Most of you know that for the past few months I've been living the life similar to that of the teen moms on a certain MTV series: lonely, pregnant, with an absent babydaddy and (as in the case of some of the more wayward girls) another small child at my hip. The only difference between me and gals of Sixteen and Pregnant is home decor. I'll say it: mine's better.
Anyway, forgive me but I just have to rant. It all started when Twinklette developed a violent cough two weeks ago. Here's a concise timeline, which is really boring, but shows you just how long this has been going on and how incredibly annoyed I am with her doctor right now.
* Two weeks ago: Twinklette coughs so violently she barfs on herself and on the floor. We immediately visit the doctor but are happily dismissed and sent on our merry way without any medication or real diagnosis.
* All that week and last week: the cough persists.
* Last Friday: just as Mr. Twinkle is about to leave town, Twinklette becomes incredibly hard to deal with and complains that her ears are hurting. The cough has become an ear infection.
* Last Friday night: Twinklette spends the night with my in-laws, where they blithely watch the verboten Sesame Street and are under strict orders to call me if she gets sick or needs me. I know they will not do this, but she has to spend the night because Mr. Twinkle has an early flight to Florida and it's just better for everyone this way. I am already p*ssed at her doctor at this point.
* Last Saturday: Twinklette comes home with broken blood vessels around her eyes from violent coughing (which, shockingly, went unreported by my inlaws*). The pediatrician's answering service and I both mistake this for an allergic reaction to the antibiotic, so we spend hours that afternoon in the Pediatric Acute Care center on Poplar Level Road, which is filled with the dregs of society and is pretty much the free clinic of pediatric services. (I told you I was like one of those teen moms). The ear infection has become a double ear infection.
* Monday: Twinklette's school calls to report nasty stomach issues that have ruined an outfit. (I was on the phone with Lola when all this went down). They give her a t-shirt and someone else's socks (yes, apparently this episode affected even her socks) but when I arrive to pick her up, they say she seems fine and is having fun, so I let her stay.
* Tuesday (today): I try to have a fun day with Twinklette but it's filled with drama, tears, whining (and also more stomach problems), and I start to wonder if she's just going through a really unpleasant phase or what. I Google the side effects of her drug. As suspected, they include stomach issues and diaper rash, but also the complete inability to listen and cooperate, as well as whining, crying, ignoring one's mother, and having an overall b*tchy attitude from dawn 'til dusk. (This was officially listed as "hyperactivity and irritability," but we know that's just code for "royal b*tch").
So. Here we are. And I'm glad I Googled the side effects so now I can be a little more understanding of where all the drama is coming from. But DEAR LORD could it be worse timing? Mr. Twinkle skipped town the day after the medication started, and she has to be on it for 10 days--6 of which he will be gone. I do realize that he's working hard and that we will all eventually benefit from his tireless dedication, so I can't really be mad at him.
You know who I'm mad at? The d*mn doctor. If she had given us some d*mn cough syrup two weeks ago, we would not be in the downward spiral of unpleasantness we're in now.
Anyway...that's my rant, and I feel better. Thanks for listening!
* Oh, and it'll be a long, long time before Twinklette spends the night over there again.
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