We're very lucky. |
Sunday, May. 09, 2004 - (Dad)
The Communicator- another chapter. Jack is a remarkable boy. He makes his needs known in no uncertain terms, and yet he is content as soon as we make a move towards meeting them. He has always been this way. He was only days old when I noticed that pattern, and it has been that way consistently in his life so far. The other day, (actually, his birthday) he awoke inconsolable. At first, I thought he had just startled himself in his sleep and woke prematurely. As the minutes rolled on and the crying intensified, I realized something more serious was up. Jack was in pain. I gave him some Tylenol (paracetemol) which calmed him a little, however it was not going to be enough at this point and he knew it. I sat down with him and attended to some stuff on my computer, he grabbed my beard to get my full attention and then protested at the pain. I looked at him closely with an expression of concerned inquiry, and touched my hand to my mouth for a moment, and then to my ear. (I needed to know whether this was a toothache or a return of his ear infection.) He looked at me for a moment, grabbed my hand, and put it to my mouth. I confirmed this with him by touching his mouth, which drew a sharp negative response, and touching his ear, which drew a deliberate relaxed and calm response. I located the Ora-gel (oral topical anaesthetic) and he nodded enthusiastically. I applied some to my finger and he opened his mouth and moved his gum so I would get the right spot. I applied a second dab to the same spot. He grumbled for a half minute more as the anaesthetic took effect, but was fine after that. I don't recall either of my older children being that communicative at such a young age. It may well be that they were, and I was just too thick to pick it up. Nevertheless, I find this remarkable. Take Care Rod
Cost of the War in Iraq
(JavaScript Error)
|