and has his breakfast in bed, he'll be getting to work on that language arts project that is due in a couple of weeks.