Christmas is over and was super quiet and low key this year. The only thing that bothered us was to fight this crazy cold we caught since our arrival in Germany. Petit Joel started coughing, sneezing and had some sinus issues but was okay otherwise. He is a trooper whenever he gets sick. He plays, eats and sleeps even longer than usual because he knows that sleep is the best medicine after all. And broccoli. And banana. And chocolate.
The problem is, that he drags this cold around for almost two weeks now and it is not getting better but rather worse. I decided to take him to a doctor this afternoon. My brother is here and has gotten this cold now too so he came along. We walked through the deserted streets of my hometown while he tells me about his visit to Chernobyl and all the impressions he collected. Well, needless to say, I had similar feelings of deserted places walking to the doctor’s office. We met maybe two or three people (The Walking Dead?) on this gloomy Tuesday afternoon but thankfully the rain stopped just long enough so it was only 99% depressing. This weather here really gets on my nerves. I am in desperate need of sun and warmth. Also, my immune system is lower than normal and I don’t like that. I am hardly ever sick but whenever I am, I get pretty miserable and annoyed(ing).
I have to add one important thing here. Is it especially deserted in this town because one holiday follows another and everything is closed. (Germany 101: In Germany “closed” means nothing is open after 6 pm usually. Some stores are open until 8 pm but this is already crazy. Saturday after 4 pm stores close until Monday 8 am!)
Throughout the holidays, getting in touch with a pediatrician on duty is more challenging than I thought. Petit Joel’s regular doctor’s office is closed until next year and the voicemail referred me to a “call center” to find an available pediatrist on duty. Doesn’t sound too difficult, eh? I spoke to a very friendly woman who refereed me to an orthopedic specialist who is “on duty” and will take a look at my three year-old son. Say whaaaaat? Exactly, this was my reaction. So my brother, Petit Joel and I however shortly after sat in the waiting room of Dr. W.’s office and played with toy cars.
Long story short, he was not amused to see us. Especially not Petit Joel. “I cannot treat him because he is a child and if something happens, I am f*****, ” he said to his secretaries at the reception desk. Why we were there in the first place is still unclear to me, also while it seemed like he blamed us the entire time. Apparently, in Germany, when you need to see a gynecologist for example and all offices are closed you can safely contact the “call center” who then refers you to an optometrist of their choice. Or you need a root canal done and you can then consult your local Cardiologist at the hospital. I tried to brighten up Dr. W.’s mood a bit, who was obviously very mad at us, the situation or at life itself and said that whenever I have a gallbladder issue in the future again, I will see him, too. He did not think this was funny either. Should be fine, eh? All doctors study the same things at the beginning I thought; like a “Become a doctor 101 – the basics”, no?
His phone rang about five times before he picked up and screamed, “Whaaaaaaat?” in the receiver so loud that we shrugged for a second. Appointment over, I reckoned.
We walked out with a prescription for antibiotics and a nose spray, still wondering the entire time why we were at this doctor’s office but laughed it all off when the pharmacist did not have the exact antibiotic and had to call Dr. W. for consultation. Needless to say, Dr. W. was not happy about that phone call, neither was the pharmacist.
Currently, I am nursing a hot cup of tea, gave Petit Joel the antibiotic and he is fast asleep by now. I somehow made it through two weeks being surrounded by sick people – especially Petit Joel’s snot everywhere and I did not get really sick until two days ago. I felt off one day, but better the next. My body was definitely fighting this germ-battle pretty hard. Then again, we are in the middle of this never-ending cold season which just somehow accompanies this weather here in Germany. One has either a cold or the Norovirus but we have been gladly spared off the latter (so far).
You know what is the worst though? Not that I am feeling miserable these days. It is to see my little one struggling through this cold and being a fighter and that I cannot really provide help for him. Of course there is medication, balm to put on his little chest to make him breathe easier. We made chicken soup and I put up a wet cloth near his bed with essential oils at night so the sniffles would stop. Then again, he is also never constantly all over me trying to seek relief or asks for anything but he wants the momentary comfort of my arms and warmth whenever he is feeling sick by curling up closely with his blanket. I love him so much. This made me think of the author Jodi Picoult and these sentences she wrote:
“Sometimes when you pick up your child you can feel the map of your own bones beneath your hands, or smell the scent of your skin in the nape of his neck. This is the most extraordinary thing about motherhood – finding a piece of yourself separate and apart that all the same you could not live without.”
He will be fine. We will be fine. It is just a little cold.
