Kyleigh's Story - Sick Day Adventure

(Written on Monday, April 7, 2008)

Kyleigh had a mild fever again Sunday night, so I called the doctor first thing Monday morning and made an appointment at 11:15 AM. Kyleigh woke up around 8 AM but again wouldn't get out of bed. She looked all weak and pathetic. I called my mom and put her on the speaker phone, so she could read stories to Kyleigh while I notified the day care and my work that I had to take the day off.

Around 9:00 AM, Kyleigh got out of bed on her own. It felt as if she realized mommy was not pushing her to go to school today, so there was no need to pretend weak any more. She acted really happy and energetic. Her appetite was still bad and didn't eat much for breakfast.

At the doctor's appointment, she was checked out for no fever, no infection, and no complication. The doctor didn't even have any medicine for us. Kyleigh just seemed to have picked up a flu virus from somewhere and had to let it run its course.

Kyleigh had a great time in the afternoon. She was playing everywhere and wouldn't take a nap. She was fever free, but had severe running nose. I had to keep a wash cloth ready and wipe her nose every few minutes.

The funny thing was, she seemed to have learned how to blow her nose, at least the action of it. Unfortunately, sometimes she didn't have the tissue between her hands and her nose - she had her hands between the tissue and her nose.

Finally she exhausted herself and went to nap at 4:20 PM. But it was a short one. She got up and played some more in the evening. My husband and I were both so exhausted at 10:30 PM but Kyleigh still wouldn't go to sleep. The struggle went on until almost midnight and she finally lay down.

Until that point, I thought she was taking advantage of a sick day as if she were a 6-year-old kid: No school, and all play.

But the hard part of a sick day finally hit her after she went to sleep. Her nose was clogged up and she couldn't breathe. She also hadn't had too much to eat all day so she was also hungry. She woke up several times during the night. I gave her water, milk, and changed her diaper. She still couldn't sleep, so I finally just held her up on my chest and leaned against the bookshelf all night. We were finally both able to get some sleep this way.