well, well, well
I would like if my son would get well, the poor thing. He’s been sick for three weeks now!
Fever: once in awhile, but not super-high, and not high enough to keep him down for long (with the exception of yesterday, when he put himself to bed in the middle of the day.)
Throwing up: one time. Two weeks ago?
Coughing: Constantly, but until this morning, sounded like a “getting better” cough, not an “wheezing, unable to catch breath” cough. Until today.
Runny nose: He’s five. He always has a runny nose.
My nerves: Frayed. Yes, we have a call in to the pediatrician, who will say, “C’mon out!” and then we’ll go to get exposed to more crud. They’ll also say, “Yes, this one is really hanging on. Everyone has it!” Secondary infection, at this point? I have no idea. All I know is that everyone we know has gotten sick lately, and they’ve stayed sick for two, three, even six weeks. It’s gone into pneumonia for some of them — and in one case, the pneumonia didn’t respond to two courses of antibiotics.
Crap.
I’m blaming it on the rain and spring, of course (which brings mold, mildew, allergens and ever-lovin’ blooming things) in addition to germs and viruses.
Little Mini-Nekkid Neighbor was over yesterday. Wacky Boy was inside resting, so we played outside with Wacky Girl. Man, does that little girl have questions. She asked them all while I weeded the flowerbed.
“Did you know we had ice cream at my school? FOR 100TH DAY! ONE HUNDRED DAYS OF SCHOOL! Did you know that?”
“Why is he sick?”
“How did he get sick?”
“When did he get sick?”
“Is he asleep now?”
“Is he feeling better now?”
“I know what makes you sick. Bugs! Did you know that?”
“What do you think the bugs look like?”
“How can you make the bugs go away?”
me, still weeding: “If I had the answer to that one, I’d have six million dollars.”
Edited at 7:45 p.m. on whatever day this is — Wednesday??? — to say: He has a sinus infection. Thus the runny nose and cough, the vomiting and the fever. His temperature got up to 105.4 this morning. This was after my rowdy-ass little son, the boy who hasn’t napped since he was eighteen months old, had put himself to bed for a nap.
That was at 9:30 a.m.
Then the fever. He was limp, but not having a seizure. Gave him tylenol and a cool (not cold) bath. Water and more water to drink. Temp came down. Took him to the doc, who diagnosed him and gave him pink gooey liquid amoxicillin. After much duress, I got three-quarters of a dose down. The rest he poured down the sink in a fit of rage. (Fever had worn off — he had energy. Fever came back — he was filled with rage.)
(Frickin’ infections, how I hate you.)
Hockey God stopped on the way home from work to pick up chewable amoxicillin. He sweet-talked our stubborn little son into drinking the rest of a dose of tylenol. The fever was gaining on him. Fits, more fits, tylenol down.
Then we both threatened him until he nibbled half of one capsule of the antibiotic (to make up for the rest of the dose, down the sink).
“You will end up in the hospital. With needles! An IV in your arm for the antibiotics! You can get brain damage from these high fevers! You have to get better!”
Fits. He likes the phrase “brain damage,” my son, it intrigues him. And hospitals? Being cared for by people who are not his parents? Sounds better than gooey cherry tylenol and bubblegummy amoxicillin.
Finally, he gave in and ate the capsule. (Chewable, cherry.)
Did I mention the conversation my son had with his grandmother, when she stopped by this afternoon to check on him?
Wacky Boy: She is mean!
His loving grandmother: Why, honey?
Wacky Boy: She took my temperature! I wish she was dead!
Grandma: (smiles at me.) (payback… so sweet for grandparents.) He only says that because he loves and trusts you!
me: I so do not believe that, Mom.
, 
.
Ha haha. Oh the endless questions. I miss that age…sort of.
Hope he gets well already!
March 26th, 2008 | #
My daughter sort of had the same thing. Missed almost 2 weeks of school just off and on. It swept thru my office too. I guess it’s just some virus that’s taken hold. I hope he gets better soon and no one else catches it!!
March 26th, 2008 | #
Make sure he gets plenty of sleep and lots of liquids – water especially.
I am getting over the bug after more than two weeks of battling it. Same type of symptoms – runny nose, sore throat, GI problems. On Easter, I thought I was done with it and started to act normal. At work on Monday I started to feel tired again and spent Tues & Wed at home getting more rest. Others at my work have had it also. It seems to last at least two weeks.
RLW
March 27th, 2008 | #
Checking for sick status…????
March 27th, 2008 | #
Fever got high again today, poor kid. He slept a little, and is taking fluids okay. Hatin’ the advil and antibiotics, although his sister taught him a neat trick — roll up the amoxicillin chewable cap in a hunk of chocolate chip Eggo waffle and it is not so bad.
thanks you guys. keep those good vibes rolling our way.
signed,
tired mommy
March 27th, 2008 | #
WM
Just an idea for the reluctant medicine taker–get one of his stuffed animals (the bunny who goes quack?), have your son diagnose an illness, get something for medicine (lego block, marshmallow, eyedropper with water?) and have your son administer the medicine to his animal. It helps to have the animal act really petulant.
This worked for my next door neighbor girl, who may qualify as the world’s most resistant medicine taker. Her stuffed cat, Footie, got many doses of “antibiotics” and the girl got to be in charge and be the doctor/mom.
I know this sounds like parenting magazine therapy talk, but it might help.
Having a sick child really calls on our deep reservoirs of patience and imagination that we did not even know we have. You get some stars in your crown this week. (That is an old Catholic reference about the Blessed Mother Virgin Mary from this old Catholic.)
March 28th, 2008 | #
Anne, I will try that using the quacking bunny. Thanks for the stars.
March 28th, 2008 | #