The Wrath of Rotavirus

I had been warned that rotavirus was pretty bad, but no one told me I would have explosive, uncontainable poops every 10-15 minutes. For the most part, I could handle it. I spent most of my time in mommy's lap watching Blue's Clues and The Wonder Pets. Mommy, on the other hand, was about to crack. Last Wednesday was especially bad. I pooped three times during lunch. Every time, mommy changed my diaper; but the third time, it ran out the diaper, onto the high chair, and into a puddle on the floor. Mommy stripped me, toweled me off, and carried me up to my bathroom, all the while praying that Winston and W wouldn't try to "help" clean the floor. As soon as she stood me on the bathroom floor, I pooped again. She hoisted me into the tub, where I pooped yet AGAIN. While mopping the floor and draining the poop bathwater, mommy frantically called my Nana to beg her to come help. Sure enough, Nana was on a plane less than 24 hours later, and mommy has never been so happy to see her!

By the time Nana arrived, I was doing much better. We had a big time during her visit. We didn't go out much, but we had a great time bonding...and it was nice to have someone other than mommy cart my butt around. She spent a lot of time playing outside with me, which was tons of fun. Now I know why the dudyas are always standing at the back door! There is a whole world of fun in the back yard waiting for me to explore. Now that I am officially rotavirus free, mommy stands little chance of containing me.

Another Day, Another Illness

As if the ear infection and hives weren't enough, I somehow managed to contract rotavirus last Friday. I threw up in my bed Friday afternoon and again around 10 that night. I couldn't go back to sleep, so mommy held me all night. She felt like my heart was racing, so she actually got dressed to take me to the ER, but ended up waiting to go to the pediatrician once daylight arrived. We sped into the pediatrician's office, where they whisked me into the ambulatory room. Mommy thought my vomiting and green diarrhea were yet another symptom of my allergy to the rocephin antibiotic. The doctor, however, thought it was rotavirus and promptly sent us to the Emergency Room at Loudoun County Hospital, Virginia's answer to Seattle Grace.

Thanks to my heart rate of 195 and the severe dehydration, I spent five hours in the ER on IV fluids with my beautiful nurse, Kim, and the equally lovely Dr. McCabe. Around 4:00, I still hadn't perked up. Dr. McCabe said there was one bed in pediatrics left and it had my name on it. A nurse wheeled daddy (who decided this would be a good time to hang out with me on the stretcher) and me up to the pediatric unit, where we were greeted by our new nurse, Tricia. She was so nice (and again...quite pretty) that I didn't mind when she told me I would be put in an isolation room. Every time a nurse or doctor came in the room to examine me, they had to wear yellow suits, gloves, and masks! I did, however, mind when Tricia told me that I would have to have more blood work. Yuck - I am NOT a fan of having needles put in me.

Mommy sent daddy home to take care of Winston, W, and the house, while she stayed with me. The coolest part about being sick has to be that mommy slept in the crib with me. I never knew mommies could sleep in cribs; and I bet mommy didn't know that before, either! By Sunday afternoon, I had turned a corner. I was playing peekaboo with my reflection in the mirror, and I even got to go on a walk around the hospital. Sure, I was still having explosive poops that blew out of even the most industrial diapers; but I was able to drink fluids on my own, which meant that I could go home!!! We ate dinner at the hospital, and then mommy and I drove home. I was so excited to be back under my own roof. I walked all around the house, making sure my toys were still in place, and making sure the dudyas hadn't gotten too used to my absence.

It was nice to sleep in my own crib for a bit, but I got a little crampy and spent most of the night in bed with mommy and daddy. I was feeling well enough to eat breakfast this morning, so mommy gave me--at the doctor's recommendation--some yogurt. BAD MOVE. It was bad when I threw it up all over mommy and myself while she was rocking me. It was really bad when I spewed some more in mommy and daddy's bed. It was worse when I hosed the chair and blanket in the family room. It was just beyond words when I nailed the ottoman in the master bedroom. I think all of the yogurt is gone now, so I've been resting most of the afternoon. I just figured you'd be missing the blog, so I thought I'd fill you in on the latest. Please pray that I get well soon...and that all of this furniture comes clean.

Hoppy Easter

The Easter Bunny came to see me! He brought me an Elmo See-N-Say, a new cell phone, my very first crayons, and a Thomas the Tank Engine. I must have been a really good boy - or he just took pity on me for enduring six weeks of ear infections! After church, we celebrated Easter with the Weber Family. Mrs. Weber made what looked like a great meal, but I was too busy having a "this-is-what-happens-when-I-miss-my-nap" meltdown to eat any of it.

Since then, I've spent a lot of time at the doctor's office. My ear infections still have not gone away, so yesterday the doctor started me a three-day round of rocephin antibiotic shots. It isn't too fun, but mommy let me have pizza for dinner, which made me feel a little better. After today's shot, however, I broke out in hives. Guess I'm allergic to rocephin. I go back on Friday for another follow-up; and I get to go to an ENT specialist next Wednesday to see what he thinks. Good thing mommy and daddy have insurance!

Day at the Park

Mommy took me on a date with her friend's daughter, Elizabeth, today. We all went to the Clemyjontri Park for a picnic and some serious playground action. I have never had so much fun in my whole life!

Here Elizabeth and I are on one of the slides. It was my first sliding experience...and I didn't understand why I couldn't just walk down it.

Studying the planets...in a bunch of different languages.

This is a lot bigger than the Fisher Price School Bus I have at home!

Exploring the belly of a train engine - just like Thomas!

The Blog is Back

I have heard your cries! The blog is back! Why have I been away so long, you ask? Well, I've been:

Studying up to take the CPA exam so I can help daddy during tax season;

Terribly busy flying around Loblolly Court in my ultra-fancy Mickey Mouse airplane (compliments of Gran and Papa);

Whipping up tasty snacks for W;

and reading up on my Karl Marx.

Other than that, I've finally mastered the art of walking. Finally. Mommy and daddy played "the napkin game" with me last Monday night, and that is when I really took off. Granddaddy invented the napkin game, which basically goes a little something like this: Put a napkin on my head; I pull it off; you yell, "Aaaack;" I laugh hysterically. After I pulled the napkin off my head, mommy would throw it to daddy...and I would walk to get it. Who knew Williams Sonoma napkins were such great motivators? Needless to say, granddaddy is telling everyone about the instrumental role he played in this developmental milestone.

Since I'm walking, mommy decided that I probably should get some big boy shoes. I went to Nordstrom and was fitted last week. Mommy bought me two pairs of Stride Rite sandals (good thing daddy wasn't shopping - he would have bought me wingtips or golf shoes). I could live with the closed-toe pair, but I screamed my head off whenever she tried to put on the open-toed ones. She finally managed to sneak them on to me today before I noticed - and they actually weren't that bad. It probably helped that she applauded once she finally got them on me. I'll do anything if you clap for me.

The only other news I have that's fit for print (and might also explain my prolonged absence) is that I once again have a double ear infection. Mommy took me to the doctor this morning, where they confirmed her suspicions. While waiting for the doctor, I started playing with mommy's wallet. I took out all of her credit cards and photographs. It was a lot of fun, so I was quite upset when she told me (my least favorite word) no and took it away. I was so angry, in fact, that I took her arm, wrapped my mouth around it, and chomped down as hard as I could. Mommy usually says I'm precious, but now I detect a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Sick Boy

It's been a rough week. I've had a runny nose and screamed my head off for three days straight. Mommy didn't know if I was teething or if I was just entering into the temper tantrum stage of life; but she did know that we were both on the verge of a breakdown. Even though I never ran a fever, mommy finally took me to the doctor yesterday afternoon. She knew they would just say, "It's a virus, take some motrin," but she was at her wits end. I think she secretly thought they might give me something a little stronger than motrin if they could just hear me screaming for a little while. We saw a lovely new doctor named Dr. Beloy. She was pretty, and I didn't even mind when she sent someone in to put a thermometer up my butt. She took one look at my ears and declared that I had a raging ear infection in both of them. She also listened to my chest and ordered an RSV test, which tested positive. Geez, no wonder I felt bad. After taking a breathing treatment in the doctor's office, I felt better. They sent me home with my first prescription for antibiotics and my very own breathing machine. Hopefully you'll understand if I don't blog for awhile.

Oh What a Difference a Year Makes