Can’t catch a break…………….

And the sickness continues…..

SATURDAY: Following from my previous entry, the boys woke from their nap Saturday afternoon and Ben was even sicker. His temp was 40.7 (105.2), he was miserable, lethargic, coughing and vomited again. We (Sal, Tracie’s mum and Ethan) took Ben to the doctor. She was the same doctor who’d seen him the day before. She was brilliant. She said he was so much sicker than the day before and told us to take him to the hospital. Sal took Tracie’s mum (grandma) and Ethan home, told Tracie what was happening and then took Ben to hospital. Tracie had been told by the doctor the previous day that she was to stay home for 7 days. Sal convinced her that she was too sick to come with Ben to the hospital and she must stay in bed. Tracie was not happy, but agreed that she was still too sick to come with Ben to hospital :(

At the hospital (about 3:30pm), Ben was found to have a high temp (39.9) and high pulse rate (210/min) – normal pulse for a 14 month old is 90-150/min. They said he was dehydrated from the temperature and the vomiting. The told Sal to force feed him fluids no matter how much he hated it. Ben had to have 5mls every 5 mins. Ben HATED the fluid. He threw up twice more and had diarrhoea once. He lay on the hospital cot bed looking very sick. He was very flushed in the cheeks, lethargic and totally miserable. Poor Benny just lay on his back on the bed and grizzled. He was not interested in anything, which is very unlike Ben. He was so hot Sal was reluctant to hold him and make him hotter. Holding him didn’t help anyway – he still cried/grizzled. He was only wearing a singlet, and had his nappy (diaper) off so Sal could try and catch a urine sample (very unsuccessfully!!) The doctors took a blood test and tried to insert a drip but it fell out. They said they would wait for the blood test results to come back and insert a drip again if anything was wrong. Ben’s temp and pulse rate started to come down  after about 2-3hours and he was looking a little better. He started to get an interest in his surroundings and wanted to sit up. The doctors said his blood tests were fine and discharged him home. We got home at about 7:30pm. Ben’s temp went back up to 39.5 (103F) before we left, but they told us to give him Panadol and take him home to bed. We did, and he went straight to sleep :)

Meanwhile at home, Ethan was being looked after by grandma while Tracie was sick in bed. Grandma fed Ethan half a banana for an afternoon snack (which Ethan loves). Unfortunately Ethan had a massive vomit and threw up his banana all over grandma and himself and the floor. Grandma had a hard time dealing with a crying Ethan and cleaning vomit at the same time, Ethan spent the rest of the evening feeling miserable. He got his temp back up to 39.5 (103F) and he didn’t want to do much. He went to sleep before Ben and Sal got home.

SUNDAY: Both boys woke up with a temp today. Both boys have had a miserable day. All they want to do it sit on mummy’s lap and have a cuddle – so that’s all we did. Both boys are weak from their recent illness, and are getting tired more easily. They are also very weak and wobbly on their feet. Ben looks very odd when he walks. It’s scary to see them so sick :(

Ethan’s been the sickest today. He doesn’t want to eat or drink very much. We think he’s also got teething pain on top of his viral infection. We’ve been watching him closely for dehydration. He’s had an elevated temp most of the day 38 – 39.5C (100-103F).

Ben’s been miserable, and not wanting to eat much either. He had a little more fluid than Ethan, but still not as much as normal. Ben’s temp has been much better today, and within the normal ranges. Unfortunately, the cough that started yesterday is getting worse. He’s got a cough like Ethan had before he ended up in hospital with croup. The doctors told us that if he started to get a croupy cough we should give him some prednisone (steroids Ethan had). So we did.

Tracie’s starting to get a little better. Her temp is normal, but she still has a runny nose, a terrible moist rattly cough, hoarse voice, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhoea. She was able to spend the day in the living room instead of the bedroom today.

Sal is still the healthiest person in the house. Yesterday and today she’s developed an irritating dry cough and a stuffy nose. She’s got that feeling you get when you’re getting sick :(

Sal was supposed to be at work Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but has taken these 3 days off as “carers leave” to care for her sick family. She has Tuesday and Wednesday off, and is hoping everyone will be well again by Thursday.