#Pediatrician advice

[familythings]

Raising Happy Children: Insights from a Pediatrician

Every parent dreams of raising happy children, but many struggle to find the right approach. Pediatrician Jonathan Williams is a father of five. He claims he has a “surprising secret.” It can help ensure your kids grow up to be well-adjusted and joyful. This simple yet effective strategy revolves around getting children involved in household tasks. The Power of Contribution Based in Utah, Dr.…

[aropride]

the cdc now recommends you take an ibuprofen and walk it off, advice you could also get from literally any dad ever

[peaceeandcoolestvibes]

Literally the best podcast on the internet like 99% of the videos are the literal truth

.

[mothandpidgeon]

P Boy Podcasts

I was swapping podcast recs with @schnarfer and asked her what kind of podcasts would each of the Pedro boys host? (I’m a bit of a podcast junkie. I'm literally listening to one right now.) Well, we were brainstorming and I went and created episode art for each of their shows. Which ones are you subscribing to?

Nic on Nic Get a peek into the brain of legendary talent Nicolas Cage. Cage collaborator (and fanboy) Javi Guttierez is watching everything from Con Air to National Treasure 2. Take a deep dive into the films of Nic Cage and hear exclusive interviews with the man himself.

The Unfortunates There are spies living among us, everyday people living double lives. What makes them do it? And how do they keep their secrets? Each week, Dave York shares a true story from the clandestine world of espionage. 

Foundlings Din Djarin’s parenting journey has never gone to plan because he never planned on becoming a dad! Come along as he navigates the challenges of single parenting a 50 year old son. Each week Din leads insightful discussions with a range of guests— pediatricians, parenting experts, and  other parents that are just trying to figure it all out.

Declassified Drugs, danger, and dames. The fall of Escobar made way for the Cali Cartel. Hear the story from  Agent Javier Pena as he recalls the hunt for the Cali Cartel and reveals details that have never been heard before. 

Tales from the Green Ezra shares spooky fales of distant worlds on this anthology fiction podcast. All set on the Green Moon, these bizarre and enthralling stories introduce you to a lush world filled with intrigue and danger. 

Heist The Mona Lisa only became a cultural icon after it was stolen in 1911. Learn about the greatest capers in the art world with host Marcus Pike. Hear first hand accounts going undercover during his time in the FBI. 

No Cap 4 best friends chat about anything and everything. Hear Santi, Will, Frankie, and Ben give their takes on dating, travel, and current events. You’ll love listening to them react to r/aita. 

UNKNOWN ZONE Alien encounter? Evidence of the lost city of Atlantis? Ghost fucking? Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. Join celebrity host Dieter Bravo for real life brushes with the unknown!

Joel’s Construction Corner Have a burning home improvement question? Or maybe you just like a southern drawl? Host Joel Miller has 30 years of experience in contracting and he’s here to share his advice with you. As soon as he figures out how to use this damn computer. Ellie does the ad reads with a pun for every one. 

Hungry History What does the invention of margarine have to do with Napoleon? Did Marco Polo really introduce pasta to Italy? Which Founding Father had a craving for ice cream? Follow your stomach to discover the origins of your favorite foods as we travel back in time with host Pero Tovar. 

--

I might've gone overboard. But I wish these all existed???

If you reblog this please rec me your favorite podcasts in the tags.

[vibratingskull]

Thrawn x F!reader

Tags : tooth-rotting fluff

You wake up in the night to discover Thrawn giving the bottle to your daughter, a gentle smile on his lips and quiet love in his eyes

You open your eyes in a flash and turn your head towards your chrono. 

3 am. 

Frost! 

FrostFrostFrostFrost FrostFrostFrostFrost FrostFrostFrostFrost FrostFrostFrostFrost! 

You swiftly pull the cover off your body, grab your robe, and pass it on as you head toward your baby’s room. She’s not even 2 weeks old and you’re already slacking off... 

But you can’t help it. This pregnancy and delivery were so exhausting... You dream of a full night's sleep and a good nap through the day. But taking care of Thanan, even with the active help of Thrawn, is such a trial. 

You knew caring for a newborn would be difficult and you prepared in consequence, but DEAR MAKER you could have never prepared for that. You love your daughter, and you would kill yourself and anyone to ensure her safety and happiness, but the amount of labor was unplannable. And despite all the books read, the videos watched, and advice taken from experienced parents and pediatricians, you must admit: You are thoroughly humbled by the experience. 

Even Thrawn seems unsure of himself sometimes.  

He is the most confident of you two and the rock you hold onto when uncertainty threatens to drown you, but it now happens that Thrawn turns his gaze to you in helplessness. You see him hesitate and second-guess himself for the first time since you met him. He hides it well before you to not alarm you, but you know your husband, you came to recognize that flicker in his eyes, that lingering doubt darkening his shining eyes. 

Is he doing well with her? Is he providing proper care? Is he attentive enough? 

You never thought you would see the day when Thrawn would seem lost, but parenthood is apparently a trial for everybody and even your unsinkable Grand Admiral seems to falter before your baby’s tears, wondering in horror if he did something wrong before taking back control of the situation. 

You have the same questions harassing you, and despite your other parent friends reassuring words that you are both doing really good all things considered, even better than most of them, you cannot silence the fear of hurting or failing your baby.   

May the Maker help you in this mess you think as you yawn behind your hand. 

You enter the nursery and check the room’s temperature before approaching the bassinet softly to not startle your baby and wake up Thrawn but when you bend over to take Thanan in your arms, you realize the crib is empty. 

You are seized by the irrational fear that she somehow managed to fall from the crib and break her neck. 

But obviously this is impossible. 

You hurriedly go around the apartment in search of your little one, closing your robe to soothe yourself until you open the kitchen door and discover Thrawn, leaning against the counter, Thanan in his arms as he holds a feeding bottle to her mouth. 

She suckles on it hard and Thrawn observes his baby with a gentle, tender smile on his face. 

You let out a relieved sigh, holding your knees for support as your beating heart slowly calms down, prompting Thrawn to turn his head towards you, shooting you a tight grin. 

“How are you Ch’acah?” He asks, cradling your baby gently. 

“Relieved... I was starting to worry about not finding her.” You raise back up. 

The kitchen light is dim, only the bulb over the sink is on, giving the room an aura of mystery but also quiet peace as the stars shine through the window with their serene white light. 

He lowers his gaze back to her as she yelps, drinking too much milk at once. He takes out the teat from her mouth to let her gurgle, her tummy finally full of warm milk. 

“She started to cry, so I came to check on her.” He explains, slowly rocking the dearest of both of your heart 

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” You ask, approaching them, “My milk is better than formula”. 

“You need to sleep and recover, Ch’acah.” He explains, caressing a drop of milk off her little mouth with his thumb. “ 

“I can feed her at night!” You insist. 

“Sleep.” He closes the matter, “Let me handle the night feeding times, this is the least I can do after you carried her for nine months. It is not the first time I do it.” 

“What do you mean?” You squint. 

“You never noticed?” He tilts his head at you with a soft gaze, “You slept through her crying at night several times.” 

“I... What?” You realize horrified. 

Do you really do that? Sleeping peacefully while your baby cries because she is scared or hungry? 

How could you? 

How dare you? 

You are a terrible mother! The worst of all, the- 

“Ch’acah, do not cry my sweet. It was in no way a reproach.” Thrawn says softly. 

“I am... Horrible!” You gasp, a hand before your mouth as you feel tears filling your eyes. 

“You are not a horrible mother in any measure.” He counters immediately, “You just gave birth, you are exhausted, and you need to rest and sleep, I am here to take care of her.” He opens his arm to invite you into his embrace. 

You come to nudge yourself against his tall body, silent tears rolling down your cheeks. He fondly rocks you both, letting his naturally warmer body heat you up as he presses you tightly against himself. 

“I am failing her...” 

“No, you do not. This is post-partum speaking.” He reassures sweetly, brushing his nose in your hair, “You simply need a little time to adjust. Welcoming a newborn is life-changing, our entire routine is shaken up, and you cannot modify your lifestyle in a day.” 

“You did!” 

“I did not carry a baby for nine months, gave birth to her, and saw my hormone balance completely shift the entire time. I can wake up several times at night without it impacting me, you cannot and you should not.” 

You sniff, wiping your tears away with the back of your hand. 

“Are you all right, Ch’acah?” He asks gently, his knuckles caressing your cheek. 

You nod weakly,  slowly accepting the situation. 

“Keep on sleeping for now, I will handle it. We will see in two or three months if you can wake up to feed her at night, for now, you will rest.” He orders tenderly. 

You are about to respond when Thanan hiccups, prompting you two to chuckle lightly at the cute sound. Thrawn lowers his head to fondly kiss her forehead ridges before lifting her up to his shoulder and patting her back. She burps, a bubble of milk on her lips. 

“I did not use formula.” He whispers, mindful of the baby’s ears close to his mouth “I used the milk you pumped this afternoon, do not worry.” He continues, his large hand caressing her little back. 

Seeing that simple scene makes your heart beat faster and your stomach feels fuzzy. It’s almost like love was about to choke you with its ever-growing size. You lay your head on Thrawn’s shoulder and he delicately gives Thanan to you, circling his arms around your shoulders and waist. 

You look down at your baby, her blue skin as vibrant as her father and her shining rubies, already sharp with intelligence... 

You would kill for her. 

You know it. 

For the both of them.��

You press her tightly against your heart and she yawns , ready to fall asleep again. 

Thrawn kisses your temple lovingly, a purr vibrating in his throat and chest. 

“Let’s put her to bed, I will feed her again in three hours. Sleep my love, I will handle it. You can count on me.” 

@bluechiss @thrawnalani @justanothersadperson93 @al-astakbar @thrawnspetgoose @readinglistfics @elise2174 @debonaire-princess @twilekchiss @pencil-urchin@ineedazeezee @dance-like-russia-isnt-watching @obbicrystaleo @germie2037 @leo4242564@davesrightshoe @holylonelyponyeatingmacaroni 

[b1ackoutartist]

Wrapped

The soft lullaby hummed through the small apartment, a gentle tune breaking the silence of the night. Natasha Romanoff, once a feared and respected CEO, was now frequently found dozing off on the nursery floor, fingers entwined with those of her baby son, Alex.

The dining room was exquisitely decorated. Soft chandeliers, glinting silverware, and crisp tablecloths laid the foundation for a perfect family dinner. But there was an unmistakable tension in the air, more palpable than the rich aroma of food that wafted through the room.

Y/N gently cradled baby Alex, who cooed and drooled, blissfully unaware of the strained dynamics around the table. On one side was Melina, her icy gaze focused primarily on Y/N, occasionally darting to the baby. Opposite her sat Alexei, a silent observer, while Yelena played peek-a-boo with baby Alex, trying to lighten the mood.

Y/N attempted small talk. "Melina, this roast looks delicious."

Ignoring the compliment, Melina quipped, "Isn't it a bit too early for Alex to be teething, dear?"

Y/N's face flushed. "Every baby is different. The pediatrician said it's normal."

"It's just that when Natasha was a baby," Melina began, her voice dripping with passive aggression, "she followed every milestone to the letter. And Yelena, too."

Yelena rolled her eyes, shooting Y/N a sympathetic look. "Mama, can we not do this tonight?"

But Melina continued, "Natasha has a lot on her plate as a CEO, and I don’t think she needs more stress. Perhaps if you focused more on understanding the baby and less on whatever you've been doing..."

Y/N’s grip tightened around Alex. "I'm doing my best, Melina."

Natasha clenched her fist. "Mother, enough!"

Alexei tried to lighten the atmosphere, sharing an old anecdote from Natasha’s childhood. But Melina’s criticisms, veiled under the guise of 'advice', continued. They stung Y/N, the insecurities she tried so hard to bury resurfacing with each jab.

Y/N tried to focus on Alex, feeding and playing with him, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Yelena slid closer to Y/N. "Ignore her," she whispered. "You're doing great. And Nat thinks so too."

Just then, Alex wailed, startling everyone. Y/N tried to soothe him, but Melina's sharp voice cut through, "Do you even know how to hold him right?"

That was the last straw for Natasha. Standing up, she addressed her mother coldly, "Can I talk to you? Outside."

The room was silent as the two women left. Alexei sighed heavily, turning his attention to his food, while Yelena tried to comfort the shaken Y/N.

Outside, Natasha and Melina stood facing each other, the night air charged with tension.

"I won’t let you belittle Y/N any longer," Natasha started, her voice stern and unwavering.

"She's not right for you," Melina retorted, "She's keeping you from your responsibilities. She doesn’t even know how to raise Alex properly."

"You don't get to decide that. She’s an amazing mother, and I love her," Natasha countered, "If you can't respect that, then you won’t see Alex or me again."

Melina's eyes widened in disbelief. "You'd choose her over your own family?"

"I am choosing my family. Y/N and Alex are my family. And if you can’t accept that, then you’re pushing us away, not the other way around."

The weight of Natasha’s words hung heavy in the air. Melina looked away, struggling to find words.

The weight of Natasha’s words hung heavy in the air. Melina looked away, struggling to find words. The two women stood in silence, the cool night breeze whipping around them, carrying with it an air of finality.

After a few minutes, Natasha turned on her heels and walked back inside. The atmosphere in the dining room was thick, and everyone turned their attention to her as she entered. Without saying a word, she took baby Alex from Y/N's arms. "Get your things," she instructed gently but firmly, "We're leaving."

Y/N nodded, her eyes misting over with tears, yet she felt a strange sense of relief. She stood up, her movement drawing Yelena's attention. The younger woman approached her, whispering, "I'll come by tomorrow, okay? Just take care of yourself and Alex."

As Y/N moved to gather their things, Alexei tried to mediate. He stood, approaching his red-headed daughter. "Natasha, stay. Let's talk this out."

Natasha looked at him, her green eyes icy and resolute. "I appreciate it, but there’s nothing more to say. I won't let anyone disrespect my family."

The old bear of a man looked saddened. "Just remember this is your home. Always."

Natasha offered him a weak smile, appreciating his sentiment but knowing that tonight, leaving was the right choice. She adjusted baby Alex in her arms, feeling his little heartbeat against her. The weight of her son was grounding, a constant reminder of what mattered most.

With Y/N by her side, and their belongings in hand, they made their way to the door. The house that was once filled with laughter and joy seemed cold and unwelcoming. But as the door closed behind them, they knew they were stepping into a new chapter, one where they could create a loving environment for Alex and themselves.

Yelena and Alexei watched them go, a mix of sadness and understanding in their eyes. Melina, still outside, heard the car start and drive off. She leaned against the wall, a wave of regret washing over her. The realization that she might have lost her daughter and grandson because of her stubbornness weighed heavy on her heart.

[storm-angel989]

The last request I asked for was absolutely amazing, I loved it! I’ve been into reading sickfics recently and I’d love to see how valentino and reader’s daughter would be taken care of when she has a stomach bug

Hi there!

Enjoy! I love writing these sweet little fics! Dad Val is literally my favorite!

<3 Mandy

Valentino knew that look.

The scrunched up face, hand on tummy “Daddy I don’t feel so good,” look that was inevitably followed by projectile vomiting. 

He swore, sometimes kids were worse than drunk adults. At least sometimes they had the witherwell to go to the bathroom, rather than force him to pull her as quickly as he could to the toilet.

“Oh bebita,” he sighed as he held back her hair. “Something didn’t sit right in your tummy did it?” He could feel the heat radiating off of her little body and with his one free hand, texted Vox. 

She started to sniffle and Valentino gently rubbed her back. His heart ached for his little girl.

“No no, don’t cry, I know your tummy hurts, but crying will only make things worse,” he said as soothingly as he could. 

Instead she doubled over again.

“Want Mommy,” she whined. “Papi, I want Mommy.”

“Mommy isn’t here mi amore,” he replied patiently as he carefully wiped her face. He reached over and rummaged around in the vanity drawer before coming up with the thermometer. He pressed it to her ear and pulled away when it beeped. He sighed at the number- 103.2. Way too high for his liking. 

Her whimpers turned to tears and he gently held her to his chest as he sat cross legged on the floor with her. She hiccuped again and he positioned her right back to the toilet. 

“Hey, you guys okay?” Vox asked as he pushed open the bathroom door. “Oh no, what’s wrong with the baby?” 

“She feels warm and she’s throwing up, reader is out of town and…Vox can you…” Valentino sighed unhappily. “Can you get me a cool wash cloth for her and call the pediatrician? Just put him on speakerphone.” 

Vox looked ever so slightly amused but dialed the memorized number as he damped a washcloth. Valentino carefully held it against his daughter’s forehead as he explained her symptoms to the doctor. A quick diagnosis of the stomach bug and suggestions for pedialyte and children's tylenol. Ice chips and popsicles. Crackers when she decided she was hungry. Vox hung up the phone and looked at Valentino.

“You heard the doc, it's going around. Rest, lots of fluids as she’ll tolerate them.” Vox turned to the sink and quickly filled a dixie cup with water. “Just have her sip on this for now.”

Valentino gave him a look.  “Vox, I’m not going to sit here and let this fever fester. Or let her keep getting sick. Go downstairs, tell the nurse I need a pediatric IV and…”

“Oh fuck no. Sorry Val, but I’m not letting you stick a needle into her. Adults are one thing, she’s too little,” Vox replied firmly. “And no offense, but your wife would be livid if you ignored the doctors advice and did fuck all. Besides, she’s got to get it all out of her system.”

“Language,” Valentino grumbled. But he knew Vox was right. He made a mental note to take a few courses on pediatric care. Just so Vox wouldn’t be right next time. 

“Listen, I’ll run to the store right now and get everything, it will be faster than waiting for housekeeping.” Vox continued. “And I’ll let Vel know too.”

“Can you try to get a message to my wife?” Valentino asked. “Fuck whatever she’s doing, I…”

“Language,” Vox teased gently. “But I can try. I make no promises though. She’s…”

“Busy, I know,” Valentino grumbled. 

Five hours later, the sickness seemed to be dissipating. It had been a solid twenty minutes between that moment and the last time she threw up. Valentino leaned over to the bathtub and turned on the cool water as he held his exhausted child. 

“Daddy? My belly hurts, and I’m thirsty,” she whined softly. 

He carefully poured the smallest amount from the bottle of pedialyte into cup. “Just a sip. Little sip.” 

To his relief, she did as she was told. Carefully, he lifted her up and went to set her in the bathtub. 

“No, Daddy!” She clinged to him tightly. “No!”

“Baby, I can’t give you more medication, and we have to get that fever down,” he told her patiently.

She clung to him tighter and sighed. Fine, if she wouldn’t get in by herself, he’d get in with her. He removed his phone and keys from his pocket and dropped them on the floor next to the bathtub. Carefully, he stepped into the water and slowly sank down into the tub, clothes be damned. 

She clung to him at first, but as the cool water soothed her skin she relaxed her grip. 

“Better?” Valentino asked. 

She nodded and let herself sink into the cool water. Valentino carefully took a cup full and poured it over her shoulders. After a few moments, he pressed his hand to her forehead. Good. Cooler now.

“Hey, how are we doin…oh, we’re at that point, huh?” Velvette asked as she surveyed the scene. “Not for nothing, Valentino but if you had told me that at any point you’d be in a bathtub in jeans…”

“Not. Not now Vel,” Valentino grumbled. “Can you grab the thermometer for me?” 

“Yeah yeah, let me,” Velvette replied as she picked up the thermometer. “Babygirl, tilt your head for Auntie.” 

To Valentino’s relief, she complied. As soon as it was off of her ear, she cuddled into Valentino and shivered. He wrapped his arms around her  Velvette looked at the number when it flashed.

“99.6,” she announced.

Valentino sighed, “alright, that’s better. She puked up the tylenol I tried to give her an hour ago…and I can’t give her more for another three, but I think we can get her into dry pjs and into bed.”

“I think so too. You dry her off, I’ll go get the both of you clean pjs,” Velvette said as she turned and walked out the door. 

Carefully, Valentino lifted his daughter back into his arms and stood up, letting the water drip from them both. He stepped out of the tub and, ignoring his own sopping wet outfit, quickly took her wet clothes off, wrapped her in a pink bath towel and set her on the counter. He grabbed a second towel and set to work towel drying her hair.  

“You look sleepy baby,” he cooed softly. “Papi’s going to get you into your jammies and then bedtime, okay?” 

She nodded sleepily and when Velvette came back, he quickly tugged the t-shirt over her head, and dressed her in a pair of pajama pants. 

“Val, I’ll take her to bed, you take a second and dry off,” Velvette said as she reached for the little girl. 

“No! Auntie, want Daddy!” She cried and reached for Valentino. 

“No no, don’t cry, you’ll make yourself sick again,” Valentino said quickly. “Go to bed with Auntie and count to twenty, and by the time you’re almost done I’ll be back out and in bed with you, okay?” 

She sniffled and buried her head into Velvette’s neck. Velvette quickly closed the door and Valentino made fast work of stripping off his sopping wet clothes and shoving himself into his favorite red and black plaid pajama shorts and a black t-shirt. 

“See! Told you Daddy would be back before we reached twenty!” Velvette sang as she sat on the bed. 

Valentino walked over and opened his arms. His little girl crawled against his chest and the second her head laid over his heart, she fell asleep.

“You’re lucky she can’t count,” Velvette said as she perched on the side of the bed. “Anything I can get you Val? Water? Food?”

“Just my phone, and maybe a cup of coffee, I’m going to try to stay up…”

Velvette shook her head. “Sleep when the baby sleeps. Trust me, you’ll know if she gets sick again. She’s safe in your arms, Val. You’re a good dad.” She reached over and squeezed his arm affectionately before hopping off the bed. 

By the time Velvette returned with water, snacks and his phone, Valentino was fast asleep with his daughter curled up on his chest. Velvette smiled and pulled the blanket up over his lap, quietly deposited the items on the nightstand and carefully closed the door behind her.

[thetourturedwritersclub]

PJO characters and what professions they would have

Percy:He's either a marine biologist or an Olympic swimmer. I'm kinda edging more on the Olympic swimmer ngl. I think he's more athletic than academic. Not to say that he isn't smart. I think he would enjoy smth athletic more than academic.

Annabeth Without the shadow of a doubt she's would be an architect and one of the best in the field. SHE REDESIGNED OLYMPUS. I think that says enough.

Grover would have a job that cared about the environment like a wildlife biologist or a biologist. I think he would be really interested in that.

Clarisse now listen i think she would be a history teacher and I have 2 reasons to believe this. One I think she would be really like to read about the wars. Her violent nature comes to show lol. Two Ik military is an option but I think she wouldn't want to be away from her friends and siblings.

Silena she would have a salon. In her salon you'd be able to get ur hair, nails and make up done. To most of her customers she is like an older sister. And she gives amazing advice.

Piper McLean Would be a CEO business woman. Argue with the wall bc I ain't taking no criticism on this one. She would have a billion dollar company.

Jason Grace Listen, listen Literature Professor. I think that if he had gotten the chance he would be a HUGE literature fan. From Edgar A. Poe to Oscar Wilde to Jane Austen. He would have the most interesting classes in New Rome University. The students would have so much fun bc Jason would pour his heart out into those lesson plans.

Leo Valdez : Mechanic and I don't think I need to explain myself in this one.

Frank Zhang: He would do Archery. Maybe he'd compete in the Olympics. He'd be amazing at it.

Hazel Levesque : Now I think she would own a jewellery brand. Maybe smth as famous as Tiffany and. Co or maybe Svaroski (idk if I spelled that correctly lol). I just know that she would make the world prettiest and trendiest bracelets.

Nico Di Angelo : He and Bianca would have a paranormal yt channel with occasional appearances from Hazel bc she's a medium.

William Solace He would obviously be a doctor maybe a pediatrician if we were to go down to specifics. I think he would do rlly well with little kids. OR maybe he would perform autopsies on dead bodies idk rlly know. Both options kinda fit Will's character.

Reyna Ramirez Arellano: She would be a war general. Her fierce nature and leadership skills make her perfect for the job. And that's all I need to say.

Rachel Dare : She would be a psychic or a therapist. Idk but my personal hc is that she would giver rlly good advice.

Now that is all!!! I haven't read TOA yet bc I wanna live in delulu ( Yes I'm a Jason Grace defender till the day I die). But when I do, I may or may not make a similar one for the TOA characters.

[tip-top-cloud-surfer]

First Time Father - Rooster

Pairing: Rooster / Wife (No Name or Appearance)

Word Count: 1.2k

Warnings: Hospital Visit, Self Doubt, Stress, Light Angst, Sick Baby, Baby OC is Referred to as 'Dove,' Rooster Thinks He's a Bad Dad

This work, all of my other works, and my entire blog are 18+ Only.

Summary: It's Rooster's first time alone with his baby daughter. But when she comes down with a fever under his watch, Rooster seriously doubts his abilities as a father.

Master List

It was Rooster’s first extended time alone with his daughter without his wife around.

He was very much a hands-on dad, but his wife was their daughter’s primary caregiver for the first four months of their daughter’s life because of maternity leave and then her gradual return to work. Rooster was always quick to look after their daughter, who they nicknamed Dove, when he got home, but he openly acknowledged that his wife cared for Dove most often.

So, with his wife’s college friend’s child-free wedding coming up, Rooster had a three-day weekend to care for his daughter all on his own. And, well, this was a test for himself. His wife didn’t put excessive expectations onto him. That was all Rooster.

He always tried to check-in with his wife to make sure that he was pulling his weight with Dove. Rooster didn’t want to become one of those complacent dads who just relied on their wife for everything and couldn’t take care of their own child by themselves. He didn’t want his wife to be one of those women who said that she had two kids at home—her actual baby and her husband.

Maybe that was just the fear creeping up from his conversations with Penny about her divorce and what the older guys at work said, but Rooster wanted to prove to himself that he could do it. He could take care of his daughter by himself without any hiccups.

Rooster’s wife left Thursday night and Rooster handled Thursday night and Friday morning perfectly well. Dove stayed on her nap and feeding schedule, he got some projects done around the house, and they even went to see Grandpa Mav. But then a few hours after they got home, Dove came down with a fever and started crying like nothing Rooster had ever heard before.

And, well, maybe he panicked just a little bit.

The lights of the ER were bright and blinding and Rooster did his best to shield Dove’s eyes from the excessive light. Holding her against his chest as she cried, Rooster tried to console her as he waited for a medical professional to come and collect them.

Since it was a Friday night, the pediatrician and Urgent Care centers were all closed. And his wife wasn’t answering her phone, probably because she was at the rehearsal dinner. And the lady giving him the side eye for the last hour combined with his daughter’s continuous cries were really starting to push Rooster over the edge.

“It’s okay,” Rooster tried to console his daughter, his voice breaking a bit. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of his daughter’s little head, praying for some advice from his mom. She would know what to do in this situation. But Bradley didn’t know what he was doing. Maybe he wasn’t as good of a father or as good of a husband as he wanted to be. As he thought he was.

“Bradshaw,” a nurse called, causing Bradley to hurry to his feet.

The nurse led him back to one of the smaller hospital rooms. Bradley listed off the timeline of events to the nurse, who nodded, typed them up, and walked off to grab a doctor. Rooster tried setting his daughter back into her carrier, but that only made her cry louder. He picked her back up and cradled her to his chest, feeling a few tears leak out.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you’re in pain,” he whimpered, resting his head on top of her smaller one.

There was a light knock on the door before a man dressed in a pair of turquoise scrubs and round glasses stepped into the room. The doctor seemed to quickly assess the situation before striding further into the room.

“I’m Dr. Greene,” he stated, causing Rooster to nod. “What seems to be the problem?”

“She has a fever and she won’t stop crying and I don’t know what’s wrong. Nothing that I try seems to work,” Rooster replied shakily, hugging his daughter just a little tighter as she continued to cry. “And I don’t know what to do.”

“Alright, let me take a look at her.”

Rooster set his daughter on her back on the examination table. She wiggled around, still whimpering and crying. Dr. Greene started with his stethoscope and listened to her heart and lungs. He quickly checked her ears and her throat and looked over her vitals again. Rooster stood to the side, trying to comfort his daughter as well as he could while subtly wiping his tears away.

He must have done something wrong. He was a terrible father. He screwed up his daughter.

“It’s an ear infection. Nothing too serious,” Dr. Greene deduced, straightening up. “I’ll prescribe some antibiotics. That should clear it up in a few days.”

“But her screams . . . she sounds like she’s in a lot of pain.”

“Ear infections hurt. And this seems to be her first one and she’s only about four months old. Every little bit of pain to a baby can easily be the worst pain that they’ve ever experienced before,” Dr. Greene explained calmly, typing away at the chart. “Her heart rate is normal and her lungs are clear. And an ear infection can cause the fever.”

“And the ear infection, what caused it?” Rooster asked nervously, rubbing his daughter’s head.

“Well, does she spend any time around other kids? Is she in daycare or does she have any siblings?” Dr. Greene suggested, turning back to Rooster.

“She’s at daycare twice a week,” Rooster breathed out, causing Dr. Greene to nod.

“Exactly. Those places are a breeding ground for disease. Especially with babies and young children who haven’t really built up an immunity to anything.”

“So . . . I didn’t do anything wrong?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Dr. Greene stated, finishing up with the chart. He turned back to Rooster, studied his tired and frazzled expression, and offered him a small smile. “First time dad?”

“Is it that obvious?” Rooster returned, wincing a bit.

“I assure you that we’ve seen and heard plenty of stories far stranger than an ear infection from first time parents,” Dr. Greene chuckled, gathering his things. “Kids get sick. It happens. And you did the right thing in getting her to a medical professional. The antibiotics should be ready at the pharmacy and they should clear it up. But if she’s still sick in three days, go to your primary care physician.”

Dr. Greene turned to leave the room before pausing and turning back to Rooster one last time.

“And to be perfectly honest with you, I would highly prefer a parent who was overly concerned with their child’s health than one who wasn’t concerned at all. You’re doing fine,” Dr. Greene assured Rooster with a small smile before opening the door. “Have a good night.”

“Thanks, you too,” Rooster called back, finally able to breathe a bit again.

It was just an ear infection. He didn’t screw up. He did the right thing.

“Let’s get you some medicine, Dove,” Rooster sighed, setting his daughter back into her carrier.

The Dr. Greene that I may or may not have had in mind:

[gallusrostromegalus]

i'm crying laughing about genkai kenpachi but also i am now dying to know if any other characters of yuyu hakusho fame managed to sneak their way into aeiwam, even if only in the worldbuilding

Yusuke Urameshi has for real burnt through his psychic abilites no for real not even a tingle in his fingers he swears, but he does run the late-night Curry shop the Karakura Kids sometimes end up at. Keigo and Mizuiro spend the most time there, and the craic is terrific, but he's got a soft spot for that Ichigo kid who comes in sometimes, late at night when he's been out chasing ghosts or had another fight with his dad. He reminds Yusuke of Hiei in a way- Ichigo swaggers and growls like a delinquent, but nothing pisses him off quite like bullies who pick on people who can't fight back.

Ichigo likes him too- He can tell that Urameshi guy all about the weird ghosts and fucked up monsters and how ANGRY he gets with his father sometimes, and the guy just nods and sometimes has good advice about where to lose his pursuers if he's being chased, or odd places where lost spirits end up. Urameshi grew up constantly getting in fights and seeing shit he shouldn't too, and always gives him free drinks.

They like each other well enough, but aren't much more than acquaintances.

Kazuma Kuwabara is one of the interns on the verge of becoming a resident at Karakura Hospital, NO, He's NOT going to be replacement Spirit Detective, I'M A DOCTOR, but sometimes he does hang out in the cafeteria with the kid of his attending physician- Uryuu reminds him of Kurama- intelligent, articulate, a bit of a prettyboy and Kuwabara is sure that the kid is secretly armed. He's easy to get along with- Kuwabara just asks him what he's working one, and then shuts up so he can learn something new.

Uryuu hates waiting in the hospital for his dad to get off shift to drive him home. His father's inner ear has been damaged when he lost his Quincy powers and he was still prone to sudden-onset vertigo, it's not severe enough to get fired from the hospital, but enough that the DMV won't issue him a driver's license, and so most days Uryuu drives him to and from work. But sometimes Kazuma is in the cafeteria, and he's going to make a terrific pediatrician or emergency room doctor someday. The big guy always manages to be in a cheerful and contagious mood, and actually listens to him. Uryuu estimates that Dr. Kuwabara has a better knowledge of what he's been studying, who his friends are, his latest fashion designs and his life in general than his actual father does.

They like each other well enough, but aren't much more than acquaintances.

[temperqnce]

Five minutes hanging out in Homophobic Homosexual Medical Malpractice Sherlock, MD side of tumblr and I already have a House OC I need to put down on paper.

Head of pediatrics. Professional. Well liked and respected by her peers. House has to go through her for any of the kids he treats. She listens, takes his advice seriously, ignores when he tries to provoke her and deftly explains (when he isn’t in the room) that some brilliant people are just Like That to the patients’ parents when he offends them. She’s a perfect maternal sunshine to the children and very good with distressed parents. She’s great friends with Wilson. She’s gay and happily married and not in any weird office situationships. She has great work/life balance. House hates her.

He hates her at first for never taking the bait or engaging and rarely arguing (debating very unemotionally when she does disagree) until one day he busts into her office to ask “Why don’t you hate me?”

“I’m rude to the parents, vulgar in front of the kids, and disrespect you at every chance I get. You should hate me. Or you do, and you’re really good at hiding it.”

And she just laughs dryly and says, “Dr. House, you think you’re the first narcissistic asshole I’ve ever had to work with? I’m a pediatrician. You aren’t that much worse than the average nine-year-old.” And continues with her work without another word.

He likes her from that day forward.

[thunderheadfred]

I see pediatrician today and my doctor tomorrow and will talk about this with them, but in the meantime

I’m going insane. I’m at some kind of breaking point. All I do is feed this baby. Once an hour most of the day. Lucky if I get 2-3 hours break at night, maybe. She’s hungry all the time. I cannot be making enough milk. I tried pumping exclusively yesterday and couldn’t keep up. Went through all the milk I’d saved, and then all the milk I made that day. I had a few sessions where basically nothing came out at all. And all the advice is just “feed and pump MORE”

I CAN’T. It’s all I’m doing already. All I do is feed her and feed her and feed her. Now I’m in a nightmare cycle of feeding constantly and pumping between, and she’s still hungry. I can’t sleep. My entire body feels empty. I’m so fucking tired.

What the fuck am I doing wrong

[screamting]

Do you have any examples in mind for the Alfred as Bruce's handler idea? What would be the sort of thing that's weird? Because keeping him up-to-date on politics and taking care of his diet, or even talking him down from fear gas attacks doesn't seem that weird to me. Especially with how their lives are going. What specifically are you thinking of? This is such an interesting take, would love to hear more about this

"With how their lives are going" is sort of the point. A butler is a household manager, so like yes, there's some overlap with controlling and organizing lots of people-- but like, not their boss? In a smaller household butlers might do things like take on valet and housekeeping duties, which is probably what happened after the household downsized after Martha and Thomas died. That's also probably when he went from Mr Pennyworth to Alfred.

And people know it's a weird situation. Like. Okay. So the one potential relative the Waynes may have had (Jacob Kane) is too young to take Bruce in, or Martha and Thomas just fuckin hate their other living relatives and specifically write that if anything happens to us Bruce goes to Alfred, or Bruce goes to a relative for like 2 months and it Does Not Work and either Bruce or Alfred bribe a judge to make Alfred his guardian. Lots of options, all of them A Weird Situation Everybody Knows About.

I think partly because of trying to maintain normalcy in Bruce's life (and because of his own emotional issues) Alfred does hold onto the butler/valet thing maybe a little harder than might have been ideal, but if he dresses Bruce he's just lying clothes out for him on the bed or helping him get dressed up for important events. There's no point for Alfred to drive him around-- by all rights Alfred should have his own driver-- and they should have a cook and housemaid and maybe they have Dory like in the batman 2022, but it's still a weird thing to be, essentially, raised by the staff.

(I think maybe that's a separate point but I do think it should play more into the conception of Brucie as a person. He's not just comfortably empty headed and kind to 'the help' because he's stupid and never had parents to teach him how a rich man ought to behave. He's that way because he was raised by the help. Not even in the normal way where you pay/kidnap a nanny to raise your kids instead of her own. Just straight up the butler and the housekeeper and the family physician. [Bruce knows Leslie's a surgeon but his association is still like, 'ah, yes, my pediatrician who showed up to all my birthdays whether I wanted one or not.'])

The thing is that when this is happening as Bruce is a kid, it's weird, but like, it's normal too. They get a closer relationship than child and butler usually do. It's normal for a younger kid to not control his meals too much but once he's an older teen he makes requests for dinner and it happens. He starts growing independent and comes to Alfred less for advice, sometimes making him worry, but he's becoming an adult and soon he won't need Alfred at all!

...and then Bruce runs off with a few hundred thousand dollars in cash and vanishes for years without a word.

When he comes back he's got this absolutely deranged idea in his head about going out and violently making the city a place people are afraid to commit crimes. Sure petty theft and carjacking, but no: he's going to make mafiosos afraid. He's going to very specifically make them feel unsafe in their own homes. He's going to terrorize every crooked cop and politician until quitting and struggling for the rest of their lives sounds like a better option than continuing to take an extra 10k home a month.

....so anyway, Alfred unfortunately loves this kid too much to throw him into Arkham, and it seems like he'd be pretty hard to wrestle now after going through all that assassin training.

So early Alfred takes on what eventually sort of gets outsourced to Oracle, because even if he hasn't been around it since Martha and Thomas were alive he remembers more about upper crust society behavior and Bruce needs to nail it down. So it's not just "here's the summary of the daily newspaper master bruce" it's "this is Julia Danvers she's the only heiress to an oil field fortune and has an allergy to shellfish. She's sort of into environmentalism but isn't really thinking it through and any real complicated solutions that would cause damage to the business make her feel like the end of her family line, which of course ends with a woman and they're going to blame her for being a woman and ruining the business for everyone else. So when you talk to her, here is what I think you should do..."

Bruce doesn't pick his meals anymore because he barely eats so Alfred makes a protein shake with so many other added nutrients that you do have to ease yourself onto them unless you want to absolutely annihilate your gut and suffer in the bathroom for three days. Of course, Bruce never had to think about this, because Alfred did the easing on himself by varying the inputs over the course of a month gradually with the rest of his meals that were easy digestables.

Talking down from fear gas isn't something they plan for but it is something that like: Bruce is seeing a monster. It is telling him the terrible things it will do.

It is using Alfred's voice, so Bruce has to believe there's a good reason for it to do those things, and gives himself over to it.

It's not just that Alfred puts aside what he'd carefully raised and hoped for to ruthlessly try and keep alive what he has. It's that Bruce knows he's being handled, and allows it.

[milkemie]

milkemieee hiiiiiii.

I love your content it inspired me to try and love my sims (though I'm incredibly impatient and want to hurry along the storylines). Though I read on one of your answers that you dont like to see your characters as characters in a storyline. so I wanted to ask you, how do you play your sims without getting impatient and without a storyline?

I took one of your advices and started them as teens and they are currently in the phase where they like each other and do cute things together but they aren't officially dating. I'm just excited to get the stage with you shin, mayumi and Maya but that's simyears away. Also how do you maintain friendships with your sims without playing them (are they also a part of your 'storyline") I KEEP SAYING STORYLINE but I was just wondering on advice to play without the need to play God.

Also little extra question I have, what's your opinion on the new game INZOI that's threatening to take over sims? Do you think you'd ever shift to INZOI?

Love your content keep creatinggg

hii!

that's right i don't see my sims as characters in a storyline (as in like characters in a tv show for example) because then i feel like i will have to control their lives & personalities too much it actually didn't take that long for me to make shin & maya date, it only took about 2 weeks of playing before i let them start dating (they were just so into eachother and had already started living together, they wanted to kiss so bad lmao)

now this will depend on if you have expansion & game packs, but i make shin & maya do a lot of activities that i sometimes don't film, like taking the kids to parks & waterparks, going on hikes, going skiing, going to all 3 mt. komorebi festivals, going to restaurants & cafés, making them buy groceries in henford on bagley, making mayumi's pediatrician check her health at home or at the hospital, making hina sleep over at her friends' houses, it's also by doing more and more activities that you learn more about your sims and what they like & dislike

shin & maya don't have many friends but they sometimes hang out with them or invite them over, if your sims are sociable you can try and make them meet new people or make them create or join clubs, shin & maya recently befriended a grandma that lives a few blocks away from them for example, she sometimes comes over to chat and play with mayumi & they sometimes visit her and give her gifts (mayumi loves her cats!) i also think it's great to have your sims enroll in university, i had both shin & maya work hard at university, maya was pregnant so i had to make sure she was okay and i had shin work multiple jobs on the side to pay the bills, now that they have jobs i make them level up their skills especially the ones needed to get promoted at work & make more money to keep improving their quality of life

inZOI

i don't plan on shifting my focus to inzoi content, the game is still new so it lacks a lot of features that i would want (toddlers, pets, more interesting careers etc) but i'm open to trying it when it launches depending on how they plan on making money, i still don't know if the game will be free and have expansion packs like the sims or if it'll be something else entirely i did experiment with the character creation demo, and i really liked the ability to choose any color for your zoi’s clothes, i wish the sims had that instead of limiting us to preset swatches

overall i just think it's great that the sims finally has some real competition, they've had a monopoly for so long that they could sometimes release low quality packs that don't add much to the game, now that they have competitors they’ll be forced to create better packs which is great for us!

[blogdays]

Mybabyfor - Devasa+ (2)

Bonding and emotional connection between a mother and her baby are crucial for the baby's overall development and well-being. Building a strong bond with the baby helps in creating a sense of security and trust, which is essential for their emotional and social development. Mindfulness practices can be beneficial for mothers in reducing stress and enhancing their emotional connection with their infants. Spending quality time with the baby, engaging in activities such as talking, singing, and cuddling, can strengthen the bond between the mother and the baby. This emotional connection provides a nurturing environment for the baby's growth and development. Proper nutrition and a well-established feeding schedule are vital for the baby's growth and development. Breastfeeding is recommended as the best source of nutrition for infants, as it provides essential nutrients and antibodies that boost their immune system. Mother psychology should ensure that they have a balanced diet and consume enough fluids to maintain their own health and provide adequate nutrition to their nasal congestion in babies. It is important to follow the guidance of healthcare professionals regarding the introduction of solid foods and the appropriate feeding schedule for the baby's age and developmental stage. Regular check-ups with a pediatrician can help monitor the baby's growth and ensure that they are receiving the necessary nutrition for their development. Maintaining proper hygiene and ensuring regular check-ups are essential aspects of baby care. Baby care tips for mothers, should pay attention to keeping the baby clean and changing diapers regularly to prevent skin irritations and infections. Bathing the baby movements in the womb with gentle products suitable for their delicate skin is important. Regular visits to the pediatrician for vaccinations, anger management in children, developmental assessments, and overall health check-ups are crucial to monitor the baby's growth and detect any potential health issues early on. Additionally, seeking support from loved ones and joining parenting support groups can provide mothers with valuable advice and assistance in caring for their babies. By prioritizing hygiene and regular check-ups, mothers can ensure the well-being and health of their babies.

[doctorvictoria10]

A stressful admission: Part 2

Tags - ED admission, nervous patient, slight cardio, slight ageplay, medical trauma, comfort.

It felt like her heart jumped out of her chest. A flash of different emotions quickly cycled through her, firstly fear, then shock, and then embarrassment.

“Um, yeah, come in.” She spoke timidly, unsure of who was on the other side of the door. There were several doctors she worked with who she definitely didn’t want it and to be, only maybe one or two that she would actually feel comfortable with. Maybe this was all a terrible idea and she should’ve stuck with the rushed ED doctor. A tall, broad figure poked his head around the curtain and she was so surprised - it wasn’t who she was expecting at all.

“Chloe!” The familiar voice called out gently. “I’m sorry you’ve been waiting so long. I only just got the call to ask if I could come and assess you. All of the OB doctors were busy - a few are off sick so they’re covering each others clinics too! I know we don’t know each other that well but we cross paths every now and then don’t we!” He spoke cheerily.

It took Chloe a while to take it all in. Doctor Jack Canning, a pediatrician, stood before her. She’d been at emergencies where he was there before, he liased closely with her department as there was often an overlap between their professions. He was always smiling, calm and composed, but she’d never really had a proper chat with him before, or gotten to know him.

“Oh, hi. Um, thanks for coming!” She spoke timidly.

He took in her anxious energy and worried expression, she didn’t look her normal self at all. “Are you okay?” He asked seeming genuinely concerned.

She let out a light laugh “Yeah, apart from a case of extreme embarrassment at this whole situation, I’m fine. I just, I collapsed and got brought in. And then I woke up and two people were planning to poke me with needles, and I really hate being a patient, it all got too much and I guess I freaked out.” She admitted shyly, trying to explain why he’d been called out of his day looking after babies to deal with his 26 year old, definitely not a baby, coworker in ED.

He nodded slowly. “May I sit?” He gestured to the bed. Chloe nodded her consent. “Chloe, you don’t need to be embarrassed. I read your notes, I saw you told the doctor before that you had medical trauma from when you were a child. Your reaction to waking up and hearing plans of IV’s and finger pricks and all sorts is completely understandable. It’s scary for someone who hasn’t had the experiences you’ve had, let alone someone who’s also worked in the medical field and knows that not all professionals are kind and patient like we are.” He spoke seriously, and it made her feel validated in the strangest way. She nodded slowly, agreeing with everything he was saying, and she let her fake smile she’d forced herself to wear to downplay the situation slide away. And left was a scared little girl who was terrified of being put in the same situation as she was in seventeen years ago when she was rushed to emergency surgery in agony and fear.

Jack let her sit with that for a moment. Then he continued in a serious but gentle voice. “I agree with the plan the ED doctor has made, the tests and treatments he wants done. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept them, you have a choice, if you let me look after you or not. If you let me look after you, we can take it slow, do it at your pace. We can see how we can maybe make things easier for you. If you won’t let me look after you, I can get you a self discharge against medical advice form and you can sign that and leave whenever you want. It’s up to you, but I’d strongly advise the former option, and I think you know it’s for the best.” He spoke, so gently it was almost soothing. His words resonated with her and seemed to calm her right down. This was her choice, she was an adult now, not a little girl, she could leave whenever she wanted. Jack saw all these thoughts running through her head, her eyes focused.

“I can see you're getting lost in your own head there. Come back to me.” He said quietly. Her eyes met his and she was snapped out of her chaotic thoughts about the situation.

“Isn’t this weird for you? I’m sorry I’ve pulled you away from your work, you must think I’m really weird and silly. You work with babies and kids, and I’m just an adult who’s stressing out about something that I really should be able to deal with.”

Chloe blurted out, blushing in frustration at herself and her inability to keep her anxiety under control.

He pondered what she’d said, and then began slowly. “Looking after babies, they need constant attention and kindness. Precision and accuracy is imperative. I care for them, make them better and I nurture them. And I’d love to do the same for you if you’d let me.” He held her gaze.

Chloe looked at him shyly, she felt herself retreating inwards again, feeling cared for wasn’t a feeling she was used to, her cheeks felt like they were on fire. She felt so embarrassed at the situation she was in. He sensed her embarrassment and hesitation, so he continued.

“Don’t you think this is a little too unlikely? You’re here, sick. You have medical trauma from an emergency surgery when you were critically unwell as a child, and now you’re sitting here with another pediatrician who wants to help you not only in the present, but maybe I can help you heal that inner child, that scared little girl at the same time too.” He smiled gently.

She thought for a moment, this wasn’t a likely situation, and he did seem to genuinely care. The knowledge that she could leave at any time felt safe and reassuring. Slowly she nodded. “Okay. Yeah, if you think it’ll be okay.”

“I think it’s a great idea, and I’m really glad I can look after you and hopefully get you feeling better. Just keep communicating with me okay? I’m not going to do anything without your consent, so you let me know if you’re not feeling comfy and we can reassess together.” He promised.

Chloe nodded at him, and he nodded back.

“Okay then. Let’s get started!” He lightly clapped his hands together. “Can you undress and put this gown on for me?” He held up a pale blue hospital gown. Jack sensed her apprehension, “I’ll need to run some cardiac tests, and palpate your abdomen, this’ll make it easier for us both!” He explained.

Chloe slowly and groggily reached for the gown. She felt so weak still. She dropped it beside her on the bed and started trying to shimmy out of her dress.

“Would you like me to help you?” Jack asked her, seeing her struggle with the fabric in her feeble state.

He was going to see her top half bare anyway, if it was now or in five minutes, did it really matter? Chloe internally questioned herself. “Yes please.” She spoke quietly, lifting her arms up for Jack to assist lifting the dress over her head. He quickly had her in the gown and she was laying back against the pillows soon enough.

“You feel cold Chloe, can I get you a blanket?”

“That would be great, it’s freezing in here!” She rubbed her arms. With a gentle smile and nod, Jack was heading out of the room. He returned quickly with two beige blankets in his arms.

“These are from the warmer!” He draped one around her shoulders and one over her body. The warmth felt so comforting and she felt herself relax into the bed. “Now Chloe, where would you like to start?” He asked carefully. When she didn’t reply and just stared at him with wide eyes he offered, “If you’re happy for me to take the lead, I’d like to get an IV in so we can take bloods and get the results processing whilst we do the rest of the exam. I can also be giving you some fluids and if you like, a relaxant for your nerves?”

Chloe nodded slightly, eyes still wide. He watched her, concerned but also interested.

“Chloe, I can see you’re retreating into yourself, and that’s completely okay, but I’m going to need a verbal confirmation before I do this. I’m going to put in an IV, take bloods, start fluids and give you a relaxant medication. Once you’re relaxed, I’m going to check your blood sugar, assess your heart and feel your tummy. I’m going to look after you throughout, I’m not going to cause you any unnecessary discomfort or upset, I’m going to be as gentle with you as I can. Can you say ‘Yes, that’s okay’?” He looked at her for a long moment.

“Yes, that’s okay” Chloe spoke quietly, in a voice that wasn’t quite her own. It sounded childlike, vulnerable. Her little space caught her off guard. It was usually controllable, she could choose when to drop and when not to, but this situation and Jack were pulling it out of her.

Jack gave her a knowing look and smiled softly. “Okay then, let’s begin.” 🖤