First fever

Dear Pea,
You got sick this week! It was so sad. Uncle Rossy was actually the one who noticed your fever; it's been so humid lately that we've been sweating together most days, but Uncle Ross patted your head and said "she feels warm."  Out came the thermometer which you weren't too psyched to have under your arm.  I'm not sure it worked correctly, but we did get a reading of 99.5. I called Dr. T, who told me it's normal to get a fever with a cold and that if it went above 101, to make an appointment.  You had the fever on and off for about 24 hours, but it never seemed to climb and you never seemed too terribly uncomfortable.  Again, I breathed a sigh of relief that no one suggested medication to lower your temperature.  We know that fevers serve a purpose and your body has wisdom that should be respected most of the time.

The average cold lasts a week.  You are almost all the way better.  You started sneezing on Monday, got the fever on Tuesday and today, Saturday, all that is left is some crustiness by your nose.  I can't remember if it's Chinese medicine, or Western medicine, or Mother Wisdom that says that fevers and colds appear during times of developmental spurts. Whatever the source, it's true for you.  You are sitting up now, unassisted, while grabbing at toys in front of you.  You are scooting more quickly on your belly, traveling in reverse almost anytime you are on the floor.  You rolled over from your back to your belly Thursday and again a couple more times yesterday. You have discovered the higher end of your vocal range and enjoy screaming and shrieking when the moment feels right, which is almost always.  You intentionally grab what you want, transfer hands like it's nothing and direct everything into your mouth.  That handmade mobile that it took you two months to notice?  Yesterday you grabbed one of the hearts, plucked it off it's fishing line and put it in your mouth before I even realized what had happened.  You are growing in leaps and bounds, in comprehension and mobility.  The cold seemed to launch your forward.  And it was such a nice way for Daddy and me to practice having you be sick-nothing serious, you weren't too miserable and we now know we can handle a fever and a cranky Pea. And we know the pediatrician calls back FAST.