If you have a queasy stomach, then don’t read on!
What a fun week we’ve had! Actually, it started great. Monday, we went to the county fair (you do see what’s coming, don’t you?). We had a blast. The kids just went and went and wore me out. They both wanted to go on the roller coaster (which I love). Maggie was all brave and “of course I want to go” and I’m sure would have cried her eyes out if she hadn’t been tall enough, but, alas, they let her on. Let me just say that she did not ask to go on that again! She “said” she loved it, but you could tell it freaked her out pretty bad. Isaak loved it all. He said he didn’t want to go on the ferris wheel, but we talked him into it and he loved it. We did not do any spinny things (those make me sick-sick-sick). Saw some animals, Maggie and I shared an elephant ear, and it was just a great, tiring, hot day.
Next day, Isaak was a bit lethargic and started to complain of his stomach hurting, but it was near piano lesson time, and it sounded like an excuse to get out of doing much. That night, though, it started. 3:30 AM, first diarrhea. 3:45. 4:00. 4:15. You get the picture. By morning, he was in horrible pain. Figured it was a bug and just had to wait it out. No fever, though, which was odd. No vomiting. Only diarrhea and lots of pain. Mid-day he said his diarrhea was pink. Uh-oh. That’s not good. For the next few hours I had him not flush so I could take peeky-peekies. What a fun job mom has! Yup. Blood. But, I know that having lots of diarrhea irritates the colon. It’s happened to me. So, more waiting. Next day (15 minute cha-cha-cha is still going on), I take him in to the doc. They take a lovely stool sample which looks simply like red egg drop soup. Can’t be a good sign. Well, that has to culture for 24-48 hours. They stick him on an antibiotic just in case it’s a bacterial invention that responds to that (they don’t want to wait to find out). They don’t seem that worried, so we wait another night. Next day, more cramps, more ‘rrhea. Call the doc and they say if he seems dehydrated to take him in to the ER to get some fluids. End of day, I do that. So lethargic, sunken eyes. Yes, he’s dehydrated. They take some blood, pop an IV in him (he did not like that, especially cuz they had to poke twice). Bloodwork came back negative, and with the fluids in him and him perking up a bit, they send us home. This morning (third day, no food, little water), he was feeling MUCH better first thing. After 4 Immodium in previous 24 hours, the ‘rrhea had slowed down and wasn’t so bloody. Good sign. We run a few short errands, but he starts feeling down again and falls sleep. I move him to the couch, then his bed, without him waking. He sleeps for 5 hours! In the meantime, I get the call. Stool is now positive for “probable e.coli.” I guess it has to grow some more to be sure. wow. E.coli.
Luckily, looks like we’re over the worst of it. He woke up from his mega-nap and was in a great mood. Said his tummy still hurt, but he hasn’t had any diarrhea at all today. Still peeing. He ate a small dinner (bland pasta and french bread), and put himself to bed on time (thought he’d stay up late after having slept all day; but that’s evidence he’s really sick). They say there’s no treatment except what we’re doing unless he gets dehydrated or his kidneys gets messed up (no signs of that). I guess if there’s a “mild” case of e.coli, he got it!
So, this week was shot. I was supposed to be doing some social skills training up in Seattle and dentist appointments and visiting family. But, alas, the cosmos had something else in store. It’s been alright. I’ve just been really worried about him. Never seen him so sick. I didn’t get much done because I mostly just sat next to him, stroking his face. Poor guy. But, in a way, it was nice. Is that demented? I *really* felt like a Mommy. A wonderful outpouring of love. It was nice to feel that, and to feel him so completely dependent on me, hope *I* could make him better. I don’t often get that from him.
So, we’re just going to take one day at a time. He was 150% better today, so if he’s that much better tomorrow, we may consider heading up to Seattle on Sunday and try to do next week what we had planned this week. But, we’ll just play it by ear and do what he’s ready for. Maggie went ahead up there with Dave (who has Army stuff up there this weekend), and she will play with Grandma for a couple days, then maybe go to her friend’s house in Sultan. It’ll be nice for her to get some quality “fun” time.
I’ll keep you all posted!
Although having 9 of him around all day may stretch me a bit. 