Haute Mom Dilemma #58 - It's Flu Season

I know that with the holiday season comes flu season. I also know that having your little one in day care brings lots of icky germs around. I am not fond of either concept.

Yesterday Stella had her third high fever within a month or two. When I say "high fever", I'm talking about over 104. The nurses that answer the after-hours call-in line at my pediatrician's office know my whole family. Especially the nurse that is on duty between midnight and 3 a.m. Even though I have learned that 104 is apparently "nothing to worry about," I still worry. A lot.

There is something so heartbreaking about a sick, helpless baby who only wants to be held by mommy. Heartbreaking and difficult. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only mom that feels twinges of frustration when I need to pee and have to hold my child or go without her and hear scream at the top of her lungs.

Things like this force my normal multi-tasking brain to stop and focus on what is most important, my sick daughter. I have to push my natural urge to grocery shop, clean the house, do the dishes, and even shower, out of my head and just give my day up to comforting and caring for my precious little patient. It's probably as good for me as it is for her but that sure doesn't make it any easier.

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Haute Mom Dilemma #56 - Treating the Patient

'Tis the season, Stella is sick. I have to say that (knock on wood) she doesn't get sick too often but since she has been in day care, the illness rates have definitely increased. Everyone warned me so I can't say that I am surprised, not that it makes it any easier. Our warning that croup was going around was received on Halloween and by Wednesday, Stella was sent home mid-morning with a fever. She has been sick going on four days now with a high fever (over 104) for at least two of those days.

The little patient while on a walk today
 to get some fresh air. 

The nights have been long lately because all the sick patient wants is "mama". My hubby thinks it's sweet that she want to cling to me when she doesn't feel well but I haven't felt this suffocated since one of my high school boyfriends turned into a "stage 5 clinger" as they put it. I feel bad admitting this but it is so tough for me to be loving and nurturing and put that frustration of not being able to even use the restroom without your little one screaming bloody murder aside. With hubby sleeping on the couch and Stella and I in bed, little sleep has been achieved and so my already thin patience is in the danger zone.

I just have to remember that Stella isn't feeling well, in fact, I have made that my mantra in attempts to not be grumpy with her during her cling-on moments. We have all gone through having sick little ones and if parenting wasn't hard enough, a croup-coughing 18 month old always shakes things up a bit. Fortunately for me, she's in her crib napping and I am going to take advantage by napping (well, when I am done blogging.)

The hubby is taking me out for dinner tonight because he sees the boiling point coming close to steaming out of my ears while grandma comes over to hang with Stella. When I warned her that she might need to be held a lot all she said was, "Like that is a bad thing?" Ha. Tap, tap, it's her turn.

Sidelined witih Sickness

Yesterday I was layed out in bed with a case of food poisoning from some bad sushi.  I know, I always hear about it but it has never happened to me...until now.  Something that is always in the back of my head when I am down for the count is my workouts, specifically my runs.  The fact that I am too sick to run is honestly one of the first things that pops into my head, especially since I have gained about 5 pounds over the course of the move (unfortunately I am a stress eater, not the opposite).  I also know that with flu season coming up, many of you haute moms (and your families) may come down with the sniffles and wonder if you can still stay on those workouts, whatever they may be.  Check out this article I wrote for Disneyland Runers that will sort it all out for you!
Should Flu Season Slow You Down?

Haute Mom Dilemma #39 - The Nursing Mom

I have been posting about all the issues surrounding breastfeeding for so long that I can't believe that I have almost made it to my goal of 1 year!  The posts about the BFing in public and the pumping...remember the one when I had to travel to Boston and tried to bring pumped milk back in my suitcase (and succeeded, thank you very much!)  Now BFing seems like second nature and at times, almost easier.  Not to mention all the money that I have saved from not buying formula!

I realize that there are many needs and various views out there about nursing.  For some it is very important, and for others formula is just as good.  Some moms make the choice to nurse or not and others do not have a choice.  Some moms find that 4 or 5 months is as long as they can go, while other maybe go on longer than most...like 4 or 5 years.  Either way, to each her own and from the bonded groups of mommies out there, I think we all respect each other's opinions in this area.

I just got back from the doctor again (yes, still sick..."worse" according to the doc) and she wants to change my medicine to an aggressive 10 day course.  AGGRESSIVE!  Yes!  I like it!  Let's kill those little throat germs!  The only problem is that the antibiotic recommends "using caution" if breastfeeding and my doctor translated this as "you cannot nurse".  For 10 days!   She gave me some helpful suggestions but I'm thinking, "Look lady, I didn't come this far, 3 weeks away from my goal, for you to tell me I should just give her formula for 10 days."  I do have some frozen milk but I am not sure if I have enough.

It is funny that just yesterday, while I was resting in bed, I was reading my trusty What to Expect the First Year to see what it suggested about weening. I know it is time to be thinkging about this; my mother told me yesterday that this might be a perfect time to start since I am ill.  I do NOT like the fact that Stella would have to go cold turkey for 10 days.  I am just not sure what to do.  Honestly, I am wondering (since I have a virus) how much this antibiotic is really going to help and if it is going to be worth putting Stella on formula, even part of the time for the next week and a half.

Darn it.  Being sick is ten times more complicated when you are a mommy!

Sick Sick Sunday

I have been a little absent for the last few days due to the fact that I am sick as a dog. I'm not usually one to complain but I have been full of them lately because of the way I feel. Let me just say that I can't remember feeling this sick EVER for this long. I have all the symptoms of strep throat but my test came back negative so they are treating me for strep anyway. Go figure. I have had the worst sore throat of my life and a fever going on four days.

It's always hard being a mommy and being sick. I cherish my weekends with Stella but there really is no time for rest when she's around. Especially since she took her first two steps yesterday! She makes me so happy and then I worry about passing anything on to her. We aren't just talking about a runny nose here.

In order to force me to stay in bed, my husband took her to get the car washed. I'm sad but lying in bed sure feels wonderful. Ugh. I hope I get rid of this thing soon.

Here is to a wonderful and HEALTHY Sunday to all of you!

Stella is such a good nurse!

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Haute Mom Dilemma #30 ~ Sick Mommy Sick Baby

When I started writing this blog and talking about dilemmas, my good mommy friend Alyssa suggested I write about being sick and having to take care of a baby.  I knew it would be quite the thing to write about but haven't written about it because I haven't experienced it...until now. I started feeling sick on Friday but thought I could tough it out and then Stella had a fever by Saturday.  Fastforward to today and we are both home sick, with a sick nanny home too.  Nothing like sharing germs.  I hope hubby doesn't get sick on top of it.  I don't have enough time or space to list all the reasons why that would be a bad thing. 

So getting the rest and relaxation you need when you are down for the count is almost impossible when you are taking care of your children at the same time.  Add sick to that part of the list and you now have a fussy baby who isn't sleeping well either.  I am sure when Stella gets older, staying in bed and watching movies will be a great remedy but for now, I just have a needy, cranky baby on my hands.  But, how sweet are they even when they aren't feeling well?  Bless her heart, and cough, and runny nose.

She's still smiling even with a 101 degree fever.