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How we love our children...

...by letting them throw up on us. Luke had a stomach bug (probably from something he put in his mouth while I wasn't looking) all Friday, and he still wasn't all himself today. He seemed to be getting over it by bedtime tonight. I had been looking forward to the first weekend in more than a month when the entire family would be well. Maybe next week.

My theory of child illness: the two important things to do for sick children are 1) control their fever, and 2) keep them hydrated. If their fever gets out of control, they don't want to drink, and they get dehydrated, and then they can't keep anything down. With Luke, he had a hard time drinking anything, so I ended up giving him a few sips of pedialite in a medicine dropper every few minutes, up to 4 oz. per hour. He was mad that I wouldn't give him more at a time, but if I gave him too much, he would lose it all anyway. If you can keep the fever down and keep them from being dehydrated, the kids usually recover quickly. If you get behind on hydration, or let their fever get out of control, they get sicker and sicker. (Important Note: this theory is based on a sample size of 3 (as well as stories from other parents) and is not a substitute for medical advice =). I have often found that the best cure for a sick child is to take them in to the pediatrician's office---this often works miracles that can't be provided by any medicine.

While the motrin was working, he managed to start walking across wide spaces (instead of choosing to crawl--he usually made it about 11 steps before falling) and saying "ma ma ma ma" to refer to me. He is entirely cute, even when he is sick.
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Gary said…
Awww... so sorry to hear it! We've been really healthy this winter. I got the flu shot as early as possible, which seems to have made all the difference for me, at least in comparison to my last pregnancy. I was hoping flu season was over...

-Lenise
February 13, 2008 at 8:23 PM
mathmom said…
Hi Lenise! I am so glad you've been well. I think I managed to get the stomach flu every pregnancy, and with Eleanor, I actually had to go to the Dr. office to get an IV to get rehydrated.

When we went to see the Dr. yesterday because Luke had stopped eating, she said that the flu was running rampant. Time to get out the hand sanitizer, I guess.
February 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM
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