Fever, purging, cough - the works

It started last Wednesday with a little diarrhea. Mummy left in the morning and you felt a little warm. Grandma and Aunty Otta were closely monitoring your condition. At about 4:00pm mummy gets a call from Aunty Otta. She said you have a high fever and she sounded worried. It is unlike Aunty Otta to panic so mummy figured you must be really warm. Mummy skipped her meeting and rushed back home. Mummy took you in her arms the moment she arrived home. You were so warm. Mon had already packed your bag so Aunty Otta grabbed mummy's car keys and we were in the car in no time. Drove into town. We arrived at the first pediatrician but it was closed. We drove around for about 45 minutes before we spotted another one which was closed too. By this time, you are so exhausted from the drive that you fall asleep in mummy's arms. Mummy is thankful for this. Finally, we give up. And out of desperation decide to visit any old GP.

Dr. Wee was very nice. She took your temperature, it was 38.8 degree C. By the time we arrived the clinic, your temperature had reduced. I could feel it. She checked inside your mouth and in your ears. This was no easy task, you kept struggling and fighting back, crying like in pain. You were sick and moody, poor thing. We left the clinic after giving you one dose of paracetemol. Dr. Wee also gave you something for the cough and diarrhea. I am so glad that the good doctor avoided antibiotics.

On the way home, you slept in the car. Not a peaceful sleep, you kept tossing and turning in my lap. Mummy knows what it's like having a fever and diarrhea. Just when you manage to overcome the discomfort and fall asleep, your tummy starts to churn and everything is purged. You wake up and cry from frustration and exhaustion. My heart aches.

The fever goes up and down for the next 2 days. Your purging worsens. Your bum bum is so sore. The skin is raw and pink. Everytime you purge, it stings and you cry in pain. Mummy has to wash your little toosh and this too stings. More crying. Mummy is crying too by now. You cling to mummy and refuse to let go.

By Friday evening there are no signs of improvement. Daddy and I bring you to Dr. Lam in Taman Megah. We wait over an hour for our turn to see the doctor. He tells us it is most probably a viral fever (not bacterial that requires antibiotics) and will go down in another 2 days. The diarrhea however should improve but should take 1-2 weeks to go back to normal. In the meantime, he tells us to change you milk to a non-lactose (soya based) milk. Which we already did as advised by Dr. Wee earlier. Apparently cow's milk is acidic and this causes the skin to burn.

For the next two days, your temperature is fine during the day but increases in the wee hours of the morning, around 3:00am. Mummy gives you water every 30-45 mins and when it seems too high, a dose of paracetemol as well. The fever subsides within an hour. Your sleep is not peaceful for a week. The purging and discomfort from having a fever wake you up an average of 6 times a night. Mummy loses sleep as well. Wednesday night, one week after the first loose stool, you sleep better. No more fever. Mummy is so grateful. Your bum bum too is healing. Pooping no longer causes you pain. Relief sets in.

Today you are back to your normal self. You lost 500gm after a week of diarrhea and restless nights. Not too bad considering. Your appetite has improved and I can see the cheeks fill in a little.

Big Boo Boo

Today you had a big boo boo. And who's irresponsible supervision were you under when this unfortunate incident ocurred? MUMMY'S!!! Oh no!

When Ronan was born, he was given a musical tricycle from a friend of his daddy's. The type where there is a long handle at the back for mummys n daddys to steer/control their babies. It has a little button in front that you can press to play music. The tune is some tacky 80's pop song in which the title escapes me right now. Mummy believes this particular ingenious creation was meant to be some sort of bug, either a bee or grasshopper.

Anyway, since Ronan is a little too young to cycle or to be pushed around in this contraption, you have been happily entertained by it for some months now. You especially love the music. A few days back mummy decided to push you around the neighborhood in it because you are getting heavier and its harder now to carry you around during our strolls and visits to the playground. You seem to find EVERYTHING interesting. And tend to pull your body weight toward every object that fascinates you. Mummy ends up being pulled from one tree to another, from one post box to the next and to every other patch of carpet grass you see. Oh speaking of carpet grass, you long to touch it with your fingers but are 'geli' to stand on it barefoot. So mummy has to dangle you on top of the grass so you get to feel it without having to step on it. Your legs curl up everytime mummy tries to put you down. It's quite funny.

Ok back to your boo boo story. So this morning as I was feeding you your oatmeal breakfast, the little bee (or grasshopper) caught your eye and you went absolutely nuts. Obviously mummy had no choice but to bring you outside and onto your bee (or grasshopper). So we set out into the neighborhood, up and down the lane. You occassionally pressing the magical (music) button and mummy feeding you a spoonful of oatmeal upon your request. You must have been hungry this morning because you kept turning around to ask for more. This nearly never happens. Then on our last stretch, you decide its more fun if you had both legs on one side of the buggy instead of the conventional (and not forgetting more stable and safe) seating position of one leg on each side. Mummy wasn't too worried because I still had control of the steering. Then suddenly something (mummy forgot to check what it was) caught your attention because in an instant you swooped down bringing your full weight on one side. You topple over bringing the whole buggy with you and land face down on the pavement. It takes 1.5 seconds before I hear your wail. I already have you in my arms but you are still entangled in the buggy. Mummy holds you close for a few seconds and tries to console you. Then I take a look at your face and the rest of the body to see if you are injured. Everything is fine except for a scrape on top of your lip. Not too bad. Nothing permanent. Your cries turn into cries of anger somewhat. No longer of pain. Mummy holds you tight and as we walk back to the house, you notice something interesting on the gate. You stop crying and mummy brings you closer to the desired object. You smile. Mummy smiles and is relieved you are truly ok. Your eyes are red and your face wet with tears. There is still dirt from the ground stuck to your face. Mummy brushes it off. Mummy wishes she doesn't have to leave you for work.

xxx

mummy

You have been sick - Part II

On Tuesday evening last week, you started feeling a little warm. It was a warm day so I didn't think anything of it. As I lay you down that night, you were a little warmer and this time I knew it had nothing to do with the weather because we were in an air-conditioned room. You had a fever. Your first official fever. Well you had a slight temperature after your third Triple Antigen shot but mummy had your fever pillow and it went down within a couple of hours. This time round we didn't have the fever pillow with us. So mummy was up all night, dabbing your forehead with a wet cloth to keep the temperature down. By morning, you were still warm. Mummy skipped work. I checked your temperature with your cucut thermometer and it read 38.5 degree C. Yes a fever but not an alarming figure. Your appetite was good and your mood was as bubbly as ever. Mummy decided to give you some baby paracetemol. By Friday morning, your fever was down. Mummy figured it was safe for me to go back to work and imagined coming back after work to a perfectly healthy baby. Boy was I wrong. Your fever was back. I continued with the cold compress and the paracetemol. By now your appetite has reduced and you have started coughing. However, you smile and laugh no less. Always the happy baby. Your fever peaks during the wee hours of the morning. I worry and I pray. Mummy brings you to the nearest clinic mummy can find. Your temperature is 39 degree C. This is pretty high. The doctor says your body is heaty, your throat is red. However, your lungs are clear. We left with fever medicine, antibiotics and something for your cough. You take the medicine very badly. It hurts me to have to give you three different horrible kinds every 8 hours. But its necessary. By evening your fever is down. I am relieved. Your cough worsens somehow. It's heart wrenching to see my little baby cough. We continue with your medicine. Your appetite remains small. You lose the chubbiness around your arms and thighs. Mummy is so sad. But within 3 days your cough slowly disappears and your appetite is slowly returning. Thank God.

Today, your appetite is back to normal. In fact better than ever. Well, your appetite for milk anyway. Yesterday you took a total of 27.5 ounces! That is a record for you. Mummy is so proud. You have regained some of the chubbiness you lost due to your sickness. You don't know how relieved and happy this makes your mummy. You are such an amazing and perfect little person even when you are sick. I love you baby boo boo.

mummy
xxx

The Runs

An episode of the runs has caused those chubby cheeks of yours to deflate a little. On top of that you have lost some folds around your arms and belly. Those thighs are still thundery and gigitable though. Your appetite has reduced somewhat. Mummy's a teensy weensy bit sad about this. But am super relieved that your poop is now pretty much back to normal, it's regained most of its firmness and greenish-brown color. And gone back to its normal stinkiness. Runny baby poop has such an unusual smell. Tuesday night was a hard night for mummy, daddy and baby. You were up many times, letting out little cries of pain and discomfort followed by some major letting go of air and other matters. Mummy couldn't do much to console you because she was experiencing some unexplainable pains and aches herself. I could hardly stand let alone hold you in my arms. So I lay down in bed, kept myself warm and rested. Thank God daddy came to the rescue. He took care of you and made sure mummy was feeling alright too. After more farting and purging episodes, daddy managed to calm you and finally you dozed off. Mummy was soon in dreamland too.

You have been rubbing your gums together for some months now but your pearly whites have yet to break through those gums. Smacking your lips together over and over has become a new and super cute habit. More drool, Less appetite. Purging. The only 'teething sign' you have not experienced is fever. Thank God. Although everyone around me is convinced these are teething symptoms, I have read several articles that mention there is no connection between these signs and teething. BUT, mummy's convinced you'll get your teeth soon. According to your doc, from her experience the average age of teeth sprouting is 8 months. That's you!

Anyhow, your front row (top and bottom) gums are hard and have turned mostly white. But no sign of a tooth yet. Mummy's probably going to wake up one morning to you smiling at me with a complete set of shiny teeth! A bit of a scary thought when you really put your imagination to it. Doesn't matter, you're my angel with or without teeth!

mummy
xxx

You have been sick

You have not been well this past week. It started off as a little cough (sounded more like a clearing of your throat). Then gradually it turned into a wet-phlegmy sort of cough which somehow only attacked late evening or early in the morning. Your right eye started getting watery. Mummy brought you to the doctor but she said your lungs and nose was all clear. She gave you an anti-histamine anyway. I started giving it to you in the evening after your dinner. No improvement but you didn't get worse neither. So you have been that way for over a week now. Medicine is nearly finished. According to the doc, the wateriness of your right eye could be a sign of an onset cold or it could be that your tear duct is blocked somehow and all you need is a little eye massage and it should go away. Apparently, daddy had this too when he was about your age. So mummy needs to give you a massage now and then. You are still the little sweetheart. Not cranky or moody. Smile on demand. Hehe. Getting a little more manja and more aware of mummy's whereabouts. I hope your cough leaves you completely very soon. It disrupts your sleep at times and it just tears at my heart having to see and hear you cough. I'm sure you are not suffering but still. *Sigh*

xxx
mummy

Scare No. 3: COLIC

Monday, 15th October 2007 night you gave mummy a huge scare! Daddy and I went browsing around for electrical items for our house and decided to bring you along. You seemed fine throughout, napped a little. When we got home, you were tired and cranky. We had some visitors but you were not in the mood to entertain. So mummy hugged and sang you to sleep. Not five minutes after putting you down, you woke up crying. I changed your diaper thinking maybe the wetness was causing you discomfort. Then mummy cradled you again but you wouldn't stop crying. In fact, you started wailing from the bottom of your lungs. Poor baby. I get a little worried. Mummy feels your forehead, its fine no fever. I take your clothes off and wipe you all over to get you nice and comfortable. This does not help. I get Kakak Mon to call daddy. He comes up and I pass you to him. He tries to calm you while mummy pats your bum. This doesn't help. Then I tell daddy to get the Yu Yee oil and rub it in his palms. He then presses his heated palms firmly on your belly. I give you your cucut. You are calm for a minute. By now mummy is pretty sure it is angin. Moments later, you are screaming again. How it hurts to see you suffer. Mummy is close to tears. I have it in my mind that if things don't improve we should go the the clinic. Daddy's thoughts are the same.

After a while we rush you downstairs. As I walk downstairs with you in my arms, you are instantly calm. We get in the car and you are quiet except for the little unavoidable sobbing after a wailing session. Before we reach the clinic, you are asleep. Your pediatrician is closed. So is your back-up pediatrician. It's a public holiday. We drive around a little longer. I tell daddy that we need not bring you to the doc. You tummy is settled and it would be silly to disturb you. We go home. Tired but relieved. Mummy cannot control her feelings and starts crying. I hold you for a long time before putting you down in your cot. You sleep like an angel. Every little movement you make from then on startles me. But deep down I know you are fine. You wake up for a feed 5 hours later and you are farting like a little baby machine gun. I smile till the sides of my mouth ache. I thank God for you.

I love you.

xxx

mummy

Nappy Rash

Blue Frock

Yesterday you had a bit of a nappy rash. Mummy & Aunty Otta noticed it when we gave you a bath. It was entirely mummy's fault. The night before mummy noticed your diaper was full and heavy but mummy didn't change it. You were making pushing noises and I was convinced you would poop so decided to wait before changing you. Unfortunately, you poop-pa-di-dooped only at 9 in the morning. By then it was too late and you were already sore. Poor thing. So after your bath, mummy slathered on a thick layer of nappy rash cream and powdered you all over. This morning your rash is nearly gone, phew! From now on mummy will make sure to change your diaper before it gets too full ok sweetheart.

Mummy was going through your drawers yesterday and realized that you have so many beautiful/adorable/cute little outfits that actually fit you. And if I don't put them on you now you will outgrow them in no time. There is this NEW white pyjama set that mummy got which you have never worn. No chance of fitting it now! So this morning, after your bath I put you in this blue frock (inherited from cousin Shannon) with embroidered flowers on the bib. Unfortunately, we don't have matching panties to go with it so I paired it with Mickey Mouse undies. They don't quite go together. You still look as cute as ever.

First Scare: The case of colic

You didn't get much sleep yesterday. Usually you fall asleep after a feeding. But yesterday something was not right. You tossed and turned shortly after being put down. It was the same after every feed. I know it was not hunger, and we checked your diaper plus we burped you several times. Mummy didn't know what to do. I hugged you and sang to you. Grandma suspected angin in your little belly. So we went to the store to get you gripe water and yu yee oil (some chinese traditional oil for angin). Then later in the evening, you got worse and started crying non-stop. Even mummy's nipples couldn't soothe you for long. We gave you a teaspoon of gripe water and grandma rubbed a bit of yu yee oil on her palms and gently pressed them on to your little belly. The moment your skin felt the soothing heat from grandmas palms, you stopped crying. Moments later you farted and farted and farted. Within an hour you were calm again and all you wanted was milk. So mummy fed you until slowly you fell asleep. Ah, the relief! You don't know how much it hurts mummy to see you in any pain or discomfort. Thank God for grandmas!

mummy
xxx

Mozzie Attack

Yesterday morning I picked you up from your cot and got the shock of my life. The whole left side of your face was covered in mozzie bites! My poor little baby. What did they do to you? I counted 14 bites all together. 1 on your nose, 1 on your chin, 1 on your ear, and another 11 on your cheek. You were asleep on your right side so they couldn't get you there. Mummy felt so bad. I wish I could have prevented it. Today daddy and I are going to get you one of those giant and hideous I must add 'tudung saji's' from the baby store. And we thought we took all the anti-mozzie steps - put up those magnetic mosquito nets, door closed at all times, mosquito spray, etc. but alas those mozzies were 1 step ahead of us. Thank goodness the little red marks have disappeared and you look 'normal' again.

mummy
xxx