The domino effect

It's incredible how one things leads to another, which then leads to another, which in turn leads to yet another, until you come full circle. Last week, Lukas was diagnosed with a small ear infection and was given antibiotics for it. We stayed in Tues, Wed and Thurs to play it safe, but he looked and sounded fine. So Friday we ventured out and headed to Gymboree and then met up with Kristine before she headed northbound to New York.

Saturday, Lukas woke up with diarrhea. I thought it was the squash he'd started Friday. Turns out, it was the antibiotic. I called the dr's office and they told me to feed him starches and keep him hydrated. He was fine during the day, no more diarrhea, but a little bit of a cough. We took him over to my parents so Jorge and I could have a "date night" (omg - Dave & Busters has a DELICIOUS chocolate fondue dessert - YUM!). Sat night into Sunday, he began to cough a bit worse, he had more diarrhea bouts, he started sounded congested and stuffy, and he developed some mucousy poop with what looked like a little bit of blood. Not good signs. Called the nurse on call and was told to monitor him and check in the next day.

Monday, full blown cold (runny nose, stuffy, coughing, etc but thankfully no fever), more diarrhea with visible blood and stringy mucous, and not wanting to eat solids, just nurse. Other than that, he was happy and playful. So we went to the doctor. She discontinued the antibiotic since he'd already been on it for a week; she checked his ears and they were all clear; she checked his lungs - only a little bit of wheezing so she prescribed the nebulizer 3 x's a day. She tested the poop, and sure enough, there was blood; apparently it could be a small anal fissure. Poor baby! If it keeps up, we have to go back later in the week and get the poop tested further to make sure it's not coming from his tummy. :(

After stopping the antibiotic and starting the nebulizer though, Lukas is doing much better. Last night we did a steam bath and put some Vicks Vapor Rub in his cool mist humidifier, and he had a better night and sounds much less congested this mornig (and no runny nose!). Diarrhea seems to have gone, no stringy mucous in the poop, and I don't see any blood. Yay!

So Gymboree level 1 graduation has been postponed - don't want to get any of the other kids sick although it wouldn't surprise me that that's how he got sick in the first place! That or the doctor's office. We have officially gone three times in the past 3 weeks. Hopefully we can skip next week before his 6 month appt the week after. Sheesh. And let's hope mommy and daddy don't get sick, too!