Bribary!

Ben had to have some antibiotics the other week. Nothing new here, as he has had them many times now.
Although he absolutely hates taking them. We can actually have a stand off with him for 20 minutes, all while holding a spoonful of medicine, before he will open his mouth and take the medicine!

So Grandma had an idea of maybe, god forbid, bribing him to take it all?
So I did!
I got some of the toys from my wardrobe, my own personal toy shop where I keep spare stuff for just this sort of thing, and placed it on top of the fridge.

We added a chart to it, and as he took his medicine, we ticked of the appropriate time and day.

One of the days had a star by it and when he successfully reached this point he got a toy.

Worked a treat. Even though he argued with us about taking it once or twice. We just casually would say to him "which toy was it you wanted?" and then the medicine got taken nicely and promptly.

Who said you can't bride them everynow and then....?

PS - 2 days after writing this post, Ben is back on antibugs and there are now more toys on top of our fridge!

Cat Update

Prenzel is back from the hospital and a lot more full of beans.
She has been desperate to get outside, but the SPCA told us to allow her at least 10-14 days before letting her out!
Today she managed to sneak past Alex as we were coming in and I did not have the energy to chase her so I just let her go!
She is having a ball. She is leading Barnie all round the garden, investigating, using the veggie patch for her business etc.
They both keep coming back to the backdoor and lounging in the sun.
So I think maybe when we are home, if she wants to go outside then she is free to do so.
I think it will make her happier and maybe settle easier.

Only thing is I now have to go and find her to give her her next dose of medicine from the vet!

Junkie

I feel like a junkie!
I went back to the doctor's yesterday, I was feeling so crap, I needed to.
He listened to my chest again and decided that he could hear something on both sides at the bottom. So mentioned pnuemonia or a chest infection and proceeded to does me up with pills!

Today at breakfast I felt like a junkie! I had to take the following.....
1 x Augmentin (antibiotic)
1 x Prednisone (steroid to help dry things up)
1 x Vitamin (makes sure I am getting some good stuff)
2 x Panadol (pain relief)

Oh and did I let you know I am horrid at taking tablets, so breakfast was a long process.
To add to this, the steroid is making me wake up at about 3am and it is difficult to get back to sleep. So the nights are getting longer and the days are getting tiring. Oh yea and it is also drying up my cold so breathing through my nose is such fun in the middle of the night!
Man I will be glad when this starts to go away and I am feeling more like my old self.

Sickness Update

We took Ben to the specialist the other day to get his ears checked out.
Turns out he does have Glue Ear, but they are not worried at all.
They think it all stems from the major ear infection he had at the end of October last year.
They tested his hearing and have found no problems with it at all.
They said this is what confirmed it for them. Kids with Glue Ear usually need follow up treatment because they loose their hearing in the affected ear, whereas Ben has perfect hearing.
So they are happy to just sit back and watch.
I have to take him back if he has any discharge from the ear or complains of pain and they maybe want to see him in a years time just as a check up. So on we go with life and just step over this little bump in the road.

On the other hand though, I have had a nasty cough for just over 3 weeks now. It is breath taking and very tiring.
So I whisked off to the Dr's and they did every test available. I am now on Ventolin to help me breath, Prednisone (steroid) to help dry things up and give me a quick boost. They took a throat swab to see what is there and also took some blood to see what is circulating. Would you believe they are goign to test me for Whooping Cough!
I am fully immunised and so are the boys, but apparently it is flying round NZ at the moment. It is known as the 100 day cough in adults and you don't get the whooping sound you just have a persistent cough.

Will hopefully get the results today or tomorrow, and then I will know if I am on antibugs, like Ben, to clear up what ever I have.

Oh and as mentioned Ben is on antibugs again. Came out in more spots and so more drugs. Unfortunately we have had to resort to bribary to get him to take it. More on that later.