At first it seemed to just be the price you pay to be a full time daycare kid....with the monthly cold and the persistent runny nose. But then he started catchings e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. Pink Eye, ear infections, then hand, foot & mouth, Impetigo, then hand, foot and mouth again. All within a two month stretch. (if you don't know what all of these nasty little things are I'd suggest NOT googling them and looking at the images as I did) He always has eaten well and had lots of energy so it was odd that his immune system seemed weak.
It was the middle of March. Eli had just had his first birthday party. KU was delivering to us a super fun March Madness. Then, sadly, Rob's grandfather, Bob Shoffner, passed away on Friday, March 16th. Rob went to Kansas for the funeral for a week and Eli and I were home. We were following the regular schedule as much as a parent can who is flying solo. I remember during that week noticing that Eli's tummy was a little fuller than usual. Nothing disturbing...i actually kissed it and commented to him a cute, big, baby belly he has. One year olds are known for a round belly and I'd always thought they were cute. He was in great spirits and played, ate, slept like normal the entire time Rob was gone. I was relieved by that as the last time Rob was away he had gotten pretty sick and balancing a sick baby, work and sleep on my own was challenging.
Rob flew home Sunday, March 25th. Both Eli and I were so happy to see him and we enjoyed a family evening together. The next morning I went to work on my own on the bus. Mondays I have an early meeting and Rob takes Eli to daycare by himself. I had barely gotten out of my meeting until i saw his daycare number come up on my work phone...it always meant the same thing..."Hi Meg, It's Stephanie. Eli has a fever again. It's over 102 degrees." I sighed and told her one of us would be there asap to pick him up. He appeared just sad from a fever...but no rash, no nothing.
We went home and cuddled with Mario kitty, gave him some Ibuprofen and planned to stay home with him the next day to honor the 24 hour fever policy at his daycare. That afternoon we got an email from Stephanie confirming there had been both Impetigo and Hand, foot & Mouth.
The next morning was a beautiful day...the sun was out! (an unusual thing in March in Portland) As I was standing in the window with Eli looking at the flowers that were budding I noticed he had a rash. Rob and i were bummed because we thought the fever would not lead to anything else...so we called the doctor. He was seen the next day and had both Impetigo and H, F, & M. And then it spread....like crazy.
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| Taken on March 26th - looking at it now you can see how large his belly is. But no rash. |
Taken March 27th - and trust me...it got MUCH worse.
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