Doctor, Doctor

WHITE COATS PART ONE: What a loooooong day.

It started at 9:30 where CJ had an appt. to get a lingering (since Christmas) cough checked. I strongly suspected he has a sinus infection, like me. (Yesterday when I asked him to brush his teeth, he squeezed his head and said his head hurt too much to do it.)

And then in the wee hours of the morning he spiked a fever. Poor CeeJ.

We made good time to the medical center and were in an exam room a good 10 minutes ahead of appointment time. So far, so good. Things started to go not so good when a completely humorless nurse had CJ step on the scale and took his vitals. She never explained what she was doing, she just did it.

I suppose by age almost 8 most kids would be down with the temp in the ear, oximeter on the finger thing, but CJ is just so rarely going to the doctor sick. I can't remember the last time he went - at least a couple years ago. Anyway, every time the nurse started doing something to him, CJ asked her what she was doing and she didn't like that at all. Excuse the hell out of me for having curious children. ... And then she drops a cartoon tiger covered smock on his lap (not telling him what it's for, of course). I told him he was supposed to wear it instead of his shirt for the exam. He recoiled in horror at the tigers and said, "But that's for children!"

That made me laugh out loud. The nurse (naturally) failed to find the humor in it.

With disdain, CJ donned the smock. And then we waited. And waited. And waited. Like a half hour. Finally the doctor came in and after a few quick questions agreed that it was likely a sinus infection. As the Dr. was keying his findings into his computer CJ started whispering to me. "Mom. Mom! Come over here where I am. ... " And so I did. CJ continued whispering, nodding toward the Dr. whose back was toward us, saying, "I can see part of his skull!!!!"

"Aaargh!" I screamed silently while turning bright red! Naturally the Dr. heard CJ's statement, as the room is the size of a closet.

The Dr. is bald and so I immediately said to CJ, "I think what you mean is you see his scalp, and we all have scalps." I kept blathering about scalps, but as I stared at the good Dr.'s scalp, I spied what CJ was talking about. There was a little puckered patch that was white and, well, it looked like it could be part of his skull. No wonder CJ was freaked out!!!

Mercifully, we were soon out of the office, prescription in hand. From there it was down the elevator to the pharmacy, where we had the pleasure of waiting another 40 minutes. Good times. At least we didn't see any more skulls down there. ...

We ripped home to get some lunch and then it was back across town to the dentist.

PEARLY WHITES: The kids enjoy going to the dentist - the office is peaceful and modern, the staff is friendly, and they have toys and prizes!

They were happy we were there early - it gave them more time to play in the toy room.

They got their teeth cleaned and good reports - no new cavities! The not so good news was an old filling CJ had doesn't look good and the dentist suggests pulling the tooth. Stay tuned for that. :(

BEACH BUMS: As we left the dentist, CJ asked if we could go to a playground. I was glad he was feeling up to it, and since there was a temporary reprieve from the wind, rain, hail, thunder and lightning that had been raging eariler in the day.

The dentist's office is just west of Lake Washington, and so we wound our way down from it into the Madrona neighborhood and to Madrona Park, along the shore.

According to the city's Web site, the park is named for the madrona trees at the lakeside and the Seattle Electric Company once operated a private trolley to the beach. The city acquired the property in 1908, and converted the bathhouse (an attractive brick structure) to a dance studio in 1971.

It must be a lovely place on a warm summer day. But even on a frigid March afternoon, the kids had a blast.

There was a long log jutting from the ground. The kids stood on it and bounced for fun, checking out the view of Bellevue's skyscrapers across the way.

The kids checked out a lifeguard chair that won't be seeing any action for at least a couple more months.
There was a hollowed out "log" (made from concrete) they had fun climbing through.
And, of course, there was some running on the beach.
It was, by far, the best part of the day. :)