The last few days (well, until yesterday), have been fun. Ben is having the time of his life with his cousin Fynley. He has three other cousins up here, but until yesterday all three have been sick at one time or another, so we've hardly seen them. We've hit the mall (and cleaned it out), gone swimming in the backyard, and Ben has watched more movies, stayed up later, and eaten more crap than in the last two years combined. His Grammie is spoiling him like crazy (as she should--that's what grammies are for).
Then yesterday came. (Times below are approximate)
9:30am: I'm in the shower shaving. The last time I shaved I forgot my knees, so this was important. I was halfway down the first leg when Matthew comes in with a sobbing, bloody Benjamin. Apparently he and Fynley were running in the living room and his face met the marble end-table. As far as we could tell, the damage was minimal: a fat, bloody lip and what looked to be a bruise forming on his cheek. But he was clearly in a good deal of pain. I rinsed the shaving cream off my leg and got out. Ben, myself, and my half-shaved legs curled up on the couch to watch Toy Story.
10:15: Matt cuddles with Ben while I finish shaving my legs.
11:00: Four adults and two kids pile into the CRV and head to the other cousins' house, maybe to hit the pool. Ben is grumpy.
11:30: Play with the cousins at their house. Loads of fun--Ben and his cousin Sean are very close in age and love the same things. So there are oodles of Cars and Toy Story and Thomas things to play with. The three older girls loved on Ben. So cute.
1:00pm: Pile back into the CRV and head back to Grammie's
1:20: Stop at In 'n Out for lunch
1:25: Ben completely loses his mind and screams bloody murder all the way home
1:35: Arrive at the house, curl up in bed with a hysterical Ben, give him some Tylenol for the pain, and sing him to sleep.
2:45: Ben wakes up in hysterics and feels warm. Temp is 100.4. We curl up on the couch and watch Toy Story
3:30: Fynley wants to go for a swim, Ben wants to join. We change his diaper: diarrhea. Temp is 101.6. Let him take a short swim in the cool pool.
4:30: Start watching Cars; temp is 102.6
5:30: Time for dinner. Temp is 103.9
5:40: Ben can barely hold his head up and refuses to eat or drink. Temp is 104.3. Strip him down, wet a washcloth, give him Tylenol. He gets hysterical, throws up the Tylenol. We retreat to the couch, turn on Madagascar, and just rest.
6:30: Ben crawls slowly off the couch and gestures to the coffee table covered in toys. Temp is 102.6. He starts to play.
7:00: Fynley goes home; bath time. Temp is 101.4.
7:30: Bed time. Temp is 98.6. We read, he goes down like a champ.
11:00: Temp is 101.4. Give him Tylenol and put him back down.
7:00am: Ben wakes up, temp 101.3. Tylenol. Madagascar.
8:00: Change diaper. Notice front tooth has moved a little and there's something wrong with his gums.
8:10: Start calling Kaisers. Yes, plural. Apparently one's medical number is only valid in your home region. Any time you need to see a doctor outside your region (for us, Southern California) you have to be assigned a new regional medical record number. The fine people at Kaiser don't know how to do it, even though it's their rule. They also can't tell me who I'm supposed to call to find out.
8:40: Get a Northern California medical record number, make an appointment for 9:30.
9:15: Arrive at Kaiser and wait while the receptionist calls everyone she knows in an attempt to figure out how to check us alien Southern California folk in.
9:35: The lady next to her leans over, pushes a couple of keys on the computer keyboard, and we're checked in.
9:45: Dr. Huey makes his appearance and checks out the little man. Diagnosis: busted lip, bruised cheek, loose tooth, bruised gums (but no lacerations, which is good), completely unrelated nasty stomach virus, and possible Roseola (we have to wait and see on the rash for that one). Treatment: Tylenol, Pedialyte, fluids, light foods if he'll eat them, and rest. Call the dentist on Monday.
So...after the doctor we went to Target for the Pedialyte and a sick toy from Grammie. Then we met Fynley and Becki for lunch and headed back to the house. His fever hasn't spiked again, but that typically happens in the evenings. Dr. Huey said it would probably hang around for a few days, so take it easy and keep pumping fluids, Tylenol as needed, and food when he's up for it (but no dairy). Ben played when we got back to the house, which is a good sign. And as of this moment, he's been asleep for an hour and a half, which is also very good. Later this evening we'll meet everyone for dinner, change Sicky McNugget into his jammies, and start the long journey home.
In many ways it has been a great week. We've been able to spend a lot of time with family, and we've even managed to sneak out twice in the evenings with other adults for a movie and some drinks. We will miss everyone when we go, but I have to be honest and say that I'm looking forward to my king-size bed and some quiet time.
Note: I'm not on my own computer and I can't find the camera cord. So I'll have to upload pictures later.
No comments:
Post a Comment