For the past few years, we've made a tradition of going to Atlanta over Labor Day weekend to spend time with Dad and Catherine and their boys, and celebrate Lou's birthday and our wedding anniversary. We had plan to do the same thing again this year, and looked forward to this weekend all summer. Dad and Catherine even volunteered to watch the boys Sunday night while Lou and I went out to dinner with friends and stay at the Ritz in Buckhead. Well, our plans got rearranged when Benjamin got sick.
On Friday, on our way up to Atlanta, he started running a fever. Adding in that our usual 4 hour trip turned into a 5 1/2 hour trip due to traffic, it wasn't a fun drive up. We finally got to Atlanta, put Benjamin down, and enjoyed a really awesome dinner with the family and a big glass of wine!
Saturday morning, Benjamin woke up still running a fever and wasn't feeling too great, so we decided to take him to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Urgent Care center. The nurse told us to give him some Motrin while we were waiting since he was hot, and after we gave it to him, he threw up all over me in the waiting room. Lovely. Then, the doctor diagnosed him with an ear infection (again), and prescribed Zithromax for him. We got it from the pharmacy, took him back to Dad and Catherine's, gave him the Zithromax, and he nearly immediately threw it up on me. Lovely times two.
We put him down for a nap since he was still feeling awful. When he woke up, he was covered, head to toe, in raised welts and rashes. Oh no. So, we immediately put him back in the car and drove to Urgent Care. It was clear that he had an allergic reaction to the Zithromax, and thank God he threw it up. I hate to think about what kind of reaction he would have had if he had the full dose in his body. The doctor prescribed another antibiotic for Benjamin (remind you that he's now allergic to three different antibiotics - Augmentin, Amoxicillen and Zithromax). We go back to the pharmacy, get the new drug, go back to Dad and Catherine's, give it to him, and he throws up. Again. On me. Lovely times three.
We put him down for the night, and decide that if he's not any better in the morning, then we are going to head back to Savannah. After all, we had that scary hospital trip in February when he was severely dehydrated, so we knew what the danger was with all this vomiting. Sunday morning, he wakes up and is feeling good - playing and smiling. So I give him a bottle. He drinks it eagerly and asks for more. I give him more. You know where this is going, right? Lovely times four. And, we decide to pack up and head home. After all, not only were we not great company for Dad, Catherine, Johnny and Robbie, we certainly didn't want to expose them to anything contagious.
The drive home wasn't bad, and by the afternoon, Benjamin and Owen were laughing and playing together. Sunday was Lou's birthday and our wedding anniversary, and over dinner (meatballs, mashed potatoes and green beans - not the fancy dinner we had reservations for), we decided that this wasn't so bad. We were spending the day with our children, and were content being together and happy. Well, shortly after dinner, guess who gets sick again? Round 5. Uh!
Monday morning, we took him into our pediatrician's office here in Savannah. They ran some blood tests, and told us he had a viral stomach bug (ear infection was better), and that we had to ride it out. Fortunately, although his blood was "a little low" he wasn't in danger of dehydration. Benjamin actually had a really good day on Monday - clingy to me, but playing and generally happy. He went to bed Monday night and never made a peep during the night. When we went in there this morning (Tuesday), he had gotten sick in his crib at some point between 7pm and 6am. By now, my heart was breaking for this little guy. There are few things worse than seeing your children sick and not being able to make them better.
He was okay today. Eating small portions and sipping small amounts of liquids. He got through the day great with Lou and Ms. Bobbie. It wasn't until I got home from work that he got sick again. Sigh.
So... it looks like he's still got a stomach bug going on. If he's not better by tomorrow night or Thursday morning, we'll probably get him back in front of the pediatrician. There's just not much they can do - telling us it has to run its course. We're watching him carefully to ensure that he doesn't get too dehydrated. Saying a little prayer for the little guy that he gets better very soon!
And, please join me in
wishing Lou a very happy birthday. He deserves it. He's been the rock in this family for the past six years, and it's days like the ones we've had this week that remind me how wonderful he is - to me, to our children, and to his entire family. He's one awesome 41-year old in my humble opinion.
