Ear infection #3 :(

So Addie is sick again with another ear infection. Here's what the past couple days have been like:
Disclaimer: I only remember most of the times because we  have a notebook where we record medicine administration and temperatures, in an effort to stay organized in our states of sleep deprivation.

5/16
10 or 11pm- Crying, screaming "my ear hurts!", pointing to left ear.
5/17
12:00am- More crying and screaming, Margaret gets Tylenol to give A but by the time she measures and re-measures it after pouring way too much in, A has fallen back asleep.
12:30am-More screaming, Margaret goes in to give A the medicine, but by this time it has congealed to the sides of the "spoon" and comes out agonizingly slowly, frustrating both M and A.
1:00am- More screaming and crying
2:00am-Mike goes to sleep downstairs
3:00am- More screaming and crying, Margaret goes to sleep next to Addie in the beanbag (but secretly wishes she could go sleep downstairs)
3:00am-5:00am-Very little sleeping, lots of back rubbing, crying and "ear hurts"ing
5:30am-Up for the day and M &M try to figure out work schedules, it is discovered that practically no medicine was given to A at 12:30 am because it was still mostly in the spoon!
6:30am- Tylenol
9:00am-Trip to the doctor with Mike (Margaret had to be at work at 7:30am)
9:20am-Verdict: probable viral ear infection, give ear drops and Ibuprofen, monitor, if worse in a couple days begin course of antibiotics.
10:00am-Margaret comes home from work early and Mike leaves to go to work
10:00am-Ibuprofen (A seemed much better after)
               2 ear drops in hurting left ear
1:30pm- 2 ear drops in hurting left ear
1:45pm- Ear still hurts
3:13pm- Underarm temp: 100.6, decreased hearing: lots of "what's that?" in response to us asking her a question (more so than usual), crying, lethargic, "armpit hurts", very warm.
4:15pm- Ibuprofen (finally!)
5:30pm-Ate a good dinner, in a very good mood. Mike sent a completely sleep deprived Margaret to bed early: 6:15!
6:15pm-7:30pm-A and Mike had a great time playing games and music and reading books, Margaret wished she was able to sleep through it, but was totally grateful to Mike for letting  her be in bed.
7:15pm-Ear drops
7:45pm-A to bed
8:00pm-Margaret fell asleep

5/18

12:00am- Crying, gave ibuprofen
5:30am- Margaret gets up to shower thinking A might be better and she'll go to work, A starts crying and complaining of left ear hurting, right one is apparently ok now. Margaret calls into coworker to say she's not going to be able to work, fortunately back-up was already in place.
6:15am-ibuprofen
6:30am-ear drops in right ear
6:30-9:00am- in a great mood, playing with toys, laughing, being silly
9:00am-fussy, crying, "ear hurts"(right ear)- underarm temp: 97 or 98
9:15am- ear drops in right ear
9:23am- Lethargic, warm, Underarm temp: 99.9, falls asleep on couch
9:30am-Margaret calls the doctor to ask if the antibiotics should be started
9:45am- A goes to lie down in bed
10:23am- Complaining of ear pain, warm, Underarm temp: 100.6
10:30am-Nurse calls back to say that if ibuprofen is reducing pain for 6 hours wait another day, Margaret tells her it's wearing off after 3 hours, Nurse says to start antibiotics.
10:55am-Azithromycin 
12:20pm-ibuprofen
12:56pm-Very warm (head, hands, whole body), rapid breathing, "legs hurt", underarm temp: 101.6
1:30pm-3:30pm- perks up,  in a great mood, wants to read books, play games, etc.
3:30pm- "My ear hurts", underarm temp: 99.5, 2 ear drops in each ear
3:30pm-5:00pm: lethargic, wants to lie on the couch and watch Backyardigans movie, falls asleep
5:25pm-Underarm temp: 102.4, shivering, glazed look, not responding to questions or acknowledging questions for a minute or two.
5:26pm-Margaret and Mike almost pack her up to go to the ER
5:27pm- Addie correctly responds with almost annoyance when Margaret asks her how many fingers she is holding up.
5:45pm-A drinks some yogurt smoothie, milk and water on the couch, doesn't want any food
6:00pm-Underarm temp:101.7
6:00pm -A wants to go to bed, brush teeth, pjs
6:15pm-Ibuprofen
6:30pm -Books and A is asleep shortly after.

If you have managed to read this far you are crazy, extremely nosy, very bored, wonderfully concerned about the well-being of our family. I am very glad that we started the course of antibiotics because she definitely seemed to be getting worse. So I'm hopeful that in another day or two she will be on the mend. I am very concerned about this pattern of antibiotics though and really want to get to the bottom of what's been causing her third infection in a month. Has she been this sick just because it's her first year in day care and she's had a runny nose and cough for most of it? Is she getting ear infections because her ears are so small and the liquid isn't draining right? Does she have allergies that are causing this?
I'm naturally inclined to want to play detective and get to the bottom of things, this desire is exacerbated by the fact that my child is in pain and I don't want her to hurt anymore. It just seems so unfair that she has been sick so much in the last couple months. I know that everyone says that kids in day care are sick a lot, but really?? sick this often?? I don't know.
I'm hoping that she's able to sleep well tonight and feels better in the morning.