Gracie had a fever last night. A pretty good one, too - about 102. She needed some Motrin or Tylenol to get the fever down so that she could sleep somewhat comfortably. Given that she had a runny nose and runny eyes, there wasn't a whole lot of hope for a peaceful night anyway, but we had to try.

Tom and I have had a lot of practice giving medicine to unwilling toddlers. After all, we have a kid who takes medicine three times a day (and has for four years) and another kid who has had so many colds and fevers that we're on a first-name basis with the entire pediatric office staff. We've learned the tricks. We know how to get them to take whatever medicine they need. We're good at this.

Oh, wait. Apparently, we're not good at this. Either that, or Gracie is the most stubborn child ever invented. I think it's the latter. In any case, let's review how the medicine dispensing went:

1. Our first effort was the standard "We'll give you some Diet Coke if you swallow this liquid Motrin." Gracie took the medicine, looked at us, and spit it out. "I don't LIKE IT!" Okay, on to option 2.

2. The next idea, which has ALWAYS worked in the past, is to offer chocolate along with a chewable Tylenol or Motrin pill. We were able to get one Tylenol in Gracie with this method, but when we offered her addiitonal chocolate, she claimed she didn't want any more. On to number 3...

3. Our third try was to implant the second Tylenol pill inside a chocolate covered strawberry. Gracie took one bite of the strawberry (of course, not the part with the Tylenol in it), and said she was done. She could not be coaxed into eating any more of the strawberry. Time for #4...

4. Number four was the old ice cream trick. What kid wouldn't take a pill if there was the promise of tropical punch-flavored frozen dessert?? Well, that child would be Gracie. So, I tried to smash up the pill and mix it in with the ice cream, but she still wouldn't budge. She wouldn't even open her little mouth. It was clamped shut tighter than an alligator's jaws around the leg of a Cajun.

So, how did we win (because you know, in the end, that the parents did win)? Tom tickled her until she laughed and I shoved a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. She actually enjoyed the ice cream, but didn't want any more after that forced spoonful. She just wanted to go to bed. Poor kid.

She seems to be better this morning - no fever, but her eyes are still runny, as is her nose. She seems to have more of an appetite today, too, which is a good sign.

Of course, as it always happens in our house, Patrick seems on the way down into the virus world. This should be a fun week. The only upside is that this is the first time in a while that Tom has actually been in town for their illnesses!