exhaustion

For the first four years of motherhood I took Rachel to the doctor for her well visits and a handful of times for illnesses, but that's really it.  But in the last 10 months since Rebecca's joined our family, I feel like I LIVE at the pediatrician's office.  Not just because of Rebecca, though she's certainly had her fair share of doctor's visits, but a lot more this year for Rachel.  She was there either two or three times in March, plus Rebecca's well visit in March, and now Rachel's been twice in April already!  We went on Friday because of her fever, which has been going on for over a week now, and again today, because her fever shot up even higher over the weekend. Argh!

On Friday the doctor checked for strep (you'd think she was being tortured by the way she acted), but it was negative and he told us it's a virus, so there was nothing to do for it, except continue ibuprofen for the fever until the virus ran its course.  Today they checked again for strep (it was even worse this time--taking Rachel to the doctor is now complete torture for me, since the last three visits have involved me physically restraining her as she kicks and screams in response to being poked and prodded--not like her at all, but for some reason she completely freaks out now) but it was negative again.  This time the doctor said it's either a viral infection in her throat (her tonsils are very swollen, he said) or mono.  If she's not better by Thursday I have to take her to get blood drawn to test for mono--something I'm dreading, so I'm REEEEEEEEEALLY hoping she's better by Thursday!!  Thankfully she seemed a lot better most of the day today, and her fever was normal at bedtime, so we'll see.  (Anyone who reads this who has a tip about how to deal with a child who doesn't handle the doctor well, I'd love to hear your thoughts!)

Last night Rebecca started a fever.  Ugh.  Low grade....so I'm hoping it was because it was in the 80s yesterday and warm in her room, so she just got overheated.  She had it a bit this morning, too, but it was fine the rest of the day, so we'll see what tomorrow holds.

In addition to wanting them to be healthy and really not wanting to head back to the doctor anytime soon, I really just want to SLEEP all night!  They have both been up a million times a night lately, and I'm completely spent.  I almost feel like I have a newborn again, with as much as I've been up with them. 

Having children is so wonderful and rewarding, but man, it is exhausting.  I suppose some day I'll sleep all night and miss these days when they are so young, but right now those days of sleep sound just heavenly!