The stomach flu

Poor kiddo. She's had a rough week. On Friday night, Ellie had her first stomach flu. I knew it might happen since everyone in her day care seemed to be coming down with it. One little boy in her room even had to be hospitalized, so I was hoping she wouldn’t get it. But she did. She woke up crying at 1:30 AM on Friday night so I went into her room to put her pacifier back in her mouth. She spit it out and looked at me so I picked her up and when I did, I realized she was covered in vomit. And for the record – spit up is totally different than vomit. Spit up doesn’t smell like anything and vomit smells like I did after Chilifest '99 when I got on stage with Jerry Jeff Walker. I must have made an impression on him when he got off his tour bus and I asked him if he was going to play "Sangria Wine".

I thought she was better the next morning so I tried to feed her, but it all care right back up again. I spent most the rest of the day trying to get her to keep down some Pedilyte. The nurse at Ellie's doctor's office was so great. She gave me her personal cell phone number and even called to see how Ellie was on Sunday. By about 8 PM on Saturday evening, she was back to normal. My parents came over to celebrate my Dad’s birthday, and luckily she was back to being up and around to wish dad a happy birthday by the time he left. We had a really good time grilling out some dove Lee shot over Labor Day weekend.

By Sunday, Lee started coming down with what Ellie had and 24 hours later, I did too. We were all sick with the virus at some point over the last 5 days. I was the sickest on Monday night/Tuesday morning and to top it off, my boss was here on Tuesday to do my mid-year review so I had to come to work. My last review was on my due date. He sure knows how to pick ‘em. On the bright side, the stomach flu is a really great diet so maybe I dropped some more lbs.

I also had my bi-annual work physical last Thursday. I won’t go into all of the gory details, but they had to draw blood. If you’re a long-time reader of The Bright Spot, you’ll know that there is no way this story can end well. It took the tech 30 minutes to find a vein and then 5 minutes to fill 3 of the 4 vials that were required. I couldn’t take it after 5 minutes so she pulled the needle out and didn’t get the fourth vial filled. I’m sure I’m going to have to go back. Why me.

Lee also had an interesting Thursday last week. Sometimes he visits Ellie during the day. When he drove up at noon, ALL of the kids in the day care center were in the parking lot because they were having a fire drill. There are 8 babies in Ellie's class. It never occurred to me as to how they evacuate infants during a fire drill, but apparently, they throw 4 babies in one crib and 4 in another and roll them down the hall. Ellie was asleep when the alarm sounded and according to her teacher, she was not thrilled to share a bed with 3 other kids and be transported into the hot sun. All I could picture was that scene from the movie, Jackass, where they’re all in the shopping cart rolling down the street. I’m sure it was quite a sight.

Ellie had to get her 4 month shots on Monday. I did much better this time than last time (and so did she). She’s really been through the wringer for the last two weeks - first the cold then stomach flu then the shots. I bet she's ready to crawl back into the womb. According to the doctor, she’s doing great and is still in the 95th percentile for height at 25.75 inches. She’s 70th percentile for weight at 14 pounds and 7 ounces. I was a little disappointed with the appointment because her regular pediatrician is out because his wife just had a baby. We had another doctor who I thought was going to be really great because he's been a doctor for 35 years. I have so many questions about feeding, weaning, rice cereal, when she should start first foods, etc. Basically, it went like this:

Q: How long should I breastfeed?
A: However long you want. Don't kill yourself.
Q: Should she start rice cereal?
A: You're her mother. If it feels right, it probably is.
Q: When should I start trying to feed her rice cereal?
A: Whenever you want to start it.
Q: Does it seem like she's getting enough food at night?
A: There's no real formula for this. Every baby is different.
Q: Are you even a pediatrician?
A: No, but I stayed in a Holiday Inn last night.

Okay, that last part didn't really happen, but it should have. I know he's been around thousands of babies, but I've only been around this one, therefore I am clueless. So I am turning to the experts for help - other mothers. If you're a mother and I haven't asked for for feeding advice yet, I will. Here's my little Tootsie trying to stand up. I keep my hands close just in case she starts to tumble.