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saintanneshs
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| Posted: June 21 2005 at 5:47pm | IP Logged
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I hope it's okay if I jump into this forum with a new thread...I am really needing a "pick-me-up" from someone who's "been there and done that" with the whole sickness thing.
Right now I am sick myself, having caught this last bug that has gone through our house and I'm feeling so frustrated...
My beautiful baby girl was born with a cavernous hemangioma in her lip (an overgrowth of fetal cells; a large birthmarth that keeps growing below the skin) and has had to take a steroid to control its growth. No big deal really...she has been weaned from the steroid after 6 months, but one of the side effects is that it depresses her immune system and she catches everything out there (even with the breastmilk I stored before we weaned). Her lip looks great but we have 3 kids older than her and under age 6, so they bring home the germs and we stay sick. The docs have told us to keep her out of confined spaces (even church!) and away from "germy places" (like our home??) but we can't live inside a shell.
We've had the flu twice and then diarrhea twice (working its way through all 6 of us) and a couple of colds and we haven't been out of the house other than to shop for the essentials at all this winter. I can't remember the last time my dh and I had a date. Even though I am not nursing anymore (we had to stop b/c for awhile there the baby couldn't suck and had to be syringe fed around the clock) I still keep her with me always, just as I did with my other children at this age. I don't want a break, just some hope that wellness is coming and we will soon get a break from these unending childhood colds and flu and diarrhea... it's been almost 7 months of illnesses. 
Anyone been there and done that with a sick baby and a long winter and spring? I could use a bit of a pep talk! 
Thank you for sharing with me!
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Kristine
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mary
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| Posted: June 22 2005 at 5:00am | IP Logged
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wow. I haven't had a baby that required medication immediately or had to wean a baby before either of us was ready, but this winter/spring has been the absolute worst with regard to illness that I have ever experienced. From November until June we were all in various stages of some illness. We might have had 1 or 2 good weeks in there, but it has been a horrible season.
Hang in there! Hopefully you all are building stellar immune systems and will be sniffle/fever free soon.
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Karen E.
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| Posted: June 22 2005 at 10:20am | IP Logged
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Hi, Kristine,
I haven't quite had your experience, but wanted to offer my sympathy and prayers! 
Like Mary, we did have one of the worst autumn/winter/spring seasons of illness ever. My middle child had pneumonia, asthma was diagnosed, and she had her tonsils/adenoids out and had tubes put in her ears. She had been suffering from some dizziness for quite awhile before that, so it certainly felt like one thing after another. Our usual weekly swimming date with homeschool friends became a less-than-once-a-month thing.
And, we're off to the ENT today for a check-up for her (after swimming this weekend with her custom-made ear plugs, she's been complaining of some ear pain....)
Praying for you!
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Karen E.
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| Posted: June 22 2005 at 10:22am | IP Logged
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"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions." -- Shakespeare, from Hamlet ....
Hang in there!
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God bless,
Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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time4tea
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| Posted: July 01 2005 at 3:18pm | IP Logged
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Hi!
Sorry for getting in on this so late, but we have been there countless times. Our two oldest dc, both boys, are 2.5 years apart and seemed to always be sick every time I turned around. Really high fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, you name it. Our third child, a girl, has asthma, and began with symptoms at 7 mos. We had a horrible time with this. Our youngest dd was born in November and caught a cold and fever from the older children. She ended up in the ER on Christmas Eve, and had every test under the sun (due to her very young age), including a spinal tap. Believe me, I can REALLY empathize with you. Dh and I have tried to do everything "right" - breastfeeding into toddlerhood (my 2 year old dd still nurses), offering a good diet of fresh foods, cotton clothes and diapers, etc. At times, especially when the boys were little, I felt overwhelmed (and actually depressed) by the fact that every time I turned around, we had yet one more illness to cope with. The pediatrician assured me - and for some of the dc tests confirmed - that no underlying medical conditions were present. The children were simply picking up whatever "bugs" were around, as small children are likely to do. I know not everyone has this experience with their small children. Some families always seem to be in great health, never a sniffle. We have really never been on that end of the equation, though.
Some things I have found that help are: don't let the dc put things into their mouths - period - if you can avoid it. Carry around a container of Handi-Wipes, and use them regularly to clean hands, especially after being out and about. If you place your dc in a shopping cart, consider wiping the handles and seat with a Handi-Wipe or diaper wipe first. Use paper towels to dry hands. Make sure each child has their own toothpaste (no sharing!), and keep toothbrushes stored separately. After an illness, consider replacing each dc's tooth brush, or at least place it in a cup of boiling water for up to 6o seconds to sanitize it. During cold and flu season especially, avoid places like Chuck-E-Cheese where there are lots of toys. Don't let the dc play with the toys at the pediatrician's office, either, and wash their hands after being there. Also, take a multi-vitamin. One to try is Watkins vitamins for children (available at www.watkinsonline.com). I know to some parents, these suggestions may seem extreme or far out, but honestly, if you have dc who get sick a lot (and some of us just do have such children, even though they are otherwise totally "normal", as in they have no serious underlying medical problems, etc.), they can mean the difference between a good night's sleep and enjoying your parenting and family life and living in dread fear of yet one more rush off to the Dr's office or E.R., or weeks on end isolated in the house.
I hope this helps you!
Blessings,
Jenny
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Blessings to you!
~Tea
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saintanneshs
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| Posted: July 01 2005 at 3:42pm | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone who replied to my post. I feel sometimes like such a wimp for wanting a pity party over this, but I honestly get really down after illnesses for weeks on end. You'd think I'd be used to it by now! It helps so much just to hear how other mothers (or fathers) with lots of sniffling little children deal with this. On the day I originally posted I was really feeling low. My sweet little sister who just got married-no kids yet-had just said to me, "Man, you guys are like the sickest family I know!" (Just what I needed to hear, huh?) Anyway, thanks everyone for sharing your own dealings with illnesses. I know I'm in good company!
Mary, I hope next winter & spring are better for you too!
Karen, I love the quote from Hamlet...exactly how I feel about germs! I hope that the earplugs are working and you don't have to visit the ENT again!
And thanks Jennie for your suggestions...if I can get organized enough to remember to take the Anti-Bac wipes into Wal*Mart with me (to wipe the cart handle), I'll have you to thank for a healthier winter next year!
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Kristine
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: when everyone is sick...
