Another week, another week where I learn about my little fella that much more. To be honest, compared to some other babies, although it has been bloody hard at times, we have had it pretty damn good with our little bundle of joy. This week he got sick for the first time. I know it happens and it has to happen, but nothing can prepare you for your little person actually getting sick. Lis called me at work around 5.00 just as I was packing to leave and said ‘Harrison’s not very well.’ I cannot tell you the feeling of dread and fear that knotted in my stomach. Apparently he had read a temperature of over 38 and was just lying in her arms, something he never does, when he wakes up he is on, so him being all calm and placid was very strange.
I jumped in the car to get home, trying to break land speed records and swearing violently if someone was in front of me not going fast enough or if the lights dared to go red rather than let me through. Once home and bursting through the door in a complete state of panic, I got out to the garden to see le chunk doing what he loves to do, eating grass and climbing all over mummy. His temperature was coming right down and it looked as if he was feeling a lot better (we love you baby Panadol).
Being the over cautious parents we are, we checked his temperature approximately every 13.6 seconds to ensure everything was normal for the rest of the evening and gave him loads of water. Everything seemed fine for a couple of days, he wasn’t finishing his bottles but he was having a fair bit of food prior so we weren’t too concerned, he wasn’t weeing as much so trying to plough him with water was our number 1 aim.
On Friday night, he had a rash in is nappy area, this is the first time that had happened and we thought it could be nappy rash, when he woke up on Saturday the rash had spread to his shoulders, face and the top of his back. Panic stations re-assumed. We got him into the drs that morning and did another 8742 temperature checks.
The Doc looked him over, he was in good spirits, trying to grab anything he could, almost ruining his records on the computer by hitting the keyboard when we didn’t pull him too far away. He suggested it could be Roseola. This is when a baby has a fever for a bit and the rash is just the bug leaving the body. We were relieved, it was horrible to see this rash spreading all over our little man but this was reassuring.
We kept an eye on him over the next couple of days, the rash got horrendous by Saturday night but on Sunday it was on the wane and by Sunday night was basically gone. He was back to eating everything put in front of him (and some things that weren’t) and his happy, laughing personality was back. Thank goodness it wasn’t more serious, but now he has been ill for the first time, we kind of know what to expect and his little immune system has had its first work out. Hopefully there won’t be too many more, my nerves and the roads of Sydney probably can’t take that but fortunately we have a beautiful, happy, healthy baby at home again.
Happy fathering.
fatherhoodlaidbare 