Fever

It was a rough weekend. It started last Thursday when she had a mild fever so I kept her out of preschool. She felt better at lunch time, so I brought her to daycare so that I could go in to work. After I picked her up that afternoon, she felt warm again. That night Baby Bear had a temperature of over 104. That was absolutely scary. We gave her ibuprofen and read online on ways to bring a fever down. We used a cold washcloth on her forehead and had her drink water. It wasn't easy since she was not a happy girl. If we didn't get her fever down after 30 minutes of trying these things, we were going to bring her to the ER. Her fever did start to go down and after an hour or so went down to 101. She had been so hot, that we were constantly cooling the washcloth down. She was so lethargic and refused water, she didn't want a bath. She was miserable. We could finally tell that her fever was down because she started to play again with some toys. By that time it was time for bed. She slept, but through the night I was constantly checking her and feeling her. In the middle of the night she felt hot and I tried to take her temperature in the dark, which didn't really work without waking her up. At any rate, I gave her more ibuprofen because she felt warm.

My poor little girl, she felt so bad.



The next morning she woke up and her fever was back up to 103. I call the doctor's office as soon as they opened and got an appointment for that morning. I emailed her preschool to let her know she would be out again and I emailed my office to let them know that I would likely be in late. We had a VIP coming in around 11am, so daddy and I figured out how I could get back in the office by that time. I later learned that the meeting time was pushed early and my boss told me I should stay home and that Baby Bear need me. I am so fortunate that she is so understanding and really appreciates me. I was especially grateful since I had been sick earlier in the week and took some time off. It was a bad time to be taking time off since I had a ton of work to do with a conference that I had been planning forth at was in a week.

So we went to the doctor and by then her fever went down to 101, so that was good. He took a look at her ears, listened a long time with the stethoscope to her heart and her breathing, looked in her mouth at her throat, and said he knew what was going on. Baby Bear had a severe sinus infection. She needed some antibiotics and he also prescribed some over the counter meds to controlled with her congestion. So we headed to the pharmacy downstairs and got what we needed. It is so nice that there is a pharmacy in the same building. We went home and it was such a struggle to get her to take any of her medicine. She still had a fever so she needed to take the Tylenol and the ibuprofen. Plus, she needed to take the antibiotics and the triamenic to help with her congestion. I staggered giveing them to her and somehow I forced down what she needed. She watched some tv then finally settled into a nap. She had such a hard time breathing during her sleep since she was so congested, it was so hard to see her struggle.

Her fever fluctuated the entire day so I had the washcloth close by to help bring her fevers down, tried to get her to drink water, and continued with that the next couple of days. I was just getting over being sick earlier in the week, so I was a little out of it and was starting to go crazy trying to figure out which med I had already given her and what she needed to take when. By the end of the weekend she seemed to be feeling better, her fevers were mild; fluctuating only up to 101 and she was eating a bit and drinking a bit more. She was still heavily congested and struggled breathing through her nose when she slept. But she was on the mend and better enough to go back to preschool on Tuesday. (Monday was a holiday but I still needed to go to work, since she was no longer feverish she went to daycare).

Looking and feeling better.

Just when I thought...

Just when I thought Baby Bear was feeling better. Tuesday night she complained that her ear hurt and she had a 100.2 fever. So I gave her some tylenol. The next morning I asked her if her ear hurt and she said yes. So I called the pediatrician and took the first appointment I was offered which was 20 minutes after I called.

We got there and she told the pediatrician which ear hurt. As he examined her, he asked her to cough and take a deep breath and she followed directions. I was so proud of her. This is the first time that she could tell us what was wrong and what hurt and actually told the pediatrician that her ear hurt. Usually, she is very shy and doesn't say anything to him and just clings on to me. She was a great little patient.

It was an ear infection. There was no fluid in the ear but it was slightly inflamed and there was some ear wax in there. An ear infection is not contagious so he said she could go back to school and daycare. The pediatrician prescribed antiobiotics and ear drops. I asked him for some tips to help give her medicine since it has always been a struggle. He explained to Baby Bear why it was important for her to take all of her medicine and that it was bubble gum flavor like candy. She said she would take her medicine and she even told him thank you as we walked out the door.

After we got her medicine, I put her in her car seat and explained to her that we needed to take her medicine. I expected a struggle so I hoped that being restrained in the car seat would help me out. I was prepared with wipes for her to spit it out. Much to my surprise, Baby Bear sucked up the required dosage without a problem. Apparently, the pediatrician's little talk with Baby Bear worked!! Amazing!!

It is simply amazing and such a difference from a year ago. Baby Bear can communicate to me pretty clearly what is wrong and understands when we explain to her the importance of something. Of course, daddy and I had explained to her the importance of taking her medicine as well, but I guess it holds much more significance coming from a medical professional. I guess that is just how it is.

It is hard to know if this was from the same bug that caused her first cold early last week or if it was a different cold that she caught later in the week. It has been a rough couple of weeks with her in and out of school, which means I am in and out of work along with her. I am tired. A few times during the night I would hear her moaning and I just feel so bad that she is any pain. I just hope that she is healthy soon and stays healthy!

This was from last night, doesn't even look like she is sick does it?



This was last week, my little ballerina, before she got sick again the later part of the week.

Never a dull moment

It has been a rough few days. Baby Bear appeared to be healthy for 3 days and then Friday at 2am she threw up again and did so several time for a couple of hours. So needless to say, this Mama Bear got very little sleep. Thurday evening we had a little friend over and they both were fine. I learned that her little friend had also thrown up that morning and had an ear infection according to urgent care. Baby Bear was fine that morning and seemed back to normal so she went to school. She was fine all day no vomiting, she ate and kept her food down. Grandma Bear picked her up from school and said she was lethargic that afternoon, but no vomiting.

Well, I guess she saved it all up for me. I was holding her on the couch while we watched some tv when she threw up all over me, not just a little but a lot! I stripped her and gave her to daddy to put in the bath while I stripped my clothes off and cleaned everything up. I put everything in the wash while she got her evening bath. Then I took a shower. My poor baby. I call the pediatrician and was told that it was probably the stomach flu and that there was a lot of it going around lately. I was told to keep doing what I was doing and if she got any worse to bring her to urgent care. Well, she was fine the rest of the evening.

We decided to lay low to let her recover and get healthy. Today she was fine, no signs of feeling bad at all. In fact, she was back to her normal, active self. We had been catering to her and letting her watch more tv than usual and so later on when she didn't get what she wanted there was a lot of tantrumming, screaming, hitting... Ugh. I guess she was feeling better. Later there was great mischief: sprinkling granola all over the floor and making a ton of mess, spitting water on the hard wood floors... Ugh! Then there was some destruction: pulling on towels in the bathroom so that she pulled the towel hook off the wall... Ugh!

The terrible twos at its finest. I just pray to God for patience and to bring my sweet girl back. I am not a great fan of this version of her. At the end of the day, she was a great challenge, definitely challenging my patience and stress levels, but I still adore that little girl. It is crazy, that no matter how frustrated and upset I get that I still love her. I guess this is what they mean by unconditional love. I love that crazy girl. I love my Baby Bear. I am exhausted but I still love her.

Mama Bear and Daddy Team Work

Monday was the first day back to preschool. We got to school and walked in the door and Baby Bear threw up on the school floor. We cleaned up and turned around and went back home. Baby Bear was so upset that she could not go back to school that day. She was very excited to see her teachers and classmates. But My baby girl was not feeling well. So Daddy and I worked our schedules around so that he stayed home in the morning and I took the afternoon shift to be with Baby Bear.

She end up throwing up again that morning and that time all over daddy. Daddy later told me that it was official he loved her unconditionally because having her vomit on him did not phase him what so ever. I totally understand what he means. I too love that girl so unconditionally. She can be sick, tantrumming, or the sweetest little girl in the world and it really doesn't matter what she does because no matter what I love her so much. She can frustrate and challenge me but at the end of the day I just love that little girl more than I can ever express, she is the light of my life and she is just so awesome that my love for her is so awesome. It is just amazing how much love I can have for her. I had no idea I could love anyone like I love my kiddo.

On Tuesday, we woke up and thought she was feeling better since she had not vomitted at all the afternoon before and was looking to be her normal self, but just after she woke up, she threw up. So it was another day to stay home. We figured out our schedules and took our shifts and somehow accommodated our work schedules. Daddy and I are a good team, we made it all work out so that we could each get our work done and take care of our poor little girl. We are fortunate that we have the ability to adapt our work schedules in situations like this. She was on the mend the rest of the day and by lunch time seemed to be feeling better and holding her food down.

That afternoon she was full of energy and wanted to wear her ballet leotard and slippers, but as you can see we kept her little bucket close by just in case. Daddy taught her to threw up in her bucket after she threw up all over him and she actually hit the bucket that morning.



She continued to have energy and eat the rest of the afternoon and so after 24 hours since the last time she vomited, she was ready to go back to school. Boy, was she excited to be back at school.

Must haves for a sick baby

Baby Bear was sick all weekend. We took her to the pediatrician on Monday when she did not seem to be getting better. She had an awful cough and mild fever. The cough was pretty bad and she was starting to wheeze. It turns out that she had a mild bronchial infection. The pediatrician prescribed antibiotics and albuterol. It seems to be doing its job since she seems to be doing so much better.

There were a few gadgets that helped me through this rough weekend. It is definitely not fun when your baby is sick.

Nosefrida The Snot Sucker

My pediatrician recommended this as opposed to the regular bulb aspirator. It is supposed to be safer and more effective than the bulb aspirator and it really is. The tube is placed against the nostril rather than inside like a regular aspirator. You use your own suction to suck the mucus out of the baby's nose. There are disposable filters to prevent bacterial transfer. It sounds kind of gross that you have to suck out the mucus with your suction, but it really works.





Exergen Temperol Artery Thermometer

This is not a necessity but it does make taking a baby's temperature easier. It might not be the most accurate, but it is very close and less invasive to taking a rectal temperature. What is especially nice is that I can take Baby Bear's temperature while she is sleeping and not disturb her.

Sick baby

My poor little Baby Bear is sick. She has a fever and a cough. My poor baby. Feel better soon, my dear.

Sick baby update

Baby Bear is doing much better today. Her fever is down. Her nose is still runny and snotty. When she finally went down to sleep last night, she slept well. Poor baby had a hard time getting to sleep because of her stuffed up nose.

I am glad my baby is starting to feel better. On the other hand, my other baby, Papa Bear, seems to have caught Baby Bear's cold and he is the biggest baby of them all. As for me, I think I am okay but I am running on empty. I am exhausted and a bit of a zombie. I am so tired, I need to go back to sleep. Too bad I have to go to work today.

Baby Bear is sick

For the first time in her life, my Baby Bear is sick. She has a low grade fever, a runny nose, and a cough. She has been off all day long and fussy. My poor baby. She can barely breathe through her nose, she is so stuffy. I feel so bad and wish I can make it all better. I am going to stay home from work tomorrow to cuddle and take care of my baby. Feel better soon my baby.

Nasal congestion

Baby Bear has some nasal congestion. Poor baby. I don't think that she has a cold or is sick since she is so happy and doesn't seem to be distressed because of the congestion. I think it bothers me than it does her. She continues to coo and talk up a storm. She only seems upset when I try to aspirate the mucous out of her nose.

Since babies breathe through their noses, I was pretty worried about it last night. I woke up often to make sure she was still breathing and finally brought her into bed with me so that I wouldn't have to get up and check her and so that I can easily sooth her when she was having a little trouble breathing through her nose. She is up this morning and happy as a clam. I guess if she is happy I should stop worrying.

Papa Bear got me sick

Papa Bear was sick all last week. I did my best to stay far from him, but it is kind of hard when you live in a small space. I tried to go out from time to time but I really wasn't interested in going out in the Christmas bustle and traffic if I didn't need to. I did my best to clean and keep the germs away, but apparently I failed. Yesterday was the first day that Papa Bear was feeling better and low and behold I was starting to feel a tickle in my throat. I woke up this morning with a sore throat and stuffed up nose. Boo! I don't feel too awful but I don't feel too great either. I am trying to figure out what is safe for me to take.

This just sucks! I am on vacation and now that Papa Bear is better I am sick so we can't seem to go and have some fun together.