The Guessing Game

I love my doctor, but he is not a pediatriction. We see our family doctor for Jordan also. I feel like and have felt like even before I had a child that medicine is an "educated guessing game." I have never been a "sickly" person, usually do not visit the doctor more than once a year, if that. I've been pretty lucky. But in the last year I have had several "sinus infections" and of course with a new baby, have made several visits to the doctor. My husband on the other hand has had several encounters with doctors, as he as many ailments.

What I think is that doctors are educated in medicine, they go to school, they get a degree, and then they "practice" medicine. Practice makes Perfect, right?! So a patient presents to them a series of symptoms and they have to make the best educated guess they can, on the spot. There's no time, and most patients would not be comfortable with, for he or she to say, "let me do some research and get back to you." Most people would instantly find a new doctor and possibly file a complaint. When really they are human, just like Joanna said and they cannot possibly retain every single symptom and illness in their human brains, so they make an "educated guess." They take what you are telling them and couple it with what they do have stored in their brain and make the best diagnosis they can at that moment. I truly believe that they do this and that it is their best with what society and patients expect of them.

Take other fields for instance. Even a highly educated teacher or microbiologist does not know EVERYTHING about their field. I would imagine that they will or have encountered a question they did not know the answer to and had to do research to find it. Essentially I feel like aside from basic and common things like cold, flu, sinus, ya know. That doctors should be allowed to say "You know, I just don't know. It could be a number of things, let me do some research and get back to you." I would be thankful, I would feel better knowing that they aren't going to guess and that they are going to try to figure this out. I don't expect them to know everything about medicine. The basics, yes. But there are cases of things that aren't common and that can look like something else and there really is no way to be sure, they make the best diagnosis possible with what they know. Of course all of this pertains to good doctors. Doctors who are nice and have a good bedside manner and do not talk down to their patients or to parents. I have yet to encounter one of these, and hope I never do, because I probably will not be so nice to them.

Anyway, Good luck to Joanna in her quest to find a new doctor. I know it can be frustrating.

Went to the Dr.

Jordan went to the doctor today. This makes like the 3rd or 4th time that we've taken her in for these same symptoms...congestion, coughing, sneezing. And each time she gets an antiobiotic and decongestant. But usually I don't feel like the antibiotics do much for her. So the doc and I were discussing during our last encounter with this how it might be allergies. Her dad has allergies and when she went today he said that her throat, ears and chest all were ok but that she was congested and having drainage. So, we're thinking allergies. It's just hard to tell in an infant I guess. Anyway, we are just doing the decongestant this time. Already after one dose it has improved her airway tremendously! If in a week her symptoms do not subside, we'll be going back...so we'll see. I'll keep you posted.


And just because I love it....a repeat.....

COULD THERE BE A HAPPIER BABY?!?!

Yes, More Pictures

Daddy & Jordan

3am Ramblings....

So It's 3:24am and Jordan was up with a cold. She's very congested and having a hard time sleeping....although she's been asleep since 8:00 last night. She is so congested, it's so sad to hear her try to breath and be so stopped up. I am not sure at what age babies learn to breath through their mouths, but I don't think it's happened for her yet, so it's still really scary when she get's so congested. Her cold just got really bad last night. It has been under control with a little Tylenol Cold at night, but yesturday the cold prevailed and I think a doctors visit is inevitable. I hate taking her to the doctor. Mostly because as a first time mom it's hard to know when it's bad enough to see the doctor and I'm always afraid he's thinking "you really could have taken care of this at home." But then I tell myself, you can never be too careful with an infant...and then I feel better! And I really love our doctor and he's really wonderful and when I call to see if he thinks it is something we need to come in for, he's always like, "yah, I'd like to see her."

So anyway. I have a hard time going back to sleep once I am awake. It will take me till around 5am to be tired enough to go BACK to sleep. It's annoying. Fortunately Jordan does sleep through the night for the most part. The last 3 nights she has slept from 10pm until 7am. This is golden! The only reason she was up now is because she is sick and because her medicine made her go to sleep earlier last night.

So I started Weight Watchers. So Far I've done ok. It's only been 3 days, but I feel like I can really do this. I feel really good about it.

Alright, I suppose I will go for now.

Jordan & Mom

Just Pictures!!!

Here are some recent pictures of Jordan! Enjoy!

Slushies & Weight Watchers

I love Slushies…not just any slushies, but a homemade slushie. Like partially frozen kool-aid or diet mountain dew….yummmy!! Mostly I like the kool-aid ones. Maybe it’s because it makes me feel like a kid again, I don’t know. But I am about to give them up, or at least limit my intake of them. I am starting Weight Watchers next week. Dieting has never been something I have been interested in. I’ve really never tried a “diet.” Oh trust me, I’ve been unhappy with my weight but have never been motivated to change the way I eat. I love to eat, I love food….good food. Unfortunately my metabolism is not what it needs to be for me to love food like I do. Lol. Anyway, I think that I can do weight watchers because I can eat what I want, in moderation and I have parameters (points) in which I have to eat within. I have seen people use this and it’s really fool proof if you follow it. So, I am going to go to an initial meeting and get the book and counter thing, and then I’m going to do it at home. I’ll keep you posted on how I’m doing.

Peek-a-boo

Where's Jordan...

There she is!!

Back to work...sigh....

So I went back to work on December 11th. I worked for two week and was off the week of Christmas. I went back once again on Jan. 2nd. So I'm back at work. I'm on call this week as well. Fortunately BJ is still off work because school is out until the 10th, so I don't have to worry about getting called out late in the day and being out all night and not being able to get to Jordan. I am very torn about being back at work. People keep asking me how it was (is) to be back at work. I love my job and I love love love what I do! BUT of course I love my child more....and I wish that I could stay home with her, but currently our finances do not allow for that. Maybe in a year or so....we'll see. I used to say I would never want to be a stay at home mom, of course that was before I was a mom. So basically I go to work everyday and I try to completely focus on my job and when I come home I leave work at work and try to completely focus on my family. So far, it is going ok. On to more news....Jordan has rolled over several times from her belly to her back. She is also trying very hard to sit up. I realize she will not master either of these for several more months.....but I can be proud now!! She's eating cereal and loving it! She is growing like a weed....just moved into size 2 diapers and is slowing graduating to 3-6 month clothes! She is starting to grab at things, she holds things very well. She watches everything and it is so exciting to see her watch and learn new things! I don't have any pictures to post on this one....more to follow.
Thanks for listening to a proud momma!