Monday, December 6, 2010

Life Happens

Isn't it true that life doesn't slow down for very long before something new pops up?

Sometimes it's a good pop up (like a Pop Tart - warm and sweet). Sometimes it's more like a pop out (like poop). But pop-ups are always complicated. And when we think we're catching up (though whatever that illusive "catching up" really means, I'm not sure), we're not.

Over the weekend I had an extremely crabby two-year-old.

I was pretty sure she was getting her molars and this was normal molar behavior.

But when she screamed and thrashed all through Saturday night and held her mouth and screamed "Owie!" and when every question I asked her resulted in, "NO! Nu-uh! NO!" ... well, I started to wonder if it was something more.

Yesterday morning I noticed a new sore on her lip. She'd had one on the side of her mouth, but I thought it was just a pimple. I asked her to stick out her tongue ("No! Nu-uh! No! -- but then she did it anyway) and saw more sores speckling her tongue.

Turns out my baby contracted the oral-version of the herpies virus, a.k.a. cold sores. The dashingly handsome sidekick also contracted this as a young child (and before you freak out, it's not related to the herpes STD at all) but he hasn't had a sore in ages and ages.

We're not sure how she got it, but I guess at this age when little hands go everywhere, she could've gotten it anywhere.

I've managed to avoid the virus for more than eleven years. (Once you get it, you have it for the rest of your life. Small children have the worst reaction. When she gets older, she'll probably get cold sores from time to time, like the DHS.) But I'd been kissing and holding her so much these last few days, I wonder how much longer I'll have to enjoy a cold-sore-free mouth. Did I mention that oral-herpes is highly contagious?

So, I keep washing my hands. And I've been praying that maybe the other kids and I will be miraculously immune. In the meantime, I'm doing a lot of holding and rocking. The only foods she'll eat are soft things like Jell-O, pudding and yogurt. But at this point I'm just glad she's eating something. We're watching a lot of Little Einsteins because that's the only show Sophie will watch without crying. I'm wearing old clothes, washing a lot of laundry, and doing a lot of praying for presymptomatic healing.

It's Nutcracker week for my older girls, too. So let the fun (and the insanity) begin.

Someday I may get around to writing a more interesting post. Someday....

Thanks for sticking with me through the doldrums, folks.

14 comments:

  1. It's no fun when your babies are sick. I-gots got the sickest he's ever been up at Grandma's house last Christmas, and it was miserable for all parties involved. I hope that she recovers soon - and that you don't catch it.

    Hope the Nutcracker goes well. A children's ballet company in my hometown puts on the Nutcracker every November, and we went every year. No matter how many times I see it, I still find it delightful. Best of luck to your girls.

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  2. I'm sorry, Amy. I hope she feels better soon and that the rest of you avoid the fun.

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  3. Aw! It's the pits, but check with your doctor if she can have acylovir to at least get rid of the painful symptoms. She'll feel better in two days. Yup, she will have it for life and stress will bring it up from time to time, but at least she won't have to suffer.

    By the way, I'll put on my Dr. V. hat and let you know that if you have Type I (oral herpes) and it's active and you have oral sex, there is a chance of passing it to your partner to the genitals. It'll still be Type I, but you might confuse it with Type II, which is the the STD we commonly think of as genital herpes. The problem is, it's no fun to have Type I or Type II down there.

    Back to the regular scheduled prgramming, Amy. You take care. The Nutcracker will be a great diversion.

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  4. I liked it better when it was just called 'cold sores.' Hope she's feeling better soon-- ouch!

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  5. I hope she's over it soon and that no one else catches it. Ben and I both got it when we were younger (in fact, I have a cold sore right now), but so far none of our kiddos have gotten it. I remember the initial onset was the worst too.

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  6. Ooh, so sorry. I know how it feels to have sick babies. Hope she gets over it soon :(

    Go girls! Hope the play goes well!

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  7. Sorry it's been a rough weekend! I hope she gets over it quick, and that you don't get it at all!

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  8. I'm so sorry about your little sweetie not feeling well. When they're that young it's just so hard for them and their parents. Here's hoping things get better very soon and no one else catches the virus.

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  9. Oh poor you, that sounds totally miserable.
    Tea tree oil is good for warding off cold sores, among other things, if you can get your hands on some. You can use one drop neat, rub into your hands, or add it to a bottle of liquid soap.
    Take it easy,if you can.

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  10. Thanks, everyone! You're all so sweet.

    Dr. V - I had no idea!! ICK!! Thanks for letting me know. :)

    Mimi - I love tea tree oil. I used to use the Body Works facial wash when I lived in Hong Kong. I'll have to get my hands on some of that. Thanks for the tip.

    And for an update, Sophie is downstairs *playing* and she's not even on a Tylenol high! So, I think/hope we're on the mend.

    Amy

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  11. I'm glad she's doing better. I think that cold sores sound scary because the virus stays with you for life, but the reality for most people is that it's just an occassional nuisance. I hope the rest of you can avoid catching it. -Kelly

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  13. Poor girlie! Hope her mouth heals soon.

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  14. Awe, the poor thing! That stinks. =( I would be washing my hands and whatnot like crazy, too. (Germophobe.) Hope she doesn't get anymore!

    Good luck with the Nutcracker!

    Jessica

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