Monday, July 19, 2010

Sick and sicker

Last week Ray got a stomach bug of some sort. It has become the bug that just keeps giving.

Last night we were driving home from Nathan's parents' house and Matthew threw up. We were only a couple of miles from home, but it was miserable. For him and us.

At 12:40am he started throwing up just about every half hour to forty-five minutes. He was so tired and just wanted to sleep. As the night went on there was nothing left in his poor little stomach so he was just dry heaving.
I felt so bad for him.

Today he couldn't keep anything down. Nothing. In fact, just when I thought he might actually keep something down he would throw up.

And then...




Rachel threw up again. And her diarrhea came back with a vengeance. Truthfully, it was never really gone but it was getting there. I wish my camera had been handy when Nathan got home from work. Rachel would just lay down on the tile with her behind up in the air.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Our Day 7/15/10


I was getting ready to take Hailey to her dentist appointment. Rachel was in the bathroom with me. She started making an odd sound. It took me a couple of seconds before I realized what the sound was. She was getting ready to throw up. I picked her up trying not to put pressure on her belly and held her over the toilet. Turns out she was just dry heaving. (I say that like it is no big deal. Dry heaving is awful.) At that point I realized she felt a little warm so I took her temperature. 102.7. Brilliant! A sick kid on the same day I'm taking another to the dentist to be sedated for a tooth extraction that she has no clue about.

I finished getting ready just in time to hear the doorbell. Nathan's parents are here to watch the kids. I told them about Ray, gave her some Tylenol and left with Hailey.

Hailey and I got to the dentist's office and checked her in. We were taken to a small room with a bed, chair, tv and dvd/vcr. She was given her "drink" and we started watching "Peter Pan." Hailey was gone right as the kids take off to Never Land. The dentist came in and got her and I went to the waiting room. About an hour or so later they told me she was done. I went to get her and she was so out of it. She slept through the whole thing: extraction, 2 cavities filled, cleaning and fluoride. With the help of one of the hygienists I got Hailey to the van and into her car seat. She slept the whole way home. We got home and I helped her in the house and onto the couch where she promptly fell asleep again.

Nathan's parents left for an appointment they had and I checked Rachel's temp again. 104.5. I gave her some more Tylenol and noticed her breathing was off. She was taking three quick breaths and then holding it for a couple of seconds. Then three quick breaths and holding it. Her heart was racing and she was grunting a little. I called the pediatrician to see if I could get Rachel in asap. They told me to take her to the ER.

Slight panic ensued.

I was going to take the three oldest kids to my parents' house so my mom could watch them and they could stay for pizza night. I didn't figure Hailey would be too much trouble. As I was loading everyone in the van Ray started making that noise again. This time no dry heaves. She threw up. Luckily, I hadn't put her in her seat yet and I was able to face her away from me. Even still, the splatter got my shoes. But, her breathing was now normal. So, I called the doctor and they said not to go to the ER (saved me a $100 co-pay), but to still come to the office and could I be there by 1:00? Sure no problem, I said, not realizing it was 12:50 and the peds office is at least 20 minutes away.

I thought I'd call my mom and ask if she'd come to the peds office and switch me cars and take the older kids to her house. Nevermind that that would leave me without a car seat for Ray. It didn't even cross my mind. I called and she wasn't home and I didn't think to tell my dad to pass along the info that we wouldn't be coming over. I left for the doctor and thought I'd be smart and avoid the construction on Grand. I turned onto another street and ran straight into...worse construction.

We got to the doctor's office at 1:22 and I apologized for being so late. The front desk lady said, "You're not late. Your appointment isn't until 1:30." Plus, Rachel had a credit on her account so I didn't have a copay either. Yay. Small blessings, right?  I forgot to mention that I was carrying Rachel in one arm and holding Hailey up with my other arm. We were definitely a sight to behold.

Rachel's ears were clear, her lungs were clear and her breathing was normal. Her fever was down a little and she was acting much more lively. Hailey, on the other hand, was passed out on the bench in the exam room. The diagnosis for Ray was either the beginning of a stomach bug which could mean more throwing up and diarrhea (yay!) or a UTI. To diagnose a UTI, though, they would have to catheterize her and per the doctor "it is kind of invasive" (no kidding). We decided to watch it and see what happens. We made our way out to the van and made our way home.

Hailey finally woke up at 4:15pm and was mad because we didn't put her tooth under her pillow for the tooth fairy. I explained that it was still the same day and she hadn't gone to bed yet.  She woke me up at 12:30am to tell me that the Tooth Fairy had come and had brought her a Littlest Pet Shop and $1.00. She is fine today and has no pain. I only gave her one dose of Motrin yesterday and that was preventative. She did great.

Ray's temp got up to 104.7, but she managed to sleep through the night. She was up by 6am and her temp was 101.0. She is still pretty whiny and clingy and as an added bonus, she has diarrhea.


Here's some love from Kade. He was actually trying to give me a dirty look, but I told him it looks like he is trying to kiss the camera.