At 11:30 pm she started tossing, turning and moaning in her sleep. I knew right away that she wasn’t feeling well. I knew right away I was in for a long night. I knew right away that her and I would be staying home from school. I didn’t know what was wrong at that moment but as a mom of a child who is minimally verbal, I’ve learned to read every little sign and I knew just from her tossing and turning, she was sick.

My anxiety sky rocketed. I hate when she’s sick. First, it’s me having to guess what is wrong. What hurts? Does she need to see a dr? What meds should I give her? Such a guessing game.

I didn’t have to guess this time though! Courtney’s tossing and turning quickly turned in to her being awake. Once awake she grabbed my hand and put it on her right ear and verbalized, “ear”.

The CONVERSATION then went like this…

Me: “Does your ear hurt?”

Courtney: “ear hurt”

Hmmm…but is she just repeating me?

Me: “Do your feet hurt?”

Courtney: “no”

Me: “does your tummy hurt”

Courtney: “no”

Me: “Does your ear hurt?”

Courtney: “yes”

No guessing. No playing detective. No trying to read in to every sign. She told me. Her ear hurt!

I have never been so excited to hear her say she has an ear ache!

Now for her to start feeling better.