‘He’s A Hero’ – Evanne Ní Chuilinn on The Small Man’s First Visit to the Doctor

He must have the storage capacity of a camel.

It’s been four days, and we’re still counting. He may not be his bubbly self but he’s still here, and is well able to make his presence known. I wouldn’t have lasted this long without food, but not a morcel has passed Séimí’s lips since last Friday, and he doesn’t seem to be any the wiser. 

This isn’t the first time our little man has jammed his jaw shut at the sight of a spoon. Apparently, babies can go through phases. With Séimí, the solid food standoff tends to rear its ugly head when he’s teething. On other occasions, I suspect he’s just looking for control or independence, so I try to think of finger food options. But this is a much more miserable set of circumstances. The wee man is not a well man. 

As GP visits go, this one was non eventful, but it was his first. He was prodded and poked, turned over and diagnosed. An upper airway viral infection. It sounds worse than it is, but he does have a raw throat, red ears, and an eye infection. The fits of coughing he takes make him regurgitate any bottle he does manage to drain, and he’s sleeping more during the day. Nightime is punctuated by bouts of coughing and spluttering, but his demeanor during the day can only be admired. He’ll still ‘bualadh bos’ on demand, and sneak me a smile from behind a gunky eye. He’s a hero.

One thing I can’t understand, is how he’s coping without sustenance. I’ve read that a baby’s taste buds develop and change at an alarming rate, and are most receptive between the ages of seven and twelve months. They can lose their appetite during bouts of teething or illness, but once they are kept hydrated, we’re told there is no need to panic. If I was forced to fast for four hours I’d arrange to be alone. I couldn’t inflict the inevitable fall out from such a seismic event on my loved ones. I would be insufferable. Less bualadh bos, more banshee bemoan. Not a mind 4 days on water and follow-on milk.

I believe the doctor when he says it’s nothing to worry about, but I would give anything to see the wee man get excited about mealtimes again. I wish I could cough for him and blow his nose. The nasty eye infection means that his eyes are congealed shut every morning, and I think it scares him because he can’t see. Thankfully, I can rely on his Daddy to point out the one positive outcome of this sad little set of circumstances. The wee man may not be taking any interest in food, but he is very hungry for cuddles and kisses. He’s a curious and independent little soul, and when he’s feeling like himself he’s too busy for cuddles. For now, we’ll cash in on as many hugs as he’ll allow, and hope that tomorrow he’ll feel a little bit better than he did today.