Wren has a Sore Throat

We've been around the house for the past day since Wren has a fever and sore throat. He'd been ill only 24 hours when I took him to the pediatrician this afternoon because he was acting really ill for a fever. She looked in his throat and showed me the very red and raw area covered with pustules. It looked awful and explained why he would scream when I gave him orange juice. She tested him for strep throat but it was negative so it is a viral sore-throat, possibly (but not likely) coxsackie virus. We are giving him Benadryl and Mylanta to help coat his throat a bit.

He is feeling very down. From time to time he says sad things like "I will never get better", "I am not alright," "when will it go away?" and "is there that medicine that will make it go away?" He is not able to eat much (except ice-cream) and has little energy. He has rested a lot on the couch and had a couple of short naps, still, he is miserable. Mum has helped keep his mind from his sore throat by playing many games.

Sick Wren reading with Granny

Mum eating chanterelles

Comforting Wren on the couch

Walking at Greenlake

A few days ago we enjoyed a walk around Greenlake with Mum, Tara and the boys. The weather report has predicted rain daily but we have been lucky with bright periods of cold sun while the clouds pile purple on the horizon. Recent winds have blown down many of the lovely colored leaves but on this walk they were still pretty splendid.

Halfway around the lake we came across a huge pile of mulch. Steam was rising from the top leading Wren to fear it was HOT! I showed him how to climb up the pile and the boys enjoyed climbing up and jumping down.

The only way to get around Greenlake in less than a day is to have Frost on a bike and Wren in a stroller. Wren felt that it was necessary to get down often and if I had let him he would have added "putting my feet in the water" to the list of activities. "It's too cold" I told him but he showed his complaint. Here are Wren and granny on the dock with his shoes on.

Finally, some pictures of Wren and the fall leaves.

Wren's First Visit to the Dentist

This morning Wren took his strawberry flavored amoxicillan and we headed off to the dentist with both boys. Frost assumed the role of Big Brother who would guide Wren through the perils of the dentist and allay his fears. To narrated as much of his appointment and exam as he could, giving the thumbs up and other encouraging gestures when the actual work of cleaning prevented him from talking.

Wren wasn't very concerned once he was there although he was worried as we drove there. He was worried that he might be going to the orthodontist AKA "the awful dentist". There was a slight mixup in the instructions for Wren's antibiotic so we had to wait a bit for the appointment as it had not been a full hour since he had taken them. We enjoyed a coffee during the intermission. When it was Wren's turn for the chair he was very brave and kept asking the dental assistant if he was "all done now?"

Eventually he was.

The verdict was that both kids have good teeth, they look clean but they should floss diligently and clean their teeth twice a day instead of one and an optional.

Frost has a chip on his front lower incisor but since it is minor the dentist is going to wait to repair it until Frost is done with braces. Neither he nor I could recall an accident when it occurred.

Wren at the dentist

Can I take the glasses off now?

Wren and Granny

Frost waiting for his cleaning to begin

Ongoing narrative

Mum is visiting and as always, any change in the routine leads to a big fat silence on our blog. Its been dark and cool but there have been moments of sunshine when we have taken a walk. We have visited a few coffee shops, had sushi at Blue-C and had a lovely brunch with Fred and Tara this morning. Wren has taken to having Granny here and is asking for many more tea-parties. I hope we have time to bake cookies this afternoon so our tea-party is complete.

Mum is very impressed by Wren's talking. He collects phrases from everyone. Here are a collection from today:

Wren is playing with playmobil - setting up an army, copying one that Alex and Frost have created:
"No Frost and you must not knock all my ninja men down. Are you going to knock it down any more?"

Mum is hungry and trying to lure Wren away from the Playmobil to join us at breakfast. "Come on Wren, I am hungry" she says. "No you are not," says Wren "your tummy is not grumbling!"

The boys are in the office at Fred and Tara's and Wren needs some paper to give to Granny. "Boys, Boys, " he says at the door. "Can you spare a piece of paper for Granny so she can make a paper airplane?"

At bedtime, Wren likes Josh and I to sing bedtime songs. I have to say goodnight to each bunny and all the menagerie in the crib (Big One, Little One, soft shirt, big panda, seal and blanket). Sometimes Wren decides to move from the crib to "the nest" or visa versa. My bedtime son is usually "My bonnie lies over the ocean" but Wren wants me to sing this as "Bunny" and asks me many questions about "WHY is Bunny over the ocean?" and "How will bunny come back?" Its hard to differentiate Bunny from Bonnie so he checks constantly "you say BUNNY?"