I never knew I wanted to be a mom until I met my daughter... | Once upon a time, there was a girl whose life dream was to be an adrenaline junkie. Her greatest ambition involved a hot air balloon, a bungee cord, and scuba gear. She was an only child and she liked it that way. She didn't babysit for extra money. She didn't volunteer in the children's library. If, and that was a BIG IF, she ever got married, it would have to be to a guy only slightly crazier than she was. |
Fast forward a few years and from way out in left field entered a teeny tiny baby girl who had the most amazing blue eyes. That baby girl changed everything about the thrill seeking girl’s story! I never knew I wanted to be a mom until I met my daughter. So I had two more. Motherhood is by far the scariest job I have ever had. It is also the most rewarding and most unbelievable loving all at the same time.
But all those warm, fuzzy moments come to a screeching halt when you are woken up at 3 AM by the cat throwing up. And at 3 AM, the conversation in my head goes something like this…
But all those warm, fuzzy moments come to a screeching halt when you are woken up at 3 AM by the cat throwing up. And at 3 AM, the conversation in my head goes something like this…
Mystery sound: Hack, blah, gawp!
Sleepy me: …huh…wha? Oh…cat barf… need slippers…remember... (snore)…
Subconscious me: Psst, wake up. Hey! You don’t have a cat.
Sleepy me:…huh…
Subconscious me: Yea, remember? No cat. You haven’t had a cat in 8 years.
Sleepy me:…but…snore…hairball…
Subconscious me: Wake up you big dummy! You replaced the cat with kids…
Wide awake me: THE KIDS! (Stumbling out of bed)
Sleepy me: …huh…wha? Oh…cat barf… need slippers…remember... (snore)…
Subconscious me: Psst, wake up. Hey! You don’t have a cat.
Sleepy me:…huh…
Subconscious me: Yea, remember? No cat. You haven’t had a cat in 8 years.
Sleepy me:…but…snore…hairball…
Subconscious me: Wake up you big dummy! You replaced the cat with kids…
Wide awake me: THE KIDS! (Stumbling out of bed)
This time it was my sweet little Bubba. His baby voice weakly called “Mama”. His little body was hot and sweaty. He had soiled himself. He crawled out of his bed and didn't even make it to the door before his dinner ended up on the floor. Yes, he was a mess. Yes, my heart broke, but was I worried? Nope, not worried and let me tell you why. (I am NOT a medical professional. If you don't know if your baby needs a doctor, get off my website and take them. Better to be safe than sorry.) Bubba isn't a newborn anymore. Babies under 6 months old are at the highest risk of dehydration. He had a fever but it was under 103 F. For kids ages 12~24 months, a fever under 103 that can be controlled isn't a reason to see the doctor. Since he had vomiting, diarrhea, and a fever, I was betting my boy had viral gastroenteritis AKA a stomach flu virus. | Signs of Dehydration
|
I was going to give it 72 hours with home treatment. If he wasn’t better by then, we were going to the ER or sooner if he got worse. Why 72 hours, because the most common stomach virus only lasts 3 days. What is home treatment, you ask? Here, have a checklist! (Once again, I am NOT a trained doctor or nurse. Use common sense.)
Home Treatment for Tummy Viruses in Toddlers
| Here in the Southwest where its 115 on a normal day, dehydration is a serious concern for everyone. Electrolyte solutions are, by nature, only good for 24 hours once opened. Well-known brands typically run $6 to-$8 a quart and I have to pour it out if it’s not drunk. WHAT?!? The frugal side of me just shuddered. A very helpful ER nurse gave me a recipe to make my own. In the medical world, that drink is known as Oral Rehydration Salts. 2 ounces or 4 Tablespoons an hour doesn’t seem like much but it is enough to get your kiddo over the worst of their illness. |
Aim for 15 mL every 15 minutes. Now that he’s a little bigger, The Boy likes to drink out of the little tiny cups that come with his allergy medicine. When he was smaller, I used a medicine dose syringe that comes with OTC pain relievers. Ask your pharmacist for a large size syringe. I was given one that is 20 mL, the perfect size. After the first round of vomit or diarrhea, I withheld foods and concentrated on pushing fluids instead. I increased fluid intake as he, and his tummy, dictated. This protocol lasted 6 to-8 hours. As he started getting better, he started getting hungry. I slowly introduced bananas, rice, applesauce, chicken noodle soup, and crackers for another 48 to-72 hours.
At the first sign of diarrhea, I break out the diaper rash cream or even petroleum jelly. Don’t get skimpy with it, Mama. Once sores develop, changing your sick baby’s diaper is going to be awful, for both of you. Controlling your toddler’s fever is going to make him much more comfortable. It is also tricky when nothing is staying down. The Boy’s dose based on weight is 5 mL, so it gets divided up over an hour’s worth of fluid. I mix 2 ounces of ORS and the medicine and slowly give it to him over an hour. It gets in his system and stays down.
Since little boys don’t understand, "AHHH! In the toilet!", it will get on the floor. Clean up any leftover chunks with paper towels. Soak up as much liquid as possible. Scrub the area with a foamy mixture of water and a few drops of original BLUE Dawn soap. Accept no substitutes. Use towels until it is barely damp. Sprinkle the area liberally with baking soda. Do not rub it in. Once the entire area is dry, vacuum the baking soda up, and the smell should disappear with the baking soda. If not, repeat the process.
Good luck my friend. You are doing a great job.
At the first sign of diarrhea, I break out the diaper rash cream or even petroleum jelly. Don’t get skimpy with it, Mama. Once sores develop, changing your sick baby’s diaper is going to be awful, for both of you. Controlling your toddler’s fever is going to make him much more comfortable. It is also tricky when nothing is staying down. The Boy’s dose based on weight is 5 mL, so it gets divided up over an hour’s worth of fluid. I mix 2 ounces of ORS and the medicine and slowly give it to him over an hour. It gets in his system and stays down.
Since little boys don’t understand, "AHHH! In the toilet!", it will get on the floor. Clean up any leftover chunks with paper towels. Soak up as much liquid as possible. Scrub the area with a foamy mixture of water and a few drops of original BLUE Dawn soap. Accept no substitutes. Use towels until it is barely damp. Sprinkle the area liberally with baking soda. Do not rub it in. Once the entire area is dry, vacuum the baking soda up, and the smell should disappear with the baking soda. If not, repeat the process.
Good luck my friend. You are doing a great job.