Misery

I've been really thankful that Jackson has had such a healthy first 15 months in part because I hate to see him uncomfortable, and I anticipate illness being easier to deal with once he can communicate through means other than crying.  We had a busy week last week getting ready for Mother's Day (two moms, step-mom, and special aunt to think for) and heading to my hometown for an overnight trip to see my nieces play ball and take my mom out for an early Mother's Day lunch. Jackson was unusually fussy during lunch, and I had to get up twice with him at the restaurant (a first). Later that afternoon we took his temperature, and it was definitely in the fever range.

That evening we had Blake's step-mother and father over for dinner for her early Mother's Day celebration, and in the middle of dinner Jackson threw up...a lot.  He was whiny after that and actually started saying "mama" (first and maybe the last time he said it was after one year shots:) and reaching for me.  Thankfully he continued eating some and went down for bed like normal.

When he cried the next morning around 5:15 I figured I better check things out just in case, and he had thrown up in his crib.  Poor guy.  After cleaning up, I let him lay down with me, and right after he got settled he sat up and threw up all over me.  Turns out his father (and my mother) had been up half the night sick with chills and throwing up.  Thankfully Jackson didn't throw up again but was really pitiful all day long and pretty much cried if he wasn't watching television; other grosser symptoms developed too.  I seriously think he watched television for 90% of his waking hours on Saturday and Sunday.  We've never been so thankful for DVR and Sesame Street.

Fortunately Blake recovered Saturday afternoon about an hour before my symptoms began.  I had really hoped to somehow miraculously avoid infection since I'm 30 weeks pregnant and of course want to avoid dehydration (and had already done 3 loads of illness related laundry, taken care of both boys, hadn't had a shower, and was exhausted from such an early wake-up and busy week).  Once the symptoms were underway I was in absolute misery.  Moaning, praying, and sincerely thinking the virus was worse than childbirth.  Losing so much fluid so quickly set off constant Braxton Hicks contractions and stomach cramping, so even between the waves of nausea I was miserable and couldn't rest.  I couldn't help but worry about little Ella.  I finally called my OB's office and was advised to get my hands on some Zofran or Phinergan, which my good friend and neighbor graciously shared with me.  I won't bore you with the rest of the details, but suffice to say I'm soooo thankful to be on the other side of that virus.  Jackson's symptoms finally ended yesterday afternoon although he's nowhere near normal yet, and Blake was 100% yesterday.  It's a good thing that we're leaving for the beach this Saturday because this Mother's Day weekend wore us out!  Hope all of you had a much better Mother's Day weekend.

p.s. I'm thankful that Jackson was so cuddly in his discomfort and that he's on the upswing.