The Daycare viruses return - ugh. :-(

 We knew it was only a matter of time. We weighed the pros and cons and we calculated this into our decision when we were talking about sending Jennings to school, and yet when you're in the heart of it, you wonder why'd ever make the decision to send him to school when the chances of him getting sick are 100%.

Yes that is where we are today.  Jennings is really sick.  Turns out his classroom, while COVID-19 free (thank God) is not Whooping cough, croup or influenza free and our little guy is currently fighting at least 2/3 bugs that were in his classroom.

Let me preface this by saying... we've been or have tried to be VERY careful with Jennings and exposing him to things after his rough start with the incarcerated hernia at 2 months old. As a result he is unable to get certain vaccines because there is a rare complication that it can cause his intestines to swell or close off especially at the area where the inflammation and now scar tissue is.  Therefore his pediatrician won't allow him to get certain vaccines.  And this is another reason why she was so assertive in her statement of keeping him out of daycare for the first year.  Thanks to Nana and Papa and COVID we were able to do that. 

Now that he's turning two and has basically been away from society his entire life, we wanted to introduce school to him, plus we need to have a plan in place for fall when we are returning to work and school in person.  

While the first 3 days (that's all he's gone) have been really hard for him (he cries most of the day), we also were preparing ourself that he'd probably catch a bug.  We just didnt' realize it would be this BAD of a bug.  Last night we couldn't keep his fever down below 102 and at one point in the night he had a fever of 104.6, 104.2 and 105.5 (VERY SCARY).  With multiple calls to the on-call provider during the night, we were very close to taking him to the ER.  I feel so bad because if he has to go, most likely it will be Jarrett that will have to take him as I'll have to stay home with Finn, as his only source of food. Note: going to the ER with daddy is not a bad thing, I was just saying I will feel guilty and sad if I can't be there to help him.

After being up for almost the entire night, Jarrett, Jennings and I are exhausted but we were able to keep him from having to go to the ER.  I called as soon as the office opened and asked to get in as soon as possible.  At 9 am Jarrett took Jennings back in again (I had taken him and Madelyn the day before).    This time he was diagnosed with croup and suspected influenza. Given that Jenning's fever seems to hover around 103 or 104 when we are in between the window of medications, they gave us permission to give him the pain and fever meds every 3 hours.  They've also prescribed a steroid to help him breathe.

As we get ready to go into another night, I'm hoping we can get more sleep.  Last night we went to bed after midnight, talked to the on-call provider at 12:30, then I fed Finn at 1:20-2 and then held Jennings in the recliner from 2-5:30 when Finn woke up again to eat.  Not too many hours of the head on the pillow but that 34 minutes from 6:00-6:34 were fantastic.  

We sure hope and pray Jennings gets better tonight.  Listening to him try to breathe, that barking seal cough and the wheezing is so heart-breaking.

We pray little buddy you feel better soon!

Love you, Mom and Dad