The Ear Ache Crisis Aversion: Home Remedies

So it's a holiday (Memorial Day) and my son has just came home from my sister's.  He is being so awful, I'm wondering if I should send him back for a few more days.  The hubby says he's just woken up, so that's probably why but holy cow is this kid cranky!

Well, Gabe finally settled down on the couch with some chocolate milk and the iPad.  However, fifteen minutes later he comes stumbling into the computer room making the saddest noises ever!  On top of that, he's gripping his ear and telling me, "Ow, Mom.  Ow.  Boo boo."  He's whimpering and I can really tell he's suffering.  Well, this explains a lot.

I really, really, really didn't want to go to the ER.  I mean, the ER sucks, right?  You never know if you're going to be in the waiting room five minutes or forty-five minutes...or more.  Then it could be another hour before you're even seen!  After being seen, if all you need it a prescription and maybe one dose of medication...well that could be whole 'nother half an hour!

It's the last day of my long weekend or rejuvenation and that sounds the opposite of rejuvenating!  Well, I give him some pain medicine and get him all nestled in the couch, but that doesn't last long.  Now, the guilt is really piling up.  Do I just suffer and take him or can it wait until tomorrow?

In swoops Google!  I searched 'ear ache' and came across How to Cure an Earache and felt like I might be getting somewhere!  Well, I think it was the warm compress that really did the trick, because he had me warm the wash cloth up a second time and seems to be doing much better.  However, the pain meds could've just finally kicked in and maybe that's why he's feeling better.

I made sure I cleaned out the ear a bit, put Vicks on his chest to clear his nose, and even tried the two drops of olive oil in his ear.  Still, I think the meds and warm wash cloth saved my night.  I still feel a little guilty, but tomorrow he can go see his regular doctor; and maybe we'll only have to wait 2 hours instead of 3?

My Goal to Live a Healthier Lifestyle: Kicking the Smoking Habit

Time and time again I have told myself that I could do better.  I've always been a bit of a perfectionist, but I procrastinate and get easily sidetracked, so it's not unusual for me to lose sight of my goals...whatever they may be.  Well, health is something I've always attacked passively.  It's never been a priority of mine, unfortunately.

I started smoking before I was even in high school and was smoking a pack a day by the time I had my son in May 2010 (what would have been the end of my senior year).  It wasn't until late January of 2012 that I kicked the habit, after smoking for about seven years.  Seven years!  I can't believe, in my young life, that I smoked for seven years!