So before I whine about The Sick That Won’t Go Away, let me say that my mom’s 50th birthday party was quite nice, even if it was just Daniel, the kids, our friend Jason, my brothers, myself, and of course the birthday girl (or old hag, heh).
Now, the whining.
I’m seriously tired, and seriously ready for bed. Actually, I was ready for bed three hours ago, which is very unlike my nightowlish self. But I’m up, because I have wash to do: my 23rd load of laundry since last Monday morning. Yes, you read that right. By the way, I normally do 20-22 loads per month. But with that horrible stomach bug, I not only washed all of the childrens clothes, stuffed animals, pillows, mattress covers, sheets and blankets that Alyssa and Ryan threw up all over, but I washed our sheets, blankets and pillows, because I was scared of the thought of the germs hanging around and reinfecting us.
I need help. Alyssa and Ryan are doing this weird hurl-on-an-alternating-mornings thing that I can’t figure out. Okay, so Alyssa was initially sick Sunday night into Monday morning. She threw up twice that night, and once again early on Monday morning. Then she was fine: back to herself by late morning, eating and drinking normally by mid-afternoon. Ryan was sick Tuesday night into Wednesday morning (like me; Dan was sick early Wednesday morning into early Wednesday evening), but back to himself and eating and keeping what he ate and drank down by Wednesday evening (poor kid, I starved him all day long, with the exception of a few bits of a plain rice cake).
Around 8am on Thursday morning Ryan threw up the dinner he had the night before. Cleaned him up, washed out his mouth, gave him a tiny sip of water and sent him back to bed.
Around 5am on Friday morning Alyssa threw up the dinner she had the night before. Cleaned her up, washed out her mouth, gave her a tiny sip of water. She went back to bed, and was fine for all of Friday.
Saturday morning, 10am. Ryan was up for the day. Went in to get him and found he had thrown up sometime during the early morning – dried stuff caked all over him and the playpen. So into the bathroom he went for a much needed scrubbing! Again, fine for the rest of the day, eating, drinking.
Alyssa laid around on Saturday like she didn’t feel well, and didn’t eat very much, but she never threw up.
And… just now. Well, about twenty minutes ago. Went in to check on him, he had just thrown up. Somehow got it on his socks and nowhere else?? As I was taking his socks off, he threw up again.
FYI, and TMI, both kids are still having sick smelling, horrible explosive diarrhea every little bit.
So, as my blog title states: What am I doing wrong? Here’s what I’ve done so far:
- The kids are mostly indoors, except for brief walks outside.
- Absolutely no dairy of any kind. No sweets or chocolate, either.
- Nothing heavier than plain chicken, chicken noodle soup, plain spaghetti, rice, baked potatoes (no skins), toast, plain toaster pancakes, rice cakes and pretzels.
- Alternating between water, Pedialyte and plain, unsweetened apple juice.
- Encouraging quiet time and naps.
- Washing hands (theirs and mine) after eating, drinking or just rolling around.
- Putting sippy cups in the dishwasher for cleaning and sanitizing after one use.
- I’m cleaning both bathrooms at least twice a day (per bathroom), and spraying sanitizing air freshener (Oust) in between cleanings.
I don’t know what else to do. This tag teaming thing with the kids is exhausting. I feel bad for them, and I’m doing laundry like there’s no tomorrow. I want them to get better. I want this bug out of our house before I get sick with it again!!
I’m sorry I haven’t been returning comments, Tweets, Flickr comments, posts on message boards and emails. I have been so busy with sick kids and laundry and scrubbing and everything else, and the tiny bit of computer time I’ve managed to squeeze in is going right for work, which, thankfully, has picked up a lot recently. I promise I’ll get back to everyone as soon as I can. I miss you guys! 
23 Comments
, on April 4 2008 at 4:36am:
That really is mysterious! I can’t offer any suggestions though, I’m sorry!
, on April 4 2008 at 7:58am:
Diarrhea shouldn’t last that long, one or two days at the most or it begins to get unhealthy, it can dehydrate them and make them feel even worse. At this point, if this is still happening, you should probably take them to the doctors, it could just be a bug, and thats fine, but between the throwing up and the diarrhea, if those don’t stop they’re not going to magically feel better by themselves, they probably need to go to the doctors, even if it’s just for them to send you home saying ‘it’ll go away in a little bit’ – at least then you’ll know whats up. Also, try to get them off the apple juice, that might make the diarrhea go away. (btw, no I’m not a nurse, or a doctor, but I babysit two kids about Ryan and Alyssa’s age, and their grandmother is a childrens nurse so thats where I get my info from, so I’m not just spitting crap out.)
, on April 4 2008 at 9:43am:
totally agree with Anna…. apple juice makes diarrhea worse, not better! water and pedialyte would be your fluids of choice right now. It sounds like they are just passing it back and forth between eachother, either that or its food poisoning, since puking and diarrhea are the number one signs of that. I definately think a doctors visit is in store for you guys
, on April 4 2008 at 9:56am:
When I was in the hospital for my stomach flu (I feel so bad for you because I know how horrible mine was for less than 24 hours, so I don’t know how you’re still coping ) they put me on the BRAT diet. Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast (dry) was all I was allowed to eat. Also, they told me to eat very slowly, which was hard given how hungry I was after not eating for so long. Maybe try that with the kids?
I agree with Anna that it’s probably time for a trip to the doctor, just to rule out anything serious.
, on April 4 2008 at 10:18am:
Ugh. That sucks. I hope everyone gets to feeling better soon. I had mono last year, and I was sick on and off like that for months. It was awful.
, on April 4 2008 at 10:50am:
have you tried the BRAT diet? bananas, rice, applesauce and toast…that supposed to be the type of thing you give when a child is throwing up/has alot of diarrhea. I know from experience that apple juice is really good with helping my stomach after I get a stomach bug. But if I was you I’d take them to the hospital. My brother had a stomach bug when he was younger, was throwing up and had really bad diarrhea and could hardly keep anything down. He had this for alittle less than a week and the doctor told my mom if she had waited any longer he could’ve died. He was in the hospital for a week for dehydration. So if it has you worried go to the doctor.
, on April 4 2008 at 11:02am:
oh hon it is deja vu . My boys got the runs and vomiting going on over here too, Whatever kind of bug it is I want it gone too.
, on April 4 2008 at 1:16pm:
As others have said I’d stop the apple juice. Natural apple juice can cause serious diarrhea and make it worse. When Sascha is sick I give him water or herbal tea sweetened with Raw honey, the raw honey has lots of vitamins/minerals and it also has things in it that help with nausea and sickness. To eat he usually gets miso soup broth, or chicken broth. I’ve found that when I give him wheat products when he’s sick he throws up a lot and it seems to prolong it. You might wanna try not giving them wheat stuff? it’s worth a shot to see if it helps. I’ve seen it work with other kids, and well not work, it’s a hit and miss thing. You can also try giving them a homeopathic pellet called Pulsatilla(Wind Flower). On the few occasions where Sascha has just randomly thrown up for more than a week I’ve given him a couple of doses of that to find that he stops throwing up. Also have you tried giving them any dye free children’s benadryl to see if maybe this is some sort of freakish allergy to something? I don’t know if any of this will be helpful. But I hope you guys get better soon and find something that helps. It’s no fun being sick but it’s even worse when you have to watch your little ones suffer.
, on April 4 2008 at 1:20pm:
Oh my! That’s a lot of work. Hope your family gets well soon. :biggrin:
, on April 4 2008 at 2:07pm:
Diarrhea could be due to the diet change, as has already been said. I think if they’re still sick I’d hit the doctor’s. This might be something they need a little help to get over because their immune system isn’t as tough as yours or Dan’s. I’m no mom though so take it or leave it, haha. I’ve also heard of the BRAT diet as well.
, on April 4 2008 at 4:10pm:
Are they drinking tap water? Because sudden seasonal changes can make shifts in the lakes and reservoirs that give bacteria and parasites a chance to thrive. Try giving them spring bottled water or invest in a water filtration system. That might help. Flu, vomiting was some of the symptoms I was going through when I was drinking tap water. *shrug*
, on April 4 2008 at 5:30pm:
Ooh my boyfriend’s son went through that a few months ago. My friend’s son had the same thing and they were playing together so I asked her and she told me a nurse told her not to feed him for the first 8-12 hours, and then to only give him ice the next 8-12 hours, and then the BRAT diet afterwards. We both felt really bad about not feeding them, but it worked.
, on April 4 2008 at 9:28pm:
Ohh, poor babies! I can’t believe they’re still sick.
I’d cut out the apple juice and stick to water, I know that fresh fruit juice plays havoc with my stomach if I drink too much of it
Hope everyone feels better soon!
, on April 4 2008 at 10:01pm:
Wow Jenn I don’t know. I’ve never had Sydney sick for that long she usually bounces out of it pretty darn quick. I know they told us that any apple juice was a natural laxative so I guess I ditto that sentiment that everyone has said already.
In our area the kids usually have to be sick for 14 days before they want to give them any type of medication. They would rather the parent do what you are doing so if it continues after you stop the juice I think I’d take them in.
Poor babies! Plus you’ll just get it back again and that sucks.
, on April 4 2008 at 10:02pm:
OH I forgot to say that the birthday cake was gorgeous!!!! She’s one lucky old hag :yummy:
, on April 4 2008 at 10:35pm:
This is soo bad, but God so has a sense of humor. You completely hate the site and smell, and God is like get use to it. lol Only thing I can think of to do some major cleaning, like everything. Cleaning the toys, remotes, phones, chairs(not the sofas), and tables, game controllers, once again the bathroom, and door knobs. Clean anything that the kids or any of you have touched during this icky stomach bug. I’d wash all the dishes(by hand) in some dish-water with like 1-2 caps of bleach(depends on how big your sink is);also, make sure you clean the kitchen sink and counters with that as well. Then do the same to the bathroom, like don’t use so much bleach that no one including yourself can breathe, but bleach kills any and any virus or bug better than any cleaning solution. Your doing a great thing with the Pedialyte and water, but I’d replace the apple juice with orange juice. Hope those tips help, and everyone is back to their normal selves soon.
, on April 4 2008 at 10:39pm:
Oh and I forgot to tell you to get some Pepto Bismol, it will help suppress these urges to throw up.
, on April 4 2008 at 11:56pm:
wow you are always a busy lady and a very great mother. mother’s don’t get enough credit. the cakes look delicious happy birthday to mom! and i am quite glad about the stimulus checks, my stimulus was actually already deposited in account today even though a sunday,great for me! lol great site
, on April 4 2008 at 3:58am:
Oh I forgot to tell you, if you can get your hands on it food grade hydrogen peroxide is excellent for killing germs. We use it in place of bleach, because bleach hurts my lungs and makes me ill. -.- But the food grade peroxide works better than bleach. It gets stuff super white in the laundry, and disinfects well when cleaning with it. I’m not sure where you could get it, we buy it wholesale from one of our companies.
, on April 4 2008 at 5:18pm:
See, from what I understand, chicken noodle soup is a little too greasy and can cause stomach upset and apple juice can cause diarrhea. I would stick to just flat ginger ale, Pedialyte and VERY bland foods. My son was sick not too long ago and this is what his doctor suggested I do and it helped a lot. You’re also not supposed to give water to someone that’s vomiting or has diarrhea because it doesn’t have the sugar or electrolytes that the body loses during vomiting and so forth.
If this continues for much longer I would definitely call their doctor…
As the domain name suggests, my name is Jenn, and I own this blog. I'm 26 years old and married to my one true ♥, Daniel. And while I have two kids (Alyssa is five, and Ryan is three), you won't find "mommy" in my username or email address, nor does my blog revolve around them. I'm a mother, but most importantly I am me, with a passion for love, blogging, reading, and photography. I'm also a busy freelance writer, web designer & SEO goddess, and a blogger relations person for an adult toy company.
Ugh
We had that icky flu rut for awhile. It felt like YEARS before everyone was well again! It sounds like you’re on top of it though. Better than I’d be doing that’s for sure! I hope you’re all well again soon, flu in the spring time sucks.