Yeah, there are the typical sucky things like worrying and seeing your sweet baby so miserable, but these are the other crummy things about having a sick child.
1. Babies who are massively stuffed-up snore. This is only made worse when your husband ALSO snores.
2. Medication that says “may cause diarrhea.”
3. Changing a sick baby’s diaper (see number 2).
4. Becoming the crazy mom who wipes their baby’s runny nose with a bare hand.
5. The doctor’s office has “Planet Earth” playing on a loop, yet you always are in the waiting room during the upsetting scene where a wolf is chasing a baby goat.
6. You get on a first-name basis with the pharmacist.
7. The terrifying fear that your husband might be the next baby to get sick.
8. Retail therapy involves kleenex, diaper rash cream, and foods that don’t stain when they come back up.
9. Two words: Rectal Thermometer
10. How completely helpless you feel when your sick baby looks up at you like, “mama, make it better.”
Thank goodness my sweet little girl is almost 100% again. She’s back to throwing stuff and climbing, and I almost miss my calm little cuddler.
Nah, having her better and into things is the greatest.
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s so hard when they’re sick and you can’t make it better. I’m glad to hear she’s on the mend (and I really hope Mike isn’t the next baby to fall ill!).
Hugs all ’round.
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Going to school
SO glad to hear that Annie is on the mend. I’ve been sending mental hugs and get well wishes from England! x
I’m so glad Annabel is on the mend. It’s funny when I think about the things I thought I would never do before I had my little girl. I get grossed out very easily but when it comes to my daughter, I don’t even think twice when I wipe or pick her nose with my bare hand.
Elle´s last [type] ..When husbands annoy but you can’t strangle them because of dumb laws
Glad she’s getting better!! Yay Annie!
I had to LOL at #7. Sick manbabies are THE worst. lol
InDueTime´s last [type] ..40 Days
I’m an NICU RN, and when my little 4 y.o. boy was sick recently with strep, he cuddled up next to me and said “mommy, you’re a nurse, take it away!” it was absolutly heart breaking! Glad she’s feeling better!
4. Becoming the crazy mom who wipes their baby’s runny nose with a bare hand.
EEEEWWWWWW…. I see it more nowadays. Moms just do it… It always grossed me out. Slimy things. I had 3 babies but never did the bare hand cleaning. The fruit healthy mix they had to have in the afternoon grossed me out too. The same for the pots with mashed potatoes with carrots. I fed it to my babies and they loved it, while inside of me my stomach was kind of yelling. Guess I was and am never a really bare sliming one! But it’s fine for you guys to do it should you desire so! Glad Annie is getting better!
catherine lucas´s last [type] ..I became a FlyLady… shone my sink!
YAHOO!!!! She is FINALLY almost better!!! Way to go Annie!!! WE LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!!!
Yaye, so glad she’s almost fully better!
AmazingGreis´s last [type] ..One Year…
#7 is so true – WHY are men so difficult when they are sick???
Glad she’s feeling better!
Kelsey´s last [type] ..Three
(see number 2)… HA! You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Well played, Heather, well played.
I think this is the best post ever.
My daughter has been sick constantly this year…. I SO relate to this checklist.
Oh, how we all fear #7. When my husband is sick, I tell him to quit complaining and to suck it up. Hmm, maybe that explains why I failed my Bedside Manner class in med school.
I’m glad Annie is feeling better!
DrLori71´s last [type] ..Charlie Sheen Visits Dr Lori
Soooooo glad Annabel is feeling better, both for her and for your peace of mind.
Barnmaven´s last [type] ..I should be more reliable
I too am that crazy mom who bare-hand wipes noses. When my kiddos even see me start to reach for a tissue they run the other way. It’s best to just supreise attack and get rid of the boogers. Hands are washable! Glad to hear she’s feeling better. Hopefull your manbaby won’t be next.
Oddly enough, I just watched a brief clip of Planet Earth last week, and saw the very chase you are talking about. And yup, it is upsetting!
Glad she is almost all better!
Re: the thermometer. My boy hated the rectal thermometer (ok who really likes them?) but I am so glad that I found this:
http://www.exergen.com/medical/TAT/tatconsumerpage.htm
Found it at Babies R Us but I am sure that you can find it other places for cheaper. It claims to be the same accuracy as rectal but it is so much easier to do – especially with a wiggly 1 year old.
By the way, I can’t believe this is my first comment. I read you all the time – I love your blog. You are awesome.
So happy Annie is feeling better!!! Your list definitely made me laugh but it’s so true!!
yea for you! a sick baby is stressful no matter the illness. A tip for the abx and diarrhea, I like to give my kids probiotics and yogurt, this helps a lot. And regarding the rectal temp, I love my temporal thermometer. A quick scan of the forehead and no mess.
People like me keep reading blogs written by you because in the midst of your fear, stress and anxiety with your little one…you can still come up with reason #7…………….you are HILARIOUS!!
I actually blogged about this today too. My daughter is getting over a myriad of things, including a double ear infection. Her antibiotic is causing some massive blow outs.
Ugh. Hope Annie is all better soon.
Amanda´s last [type] ..I Need To Play Some Funky Music By White Boys
Hope all is well soon! Sick babies suck…but sick hubbies suck more!
Awww…I’m glad your baby is feeling better!
Amanda G.´s last [type] ..Im Grateful Part 1
I’m so glad that Annie’s feeling better! Nothing worse than a sick kid or husband!
As far as a rectal thermometer, we bought a temperal thermometer. It’s a 2 second swipe across her forehead and it’s so slick you can even do it while she’s sleeping. We got ours at Costco for $29 and it’s the same one our doctor uses. It’s been the best investment this week since we’re going through the illness right now too.
Kelly´s last [type] ..When It Rains It
Glad to hear she’s getting better
Katrina @ They All Call Me Mom´s last [type] ..My 8 year old
That is every mother’s Top 10 List — GREAT list and soo, soo true!I especially liked #4 — I still do this even when my 3 1/2 year old is not sick. My husband is always left wondering where our daughter’s boogers have gone to as he’s coming back with a tissue in his hand and the snots have magically disappeared. Well, they can definitely be found on every speck of my clothing that’s for sure….ha, ha!
So glad to hear your beautiful girl is almost 100% back to her normal, spunky, lovable self!
so glad Annie is feeling almost 100% better…healthy and into things. Yay Annie!!!
Re #6: When I call our pediatrician’s office, the receptionist recognizes my voice before I even give my name. I am not one of “those” who calls regularly but my 1 son has asthma pretty badly and can go from being fine to having full blown pneumonia in an hour. So in the spring and fall, we are calling in or going in pretty regularly to have him checked. Anyway, it freaks me out when I call and they say, “Hi Elle, what can we do for you?” They do not have caller i.d. I asked.
don’t forget looking like you’ve been attacked by slugs if you wear a dark top.
Ugh, sick babies are no fun. So glad to hear Annie is almost back to her old self again.
Lisa´s last [type] ..My 1st Australian Prenatal Appointment
It’s always better when kids are better, even when that means they are back to being mischief. I’m glad Annie is well again.
Penbleth´s last [type] ..I’m tired and I want to go to – oh- I am in bed
So glad she is better!
One to add to your list:
Baby using you as a human tissue, but you don’t notice and go out with a snot smeared neck. YUM!
Megan@TrueDaughter´s last [type] ..10 Things My Mother Taught Me
aww I wish I lived closer so I could come babysit and give you and Mike the night off so you could go out to dinner and relax with no sick baby. (I miss being a nanny, even with the sick babies.)
But I’m on the East coast so…..
I’m glad she’s feeling better now! And tell Mike to start taking some Ester-C!
So glad to hear Annie is on the mend! Hooray! Your list is so awesome. #1 – yah, that was my bedroom last night except that preschoolers snore even louder than babies.
Jen´s last [type] ..The Family Bed
been there done that with the diarrhea antibiotics, the pharmacist told me to go ahead and pick up some of that pro-biotic yogurt while I was there. If she still isn’t 100% in that department you could get some of that it may help out.
YEAH!!! So glad Annie is feeling better!!
Dawn @ What’s Around the Next Bend?´s last [type] ..And for this- I am thankful
Enjoyed your Top 10 and soooooo true!!!! We’ve had a bad run of sickness this winter between our two boys so I can really relate!!!
So glad your baby girl is feeling better!
#7 – Priceless! (and SO true!)
Missy´s last [type] ..We sure are having fun making our family