Natalie & Ryan: Spoke Too Soon

So, you remember in my last post, how I was saying that even though I was sick, I wasn't going to let it get in the way of my going to the gym? Well, I spoke too soon...and only by like an hour, no joke. The only reason I was able to write that post was because Lilly was sleeping unusually late. She didn't wake up until noon that day. I was worried, and correctly so, that she had gotten whatever cold I had. My suspicions were confirmed, when I went to get her up, and found her curled up in a ball, pouring with sweat. Her fever was at 102, and getting worse every time I took it. I felt so bad. There was no way I was going to be able to go to the gym, and sadly, that was really bothering me. Instead, we both just hopped in my bed and played sick all day.

The next day or so, we stayed in bed, and I began to hope that she was getting better. Saturday with Lilly was like the old, non-sick times. I was concerned about the state of one of Lilly's ears, but convinced myself that the redness was just from laying on it during a nap. Ironically, that night before bed, Ryan and I made a bet that Lilly would/wouldn't sleep through the night. I bet that she'd wake up a few times. Well, I won the bet, but in reality, I LOST big time.

I was startled awake at 2 AM by the cries of Miss Lilly, so I went in to give her more medicine and sing her back to sleep. I left the room, feeling confident that she'd sleep the rest of the night with no issue. I snuggled back in my bed, and no more than 5 minutes later, she started crying again. I continued on a pattern of going in every 5 minutes or so, once she'd tricked me into thinking that she was calm enough to sleep, for the next 20 minutes, before I decided to change my game plan. I tried bringing her into bed with us, but the second I walked into the room, she said "GEORGE!" (meaning that she wanted to watch Curious George) effectively waking up and annoying Ryan. I got her in bed, and started to stroke her hair, but she kept sitting up to point at the TV and name off shows she wanted to watch. I knew having her there was bothering Ryan, so I took her out into the living room.

I tried cuddling her on the couch, sans TV, but she was too upset. So I turned on George, and was hopeful that was the answer, when she calmed down and zoned out. But she was so restless. She couldn't keep still, kept changing position, and started screaming "OWIE" while grabbing at all parts of her body. That's when I really started to panic. I could tell she was in pain, but I couldn't figure out where or how to fix it. In the end, the solution was to turn the recliner in the complete opposite direction, so that she could both lay her head on my chest AND see the TV. She passed out, and after 20 minutes of congested snoring, I braved putting her back in the crib. Once completely comfortable in my own bed, the monitor came to life with the all-too-familiar crying of Lilly. I muttered "I give up!" and decided to just spend the rest of the night in the living room. She needed sleep, and if it took the TV to do it, so be it. Well, the recliner trick didn't work, and she never fell back asleep.

8:00 AM came rolling around, and I was just laying on the couch with Lilly on top of me, staring into space like a zombie, when Ryan came out of the bedroom. I was so tired and felt so hopeless, I just wanted to start crying. He told me to go to bed, but I called my mom instead. I cried a few tears, and in the end, mommy came to the rescue. She and I took Lilly to an Instacare. She fell asleep in my arms while we waited to be called back. When it came time to wake her up to start all the poking and prodding, she had enough. The nurse took her temperature in the ear that I mentioned may be sore, Lilly looked at me and did one of those deep breath, completely silent, yet terrifying that-was-the-most-painful-thing-I've-ever-felt cries. Yep, I think it was safe to say her ear was infected. Then we had to take her vitals in her toes, and I swear she thought we were trying to cut off her piggies. As if all that wasn't enough, we had to swab her throat for Strep, and she threw up and then choked on it. I. Felt. Terrible. Seriously, nothing prepares you for how sad it makes you to see your baby in pain, and know that there's nothing you can do, and everything you try to do only hurts her or scares the heck out of her. I wanted to join in on the crying.

By the time the doctor came in, Lilly was pretty certain that any people entering our room were going to torture her, and proceeded to scream and cry with the slightest touch. My little girl looked so sick. I just rocked her back and forth while she whimpered with pain. The doctor sent us home with antibiotics, thank goodness! Once we got home, my mom snuggled Lilly while Ryan and I ran around, trying to get Lilly's room prepped. We set up the warm humidifier, moved the recliner in, since it was looking like she wouldn't sleep unless held, and propped up her mattress at an angle, since laying flat was irritating her ear. Ryan gave her a blessing and then my mom settled into the recliner with a snoring baby. At that point, Ryan demanded that I go to bed. I was only able to sleep for about 3 hours, and when I woke up, my mom was gone. She let Lilly sleep on her for 4 hours! Her payment was Lilly saying "I love you, grandma" when she left.

I'm starting to get better, but Lilly is kind of stuck in a state of yuckiness, and now Ryan has the cold. There's no winning here. It's been beyond overwhelming for me to try and take care of a sick baby and husband, all the while being sick myself, and going on no sleep. I guess that's how it is being a mom. Always taking care of everyone else, and having no one to take care of you. Throughout this whole experience, I've been thinking a lot about my mom and all that she sacrificed when we were sick. We never thought anything of it when she'd come in to give us medicine at all hours of the night. If we had to stay home from school, she was in every hour or so, getting us drinks and making sure we felt okay. I definitely appreciate all that she did for us, and I feel somewhat encouraged by her, when I'm cuddling a sick baby at 2 AM. I'd do anything for Lilly.

On a side note, my worst fear finally happened. As we were bathing Lilly Friday night, she looked up at us and said "poop." She does that a lot, so we just kind of brushed it off. About 10 seconds later, diarrhea splattered the back wall of the tub, and both Ryan and I jumped up and started panicking. It was hilarious how we both didn't know what to do. We were just kind of sitting there going "ewww! ugh, what do we do?!" Ryan picked up Lilly before she got completely covered in poo water, took her to our bathroom for another bath, and I had the joy of cleaning it up. That was definitely one of those moments that we'll remember forever. I took a picture to preserve the memory, but I won't scar you (or future Lilly) by sharing it here.

So, fingers crossed that the Goodrichs can get better soon! I'm getting really sick of having my gym consistency interrupted!

After her bath. She managed to grab the baby powder bottle with her feet, lifted it to her hands, and sprayed powder all up her chest and face. Skilled.

Saturday night, when we saw the (false) light at the end of the tunnel. She decided to eat her green beans on her back, on the floor, in the entryway

So sick! Heading to the doctor.

Wednesday, when we decided to spend the day in bed.

She kept trying to lay down on everything, she was so tired.

The first day she was sick, she was so feverish! She begged for a bath, and before we even had her out of the tub, she was shaking from how cold she was. We bundled her up and put her in our bed. It literally only took about 30 seconds after that before she passed out.