Monday, April 11, 2005

Now I Know

Princess is sick. At almost 16 months old, this is her first time being really sick. I mean, we have had the snotty nose and the phlegm cough and such, which were bad enough but not this bad. No matter how sick she has been, she has always been "herself," kwim? She'll have green snot running from her nose, but she'll be smiling and happy and ready to play.

Not this time. This time its vomit. And even when it started yesterday, it wasn't so bad. She would puke, and then be smiley and ready to play. But as the day wore on, it got worse. All of a sudden, my little trooper, my little independent woman (throw your hands up at me!) was clingy. This is *definitely not* her. She won't even put her head on your shoulder when you sit together, and doesn't want to hold your hand when you walk together...she wants to do her own thing. Now she is begging to lay on you and cries when she isn't. We are seeing the doctor this afternoon, but it appears the puking has stopped and we have moved into the realms of diarrhea. Yay. I have never done so much laundry in my life.

So what has all this taught me? I think it is teaching me that I didn't really know what it meant to be a mom until 3:30 this morning, when Princess woke up dry-heaving. And I was holding her as she was crying and heaving and crying and heaving and there was nothing I could do. I wanted to cry myself - partially due to the lack of sleep - but mostly because my little one was sick and I couldn't stop her pain. And then, I knew what it felt like to be a mom.

Update: we just got back from the docs, and Princess has a virus that is apparently going around. The vomiting lasts about 24 hours, then the diarrhea lasts about 24-72 hours. We're about 12 hours into the diarrhea, folks. Wish me luck.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh darling!!!

I totally sympathize and send you all my love and support.

I know everything about having a sick child and it's terrible. My Helene is just like Princess as well, right down to the head on shoulder thing...

Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery for Princess...

Anonymous said...

Been there and I feel your pain...there's nothing worse than trying to comfort a sick child. I hope your girl is better soon!

Anonymous said...

I wish you luck! Poor thing! I had the stomach virus recently and it was not prettY!

J&J's Mom said...

Aww... get better soon princess! Lay a towel under her head... saves the sheets and easily changed.

Bridget Unnel said...

Oh, yuck! I know -- not the most maternal thing in the world to say. Best wishes to your Princess for a speedy recovery to the usual mayhem! ;)

elle said...

I hate when the babes are sick. It rips out the heart. I hope she feels better by the time you read this. Kisses to the lil' princess.

Anonymous said...

Is it Roto-virus? That can be nasty! Good luck with things. Bubby (my 2 year old) is sick today as well. Well, he had a fever of 100.2 and wasn't himself either. Just like Princess, he was clingy and didn't want to do anything but sit with us.

I feel so helpless right now, when they're at this age. If only they could tell us what was really wrong and what would make them feel better. It's just part of the learning process I guess.

Hope she feels better soon!

Sleeping Mommy said...

Yes, I know that virus intimately. Depends from child to child (and adult to adult--I'll keep my fingers crossed you don't get it too, like I did) on how long it hangs around and the kids continue to feel like crap.

Feel better baby girl. And stay well Denise.

Raehan said...

Awww. Hope you both get back on track soon.
It's hard to be a mom when everyone's sick.

Anonymous said...

I hope she's better soon. It's so miserable when little people are ill because they just don't seem to understand that it will pass. We've just come through something similar and I was so grateful that I had a washing machine. Best wishes to all of you.