Over the last three weeks, the Pookie and the Pumpkin keep getting sick. Especially the Pookie. Three weeks ago on Firday, I got called to pick him up early from school because he had a fever. He got better over the weekend, but I was called the following Thursday because he got a fever again. And then again on the following Thursday! Not to mention that the Pumpkin got a fever between the Pookie's first two, and then this past weekend as well. And of course once her fever was gone, the Pookie threw up... twice... on our seven hour car trip home.
It's especially hard to solo parent when one or both kids are sick. I'm a person who gets stir-crazy sitting around the house for a couple days, so when I was by myself with one sick kid and another with pent-up energy for two weekends in a row? I nearly went mad! Let me just say thank goodness for my parents, who let me bring the sick kids over to their house on that Sunday to just have a change of scenery!
We had brought my daughter in with her first fever to make sure she didn't have strep, which has been going around. She didn't. It was just a summer virus, they said. So I didn't bother to bring in the boy until he got his third fever (second child, you know how it is).
The doctor said he looked fine. No spots or redness in his throat. No stomach issues, breathing issues or ear issues. She asked when he started at the daycare, and reminded me that June was not that long ago. She thinks he is still just adjusting to the daycare environment. And apparently there have been a lot of viruses going around this summer. In addition, the teething probably are having a roll in some of the symptoms of sickness.
As we were talking, she asked about vitamins. I said that we hadn't been doing any vitamins because I had been nursing. But since I just stopped nursing a month ago, I really should get him on them.
Then we both looked at each other. And I said our thoughts out loud, "I just stopped nursing a month ago, and he has come down with multiple fevers and sicknesses since I stopped!"
Hello? Why yes, I have a brain. And sometimes I actually use it!
I decided to keep my brain in gear after that appointment and really think about some things. The boy is teething. Those back two molars on the bottom keep poking through, receding, and then poking through again. Sure it brings on elevated temps, fussiness, extra drool including drool he swallows which can cause runny poops and even throwing up, disrupted sleep, picky eating and constantly having his hand in his mouth.
Back up. I just wrote "constantly having his hand in his mouth." That hand which is touching everything at his daycare, including the things that other kids have had in their mouths and the other kids themselves.
Even though it's frustrating that the little 15 month old guy keeps getting sick (and passing it on to his sister), I'm feeling better because I think I know why. And I don't think it's anything serious. I think it's due to the following combination:
1. He's still adjusting his immune system to the daycare environment.
2. He just stopped nursing a month ago and is more susceptible to germs.
3. Because he is teething, he putting things in his mouth which likely have germs on them.
I'm really glad I got him checked out by the doctor so I know it's nothing serious causing his recurring sickness. Just the normal toddler stuff. But I still hope he stops getting sick all the time. I seriously out of leave time from work! Oh, and because I hate to see him sick, even though he's all cuddly and sweet.
7 comments:
Oh, the first round of day care illnesses just sucks. And I definitely empathize- I'm typing one handed with my sleeping sick baby (who will NOT be put down, thank you very much!) in my other arm.
Do you supplement vitamin D? It may help.
I keep reminding myself that this is a short term thing. Pumpkin doesn't get sick much these days! She hasn't even caught most of Petunia's illnesses....
Oh how I am dreading the start-of-daycare 6 months of illness. It was an absolute nightmare with Rosie. On top of her cold after flu after cold, she also had recurring ear infections. As soon as an ear infection cleared up, she'd have another within days. She also got roseola(baby measles) and hand foot and mouth disease. All between the already difficult age of 12 and 18 months when she was learning to walk, talk, and generally turn from a baby to a toddler.
So I empathize caramama! Its so tough on the baby, but not only that its so tough on you too. Seems like no one is happy when the baby isn't happy, right?
I've got another 5 months until Annie starts daycare. Yikes.
Rosie's like Cloud's Pumkin now though - hardly ever gets sick, even when the rest of us are. There was a time there while the whole household was sick except her. She must have some kind of super immunity from those rough days at daycare!
Lily has been sick for 1 month but nothing alarming, hence the delay before the doctor. She has been in daycare for 7 months and still breastfeeds. I am thinking it is the fact that she CONSTANTLY has her hands in her mouth and all over everything and everyone. So I REALLY feel your pain. I am tired of her snotting on me. I am also sorry the coughing keeps her from getting the rest she needs. Poor babies!
Much sympathy to both you and Cloud re the daycare illnesses!! I've heard it takes a year. It took Tate almost two but he started young and had other issues but man do I remember the constant back to back sicknesses. Not fun!!
@Kristina- I noticed a definite uptick in Petunia's illnesses when she started crawling. She'd been in daycare for months, and we were sort of surprised how little she was sick. Then she started crawling. And she sucks her thumb. So yeah. Lots of germs.
Aw caramama, so hard!! Mouse got sick constantly in infant and toddler daycare - especially toddler. The 18 mos - 3 years room was just one thing after another. (If you think about it, all those kids doing the in the mouth/up the nose/touch their surroundings behavior.) We just took care of her and hoped for it all to pass, which it did. But it's so damn wearing trying to deal with it and sort of keep up with work.
The start of elementary school last year was another rough year, but it was a rough year for a lot of people in general, so that combined with the bigger community probably did us in. (3! stomach viruses in one fall! ugh! plus bad colds, flu-like things...oh man I hope this winter is better now that we're used to the school!)
I hope everybody gets better soon!
For some reason, my kids did not get sick at all last year! Son was 5 and daughter 3 so maybe those are the magic ages when their immune systems got so beefed up on all the crap they were bathed in since they were two and started preschool.
But they were still carriers. They might have a sniffle or two and try to infect me with some new germ, but I chug Ai.rborn as soon as I feel that tickle in my nose or throat.
Here's hoping everyone stays healthy this year!
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