A Few Sweet Pictures to Pull Me Through Day Four with Sickie

Lucy is still sick.  She's feeling better, but is still clingy and fussy and generally a little pill.  I am trying to be sympathetic, but I am running on fumes here since the last three nights have been back to a newborn waking schedule.  Remind me never to complain that she still wakes up once at night.  The first night, she wanted to nurse every time she woke, which was totally fine - forcing fluid into a sick kid is a good idea.  This every-two-hour nursing schedule continued all day for two days.  My body started to accomodate the increased nursing.  Then, NURSING STRIKE!!  She refused the breast during the day, and then she wouldn't even nurse when she woke up, she just wanted Mama to snuggle and pet her.  Needless to say, my boobs are not happy.  Fortunately, last night she decided to get back on the boob, so to speak, and at least there was something comforting I could offer when she woke up 456 times. 

Oh, and now my husband is sick with Coxsackie virus (heh) too.  Go mama and her immune system of steel.  Now I have to do pass out, but I am posting these cute pictures to remind myself that she can be fun and a joy to be with. 

This is Lucy's favorite face to make.  So.Freaking.Cute. 

She does this funny little puff and blow thing to go with it.

Lucy vs. Angel Hair Pasta.  She was flummoxed by it.  Good times.

She just looks so dumbfounded.  I can't even think of a good caption!

     

      Baby and Mama!

Baby and Nana!

Lucy "reading" the Sunday paper.  She likes to sit in the middle of

all the paper and spin around in circles on her bottom:-)

So serious!

You'll have to forgive me for thinking I have the prettiest little girl on the planet.

Coxsackie Virus

Heh.  Coxsackie.  Poor Lucy has a case of Coxsackie Virus.  Also known as Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Coxsackie Virus is a common childhood virus spread via body fluids and (yum) feces.  Basically, as our pediatrician said, babies get it (a lot) from putting everything in their mouth.  Some babies have no symptoms at all.  Lucy is not one of them.

She has had a fever on and off for the last three days.  She has been fussy for no apparent reason, not sleeping well, not eating well (but nursing like a MANIAC) and generally been listless and glassy-eyes.  Tylenol has not helped make her feel better.  Motrin has not helped her feel better.  And it comes and goes.  Yesterday she was running a fever of 102, but was happy and playful.  Last night she had a fever of 99 and was screaming and listless.  Poor little peanut.  The doc took one look in the back of her throat today and actually recoiled as she said "Oh!  That's coxsackie".  Apparently, there are a lot of versions of Coxsackie, one of which is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease.  This not terribly creatively names ailment is characterized by painful blisters in the (you guessed it) mouth, throat and lips, spots on the face, hands and, not surprisingly, feet.  The mysteriously painful diaper rash that Lucy has been sporting for the last 3 days is also a symptom.

Alas, there is nothing to be done.  It is a virus.  All I can do is keep her hydrated and give her Tylenol and Motrin until she has no fever for at least 24 hours.  She is so uncomfortable.  So very very sad.  She spent all morning clinging to me, nursing and whimpering.  It was like hugging a child-sized hot water bottle.  I am still sweating. 

At least it has a funny name.