Amoxicillin, Augmentin, and Flovent...Oh My!

Well, it was a banner day (of sorts) for us at the pediatrician's office yesterday.  Liam had been experiencing a morning and post-naptime cough for awhile, and over the past few days Logan had started coughing too.  I decided both boys needed to go to the pediatrician's office, and for ONCE, the co-pays were justified!  (Not that I'm happy that the boys required something other than the "virus" speech, but you moms out there probably understand what I was feeling.)  

As it was a Thursday (one of the days our pediatrician sees patients at a different office), we saw one of his associates, Dr. Hanson, who ranks right up there with our own Dr. Bob.  

It should be noted that prior to seeing Dr. Hanson, the nurse took down all the pertinent information and did all the usual assessments (weight, temperature, pulse oxygen reading, etc.) During this time, Liam was talking away...just acting his usual bubbly, chipper self. Here goes another co-pay down the drain.  Temps normal, pulse oxygen readings excellent at 99 (Liam) and 98 (Logan), nary a cough during the entire nurse evaluation.  Sigh...I mean GREAT...but sigh.  

So the assessment of Liam begins.  Liam cooperates beautifully with Dr. Hanson and breathes deeply while she listens to his lungs.  She tells me that they're perfectly clear.  Then she asks him to stick out his tongue and gives me the lovely news that he has pus on his tonsils.  She asks Liam to pick an ear for her to examine first.  He chooses his right, and lo and behold, he has an ear infection in his right ear.  This is newsworthy simply for the fact that Liam has never had an ear infection before (and Logan has just had one at 3 months old).  So the treatment plan is Amoxicillin to tackle both the ear infection and the icky tonsils (Dr. Hanson didn't see the point in culturing for Strep when she would be treating him with the antibiotic anyway.)  

One down, one to go.  

Logan's diagnosis was made quickly, but it was certainly not what we wanted to hear. Pneumonia again...fourth time since August.  There was one change though.  This time the infection was in the right lower lobe instead of the left lower lobe.  Dr. Hanson actually let me use her stethoscope to listen to the difference between Logan's lungs.  I have often heard pediatricians using the term "crackles" to describe what they hear when Logan breathes (when he has pneumonia).  It's a very accurate description.  On the lower right side, I heard a crackling sound.  On the lower left side, nothing.  

Dr. Hanson sent us off for an x-ray and said that she thinks Dr. Bob will want to refer Logan to a pulmonologist because of his recurrent bouts of pneumonia.  

Logan did very well with the x-ray, and it did reveal pneumonia.  We trekked back to Dr. Hanson's office, and she sent us on our way with a prescription for Amoxicillin for Liam, a prescription for Augmentin for Logan, and instructions to continue Logan's Flovent and Xopenex inhalers.  Both boys follow-up with Dr. Bob on February 1st.  

I can assure you that both boys are happy and not acting as sick as this post might make them sound.  Logan came home with 4 stickers on his shirt yesterday, and Liam came home with 2.  They wore them all day like badges of honor.  

So, the boys and I are home today, which isn't such a bad thing considering the temperature outside is 25 degrees.  Ask me if I missed walking Logan to the bus stop!  

Well, gotta run!  My boys are ready for a round of HiHo Cherry-O. Time for a healthy dose of fun.