sick with who knows what

my husband and daughter have been sick for about week now.  my husband has been faring better but michelle's fever just wont go down so i took her to after hours care yesterday to see what's been causing her temperature averaging about 103 in the last 4 days.  i went there hoping to get a clear answer and a better way to help her fight through it.  all the doctor said was, 'she has a nasty virus.  continue with the motrin and drink lots of fluids.  honey and lemon will help with the cough.' that's it.  i said, 'well, does she have the flu?  the doctor replied, 'we can test if it's the flu.  it takes about 15 minutes.  but if she has the flu, the flu medicine is not going to work anymore because it's only effective within 48 hours of the first symptoms.'  i said to the doctor, 'well, doctors don't see kids until they've had 72 hours of fever, so if the kid has the flu, it's too late for the medicine then!'  the doctor just shrugged.  the more i thought about it, the more pissed i became.  

it has always puzzled me why pediatricians do not encourage seeing kids until after 3 days of fever.  i'm sure there's a perfectly logical reason BUT deep inside i can't help but wonder if this is a situation controlled by insurance companies.  i know that if i insist to have my daughter checked on the first day of her fever she would have been seen and all the tests i ask for would probably be done (if i throw a tantrum!).  I did take my daughter to the doctor on the very first day of fever but went there for a different reason.  her temperature was already at 102 but the doctor did not even entertain the idea of testing for the flu.  as a mom, it just irritates me so much.  maybe i'm cranky because i haven't had enough sleep for a week, working and then taking care of my husband and daughter while they are sick.  i'm blessed i haven't caught this whatever virus they have.  

last night, i freaked out because michelle's temperature was at 104.9F.  i checked.  twice. it was very high.  after coaxing her for a quick shower to lower her temperature, a dose of motrin, her fever went down to 103.  waaaah!  i was scared!  her face was flushed and she didn't want to get out of bed...but ask her how she felt and she would answer, 'i think i'm getting better, mom!'  despite the almost 105 degree fever!  if i had been that sick, i would have complained about every little thing. 

today, she woke up and her temperature is 101.4.  she's going to miss school again tomorrow which is does not like at all.  oh well!  she just needs to take it easy, rest and battle through it.