7QT
1). I am going to preface this with a statement.
I vaccinate. I have done them all (except that teenager one), but I do them at a little slower pace. The pediatrician is very sweet and understanding. I don't like to do too many at one time, but I do them. I send my kids to school, and I will be sure they are all ready to go.
So, when my William and James came to me with VERY suspicious looking spots, similar to chicken pox, I was concerned. This was early June.
A visit to the doctor where we were "quarantined" in a room, and the doctor says, well, looks like chicken pox. Though the boys have had their shots (one child has had both doses, the other just one), and maybe we should do a blood test. Okay. That, by itself was not fun either.
(For my own remembering: the lesions were just on the trunk, and were not clear filled. They were more like pus filled. And not itchy either. William had a lot more than James.)
Then, there was the waiting. Waiting to see what the tests say. The doctor calls to say that yes, the boys have chicken pox. And "atypical" chicken pox. Treat it as such. Now, when you look up this disease, it throws these numbers and words at you like "incubation is 2-3 weeks" "contagious 3 days before the spots come out" "not contagious until all the lesions crust over" or even some very conflicting numbers.
oh-Kaaay.
2). William stayed home for more than a week, as it took that long for this atypical rash to crust over. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad. But, as it would happen, we had family members coming into town. The difficulty was that we were unsure what would happen. Our kids (all but Lucy) have had the varicella shot(s). But this is a mild case, will the others get it too? Who is next? how long do we have to wait this out? The kids, bless their hearts, couldn't understand why we were not able to see any cousins any friends, or do certain things. It was a cloud hanging over our family. We felt like we needed a sign to say "unclean" so others would avoid us.
We had some VERY interesting reactions to our disease. One lady said she was ready to send her daughter over to catch it. One family said Tommy couldn't come over, as they were worried he (who has already had the chicken pox) was a carrier. The school had to send out a letter to tell the class. (Though, in typical William fashion, the kids played Chicken Pox tag the day he came back. LOL Love that kid) It was quite interesting. We had folks question what the doctor said, how I was handling it, how many days to do what, and it was exhausting and feeling a bit like
3). Fast forward 2-3 weeks later. James has his birthday, and then a well-checkup. This doctor is my favorite as he speaks my language, and has known our family for 13 years. All my kids. He is trying to figure out about this blood work thing, and if they had the virus. He says:
"The blood work says they did not have chicken pox." It showed they had no immunity to it, and showed they never had levels raised like they had the virus in them.
?? um, what??
Should we be worried that there is some kind of immune disorder? Is it just the shots? Why didn't it show up after 2 shots? My head is spinning. The doctor says we need to do more research and need more appointments, etc. Oh my.
4). So, what did they have? We are very unsure now. And, really, I want those 2-3 weeks back! It was so humbling, and so frustrating. I was an emotional wreck all those days, and was very hurt by some of the treatment (because I am a highly sensitive person. I try. Really but it is VERY tough not to take things personally) we had.
So. NOT chicken pox.
5). Last week, 4 children, over the course of 4 days, threw up at least once. Sometimes my kids will do that with strep, but it all seemed to behave more like a stomach bug. Tommy and Patrick had a camping trip to Gettysburg so I was home with 4 kids.
I have never been invited to so many things in one weekend as I was this past one. Kids were included, pools were involved, good friends, and family. All had to be cancelled. Yes, there is a bit of a pity party going on here about the weekend, but the kids were supposed to have fun too!!! Another mystery illness.
6). If you have made it this far, thank you.
This week is Vacation Bible School. We are all involved. James gets to attend with William. Patrick and Emma get to volunteer with me. It was supposed to be wonderful.
I knew things would be different when I had to move from the music station to be a group leader with Patrick as my helper. Who was Awesome, by the way. It was a neat day to have a different perspective. And I think things will go back to normal the rest of the week.
(Really? Who am I kidding. We are already on #6. I'm done for.)
Nope. Tuesday night, James comes down with fever. I stay home the next day. Wednesday gets William going to bed at 5, which means he (we) are home again. We even take James for a strep test, which turns out negative (though I was going to have all 5 checked out right then and there if it was positive). Anyone else keeping track of the mystery illnesses we have had? Yeah, me neither.
7). I think I would like a do over. I know. I know. I am not in charge. My priority is my children. To take care of them, and my home. But I am not doing well in the housekeeping area (21 month old who gets into everything and eats all.day.long will make everything harder) and I am worried that I am not caring for them well as they have been sick all month, or so it seems. It just has been really stressful. I am trying to see what (besides getting me to Heaven) He has planned for us for the rest of the summer. I have become gun shy about accepting any invitations! Or planning anything anymore. I can't see how we will do that all summer!
We have played many games, watched many movies and read many books. Already. The kids seemed to have their summer start sooner than it was supposed to, without all the fun that is to go with it.
Please let July be a little better! Otherwise, I am going to join Lucy
Take me away!
Join Kelly for more QT.
2 comments:
So sorry, Fuzzy! That sounds really stressful and frustrating! I'd want a do over, too.
And I remember when chicken pox was NBD and we'd go have play dates in order to catch it- now it seems like it's treated as the new leprosy. :-/
I didn't get a chance to read your entire blog about the chicken pox but I did want to mention that adults who have had the chicken pox can easily get shingles when exposed to kids with the chicken pox. Also, boys can become sterile from the chicken pox. So it's kind of a serious disease. I contracted singles twice now so I'm one of those very susceptible to exposure. When our boys were young the first two had serious pox but the third boy only had it on his legs and the fourth child was covered everywhere there were no vaccines when they were young. You are a very conscious Mom, thank you!
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