Who's the most foolish woman in the pediatrician's waiting room?...

Me! The woman who claims her daughter might have a double ear infection...the daughter who is the happiest child out of the 20 something other kids there...

Sahara is a happy kid. She rarely cries, likes to nap, will eat anything, etc...But, lately she has been a little fussy, and not sleeping well. I had also noticed her pulling on her ears these last few days. So, I decided she must have an ear infection. Had she been screaming nonstop for days?...no. But, rather safe than sorry, I told myself. I called the pediatrician's office today and made an appointment for her. The nurse told me there was an opening at 4:30; great, I thought. It would be the end of the day, no one there, and we'd be in and out. Could I have ever been so wrong?! Apparently, that is when EVERYONE else goes to the doctor. The waiting room was packed. We had even gotten there 10 minutes early, a record for our family. As we waited there, Sahara made friends with every baby, mother, and big sister in the joint. When our names were finally called, we were close to the last ones there. The nurse showed us the room and began asking questions about why we were here. I answered her with the facts I wrote above, and wondered why she was giving me a look that spoke volumes of her bewilderment as to why we had bothered coming in. The entire time I'm speaking to the woman about how fussy Sahara has been the last few days and how sure I am that it's an ear infection, the kid is grinning at her like a fool, or more like how I'm the fool!

After another 20 minutes of waiting in the tiny room trying to occupy Sahara,(I had forgotten to bring any toys, so we tore up the examining paper on the bed, and chewed on my hoodie drawstrings), the doctor finally came in. Again I got the same look as I explained myself to him as to why we were there. After looking in her ears, and having too much wax,(I certainly was earning brownie points by the minute!) he said he had to get a machine to check her ears. I found myself almost praying that she would have an infection just so that I wouldn't feel like a complete idiot. After using the odd-looking machine, he determined there was no infection. "Well, I guess it is her cold that is making her miserable," I announced. He looked at me with a look with almost pity in it. "Not to say you're wrong, but she is not even stuffed up right now." So, basically, I waited for 1 and 1/2 hours for nothing?! Fabulous!...

So, who was the most foolish woman in the office today? The one with the happiest baby; the one who waited forever for the doctor to tell me she's fine; the one who kept the nurses and doctors there long past closing time; and the one who had to leave the building by the back door because the front was locked. Yep, it was me squeezing through the door awkwardly with a carseat, purse and a grinning baby! Good job, Sahara! You certainly played your mama well!