Earlier this month, Cooper came home from Mother's Day Out with a nasty stomach bug. When I picked him up that day (it was a Thursday), his teachers said he didn't eat any of his lunch. Well, that's my boy! Eating has never been his favorite thing to do, so I didn't think much of it. As we pulled out of the parking lot, he got sick, but just a little. I thought maybe he had gagged himself with his sucker. I cleaned him up and started for home again. A few minutes later, he got sick again. I knew something was up at that point. I got him home, cleaned, and put down for a nap. He woke up shortly after (just as I finished cleaning the car seat from our ride home) and was sick again. I called the doctor's office and told them what was going on and that he hadn't been sleeping well since the Friday before when he woke up during his nap really upset. I wasn't sure if he had had a nightmare or what, but he hadn't been sleeping well since. The nurse said that concerned her more than the throwing up because he could have an ear infection. We set up an appointment for 45 minutes later. I got Cooper in his car seat, covered him with a towel in case he got sick again, and off we went. He did get sick again...four times total...and that towel I had over him did not do a bit of good since he pulled it off to throw up under it. It was terrible. I was helpless as I drove, and he looked so pitiful. I cried and prayed the whole way there. Once in the parking lot, I took off his clothes and cleaned him as best as I could. I wrapped another towel around him, and then we sat in the waiting room for way too long. Of course, he threw up two more times in a trashcan in the waiting room. It was tough. Once we saw the doctor, we found out he had fluid in both ears and obviously a stomach virus. Long story short, the virus continued off and on for a week. He would be fine, and then in the middle of the night, he would start throwing up again. Early on in the virus, the "sessions" would last four hours, and then he'd be fine until the next night. As the week moved on, they got shorter and shorter.
Karl and I got smart though and put two sheets over the chair in his room to protect it, along with washcloths (for wiping his mouth) on the arm rest, and a trashcan with two plastic bags (in case one leaked) next to the chair on top of his book basket, which was also covered with a towel (we also had a pillow and blanket to make sleeping more comfortable and somewhat possible for us).
I would hold him most of the night, so that we weren't having to change his sheets (crib sheets are not fun to change) and bathe him (middle of the night baths are not fun either) constantly. This set up made it as easy as possible and worked really, really well.
Well, Sunday night I looked at Karl after I put Cooper to bed and said, "I don't feel so good." Oh yeah. I had caught the stomach bug. Cooper and I both spent Sunday night throwing up. Then Karl left for a really important business trip to Germany Monday morning (and he started feeling nauseous as he flew over the Atlantic-but while he had bouts of really bad queasiness, he never got sick, thankfully). When he left, I cried! How was I going to take care of a sick child while I was sick and all alone?! By that afternoon, I called my dad and must have sounded desperate and pitiful because shortly after he showed up with groceries and dinner! He continued to cook for us and bring us food that week, and we recovered. When Karl got home on Saturday, I was overjoyed to see him! It had been a long, hard week! Even within the past week, Cooper still likes to walk up to trashcans and put his head in them like he's throwing up. I tell him it's not funny but he always smiles and giggles a little. It's not funny though.
I'm pretty sure Cooper caught the bug from Mother's Day Out. He wasn't loving MDO and was pouty any time I mentioned school or dropped him off. He was always happy when I picked him up, but he didn't like me leaving him. After the bug, I was seriously considering dropping out until next year. Building an immune system is tough, and I'm tired of the little colds and all that goes along with it.
However, when I picked him up after his first day back, his school pictures were in his folder. I started laughing right there in the parking lot when I saw them! PRICELESS! Not a single good picture, but each one got its own laugh out of me! The bottom right might be my favorite! Of course, I had to order a set though. We ordered the top right one because it's the classic school picture pose. Doesn't it look like he's having fun?! :)
They must have told him to, "Say, 'Cheese!'" because I don't say that when I take his picture and he keeps pretending things are cameras and says, "Cheese!" when he takes your picture!
Also, Cooper is still going to MDO. It is getting better too. He doesn't pout about going anymore and doesn't need to be held when I leave him either. We're making good progress! Today was Farmer Day, so he got to wear his awesome costume. Then when I picked him up, a really pretty little girl in his class ran over to us and said, "Bye Cooper!" He smiled back at her. It was just too cute!!
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