Bree Feeling Poorly

I got to work real early on Monday because Bree’s parents had to get to work earlier than usual. She was still in bed and I was told that she didn’t sleep very well overnight and to let her sleep in if she wanted to. She got up just after they left and for the rest of the morning, she behaved as normal. We made a sheep before lunch and went to nap as usual afterwards. Then when it was time to get her up, it took a tad longer than other days. Before this year’s arrangement, Bree was allowed to sleep longer if needed but because we now spend the afternoons over at Stella’s, I have to get the little girl ready when nap time is up. She looked tired, red and hot. I took her temperature and then informed her mum via the phone. She gave the go ahead for a dose of children’s Panadol. As an extra precaution, I took the Panadol and thermometer with us for our short trip to Stella’s. Bree dozed all the way there.

The Panadol worked and she was fine again. She wasn’t 100% though. She preferred to play in the living room. I tried my best keeping Stella away. From the dining table, she read her reader aloud to me. That was done in minutes because again she was given something too easy. After that, she spent quite a long time drawing and making cards for her friends. Bree just played quietly next to me. I took her temperature again and watched to see if she was pulling her ears. There was no runny nose.

When I arrived for work on Tuesday, both parents looked exhausted. That was a clear sign that Bree didn’t sleep well again and this time I was told that she had a temperature and her ears hurt. Before her mum left, she tried to make a doctor’s appointment. The only available spot at the time was for 2:30 pm and that is usually when I get her up from nap and prepare her for the trip to Stella’s. The receptionist promised to call back if someone cancels their appointment. Bree was to be seen by a different doctor because hers doesn’t work at this location on a Tuesday. Then I had an idea and after consulting Bree’s mum via the phone, I called the clinic again to see if Doctor W would be there that day and whether she could see Bree. Doctor W is another doctor at the same practice. I babysat her kids when they were young. I could hear the receptionist talking to Doctor W and when she got back to the phone, I asked her to say hello for me. (How unprofessional, huh?) Again the receptionist politely told me that the appointment at 2:30 pm was still available and that they will call us if there was going to be an opening earlier. At 10:00 am, the receptionist called back and then transferred me over to Doctor W. She told me that she was able to fit Bree into her schedule if we can pop over at 10:45 am. I got the permission from Bree’s mum and set off on foot with the toddler right away. The clinic is on the same street, a block away.

Doctor W was very accommodating. She had Bree’s mum on speaker phone when she was doing the check up so she was kept informed even though she wasn’t there physically. Once she finished the checking up and hung up the phone, she asked about me and talked about her teenagers (yes, her tweens are now in their mid to late teens!). I have always enjoyed working for her family. While some people may not like her no nonsense approach, I found out long ago that she is truly a caring person. The same can also be said of her husband too. They are genuinely nice people.

The antibiotics really knocked out little Bree. I was advised to keep her warm and let her rest. Because Bree was not well, our contingency plan was put into action. Stella’s mum agreed to drive Stella to Bree’s home after school. Normally, Stella’s mum would have opted to stay home with Stella or take the Supergirl with her to the office but she was too busy for either option this time. Again, I tried my best to segregate the two. It was quite easy because Bree slept for most of the time when Stella was there.

Tuesday’s lunch was Bree’s last proper meal. Her appetite was poor after that. All she wanted for days was porridge with a drizzle of honey for lunch, but she hardly ate any when it was presented to her. She did however take a liking to the mini bottles of Yakult that her father bought, and was only allowed one per day. She is slowly on the mend. For dinner on Friday she ate a very small portion of vegetable risotto. Another appointment has already been made for Tuesday. This time, Bree’s mum insisted on taking her little one there herself. She was embarrassed for asking me to take Bree there and felt totally guilty. She also wanted to meet Doctor W.

Knowing another doctor from the same practice is helpful when patients are unable to see their preferred doctor. I was introduced to Doctor W when I was still at my first job as a nanny looking after 3 boisterous English boys. She was their family doctor and friend. After the family left the country, I occasionally babysat Doctor W’s children until they were just too old to have a babysitter. LOL. The children were already 9,10 & 11 when I started. Later when I was looking after two French girls, I made the same arrangement for the older girl to see Doctor W when her preferred doctor was away on a holiday. This was made with the consent of the girl’s parents of course and they were elated that I was able to make an appointment. Coincidentally, the French girls shared the same doctor as Bree.