Well, unfortunately, it appears that Miss Makela has come down with a case of chicken pox. A very mild case, but it seems to fit all the symptoms nonetheless.
The nurse I talked to on Sunday said that the most telling sign of it being chicken pox would be the appearance of new spots for the next 4-5 days. The spots would all look different, b/c they would be in varying stages. Sure enough, yesterday I found one new spot almost on top the very first one, plus several on her left ear and hairline under that ear. AND yes, they looked different than the older spots, which are starting to look kind of crusty. Makela has also complained of a sore throat and bad itching yesterday, so she was on Motrin and Benadryl. No fever at least.
Today is now Tuesday, and no pain today, but she is itching again. Only one new spot so far today, under her right ear near the hairline. The two overlapping ones on her face are bright red and now resemble a music note, oddly enough (an eighth note, to be precise). Fitting, given Makela's penchant for all things musical.
All I can say is thank goodness for the vaccine. If she hadn't had that, the chicken pox might be REALLY nasty. And yes, the nurse confirmed that kids can still get chicken pox after having the vaccine -- it just tends to be a mild case like this one. I've seen some horrible pictures on WebMD and other med sites, wanting to find more info yesterday before the nurse called back.
Apparently it's going around San Diego right now, and it's highly contagious. Makela probably picked it up from touching something at story time or the park or the grocery store -- could have been ANYwhere!
There was one funny thing that Makela said in the context of having chicken pox. Last night, as we were getting ready for bed, she wanted more anti-itch cream on her "dots." She was naming all the places I needed to apply it, and then she said, "And my lines." Huh? I wasn't sure what THAT meant. Turns out she meant her HAIRline(s), where several pox had appeared yesterday.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Favorites
Well, if for no other reason than I'd like to remember these, I thought I'd note some of Makela's current favorite things.
Favorite color: Purple!
Favorite foods: Pasta with "mato" sauce, macaroni & cheese, In-n-Out cheeseburger with ketchup and grilled onions
Favorite books: Curious George, Curious George Goes to the Beach, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Cinderella
Favorite Disney princess: Cinderella
Favorite characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse & the rest of the MM Clubhouse gang; Little Einsteins; Curious George; Charlie & Lola
Favorite songs: You Are My Sunshine, Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABC Song, Hey Ya Na (from our music class)
Favorite color: Purple!
Favorite foods: Pasta with "mato" sauce, macaroni & cheese, In-n-Out cheeseburger with ketchup and grilled onions
Favorite books: Curious George, Curious George Goes to the Beach, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Cinderella
Favorite Disney princess: Cinderella
Favorite characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse & the rest of the MM Clubhouse gang; Little Einsteins; Curious George; Charlie & Lola
Favorite songs: You Are My Sunshine, Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABC Song, Hey Ya Na (from our music class)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Hugs & Hearts
Today rates as one of the best Valentine's Days ever. It was low-key, but full of love and hugs from our little Valentine.
The day started with Makela's alarm going off at 7 am and her bounding into our bedroom with a cheerful "Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!" She was more than happy to plant big kisses on us and share some hugs first thing.
All through the day then, Makela kept throwing her arms around me and nuzzling her face against mine, saying "I'm giving you some love." And at one point, she asked me, "Why do hugs feel so good?" Makela also decided that big kisses are really just "hearts," so she kept telling me she wanted to give me another "heart." Then I'd get another big, wet one planted on me.
Finally, I was leaving her room after tucking her in and saying goodnight, when I heard her sweet little voice one more time. It was an amazing day to hear these last words of the day from Makela: "I love you sooooo much, Mommy."
The day started with Makela's alarm going off at 7 am and her bounding into our bedroom with a cheerful "Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!" She was more than happy to plant big kisses on us and share some hugs first thing.
All through the day then, Makela kept throwing her arms around me and nuzzling her face against mine, saying "I'm giving you some love." And at one point, she asked me, "Why do hugs feel so good?" Makela also decided that big kisses are really just "hearts," so she kept telling me she wanted to give me another "heart." Then I'd get another big, wet one planted on me.
Finally, I was leaving her room after tucking her in and saying goodnight, when I heard her sweet little voice one more time. It was an amazing day to hear these last words of the day from Makela: "I love you sooooo much, Mommy."
Saturday, February 2, 2008
"I Have Dots"
"I have dots. What are these dots?" Makela said, in between whimpering and wailing after her 20-minute nap late Thursday afternoon. I thought she was imagining things, or maybe pointing to the bruises on her knees. Then she started scratching and wailing louder about the "dots." I took a closer look at her legs, and sure enough, what did I see but big ugly, red splotches with raised bumps and welts.
Then I hiked up her jammy shirt (Makela has taken to facing quiet time in her pj's lately), only to find LOTS more of these splotches with what looked like nasty hives inside them! They were EVERYwhere -- on her belly, her back, her legs, and then some appeared on her cheeks! EEK! I couldn't believe what I was seeing -- this kid has been SOOO healthy, and now this? After our previous week of putting the "fun" back in "bodily function?"
It was about 4:30 when I reached the doctor's office and spoke with a nurse, and by 5:00, I was on the phone with Dr. O'Dea. Again. She told me she thought it was indeed hives, based on my description, and to give her 1/4 teaspoon Children's Benadryl. But just to make sure, we scheduled an appointment for the next day.
Although she was much better by the next morning, in we traipsed to the sick kids side of the pediatrician's office. We'd only just visited the well appointment side on Tuesday, for Makela's three-year check-up. She was pronounced healthy that day, although she's lost some weight recently (down to 30 pounds 6 ounces, or 50th percentile; also 36.5" for 45th percentile in height). And Dr. O'Dea also put her on a mild laxative called Miralax to help with her continued constipation. Now, on Friday morning, Makela pronounced to all who would listen as they came in and out of the office: "I have dots." With a huge smile on her face, of course.
After taking a look at Makela, including a slightly different rash that I'd uncovered on the back and side of her neck, Dr. O'Dea decided that we were looking at a virus. It turns out that there are a number of viruses that can cause hives in small children, and secondary rash fits the bill as well. That explained Makela's runny nose the last day or so, as well as the fact that she hadn't come in contact with any new foods or materials that might have caused an allergic reaction. So Dr. O'Dea told us that the hives might come and go for a while, and to continue treating it with the Benadryl as needed.
Sure enough, by bedtime last night, Makela was coughing. And by this morning, it was a wet sounding cough, and she had a fever of about 100.5. So joy of joys, Makela is on a splendid anti-viral, pro-pooping cocktail of Children's Benadryl, Children's Motrin, and Miralax! Poor thing.
But curious as always, Makela wanted to know this morning why she was sick. And her daddy, too -- he's feeling rotten with his own pestilence of sore throat, fever, and cough. So I explained that they both caught germs that were making them sick, but their bodies were fighting it.
I had to go out later, and apparently Makela kept talking about germs with her daddy while I was gone. Joe told me that she asked him, "We both have germ, Daddy?" And then she added, "I no like germ. I want germ to go away." You and us both, kiddo.
Then I hiked up her jammy shirt (Makela has taken to facing quiet time in her pj's lately), only to find LOTS more of these splotches with what looked like nasty hives inside them! They were EVERYwhere -- on her belly, her back, her legs, and then some appeared on her cheeks! EEK! I couldn't believe what I was seeing -- this kid has been SOOO healthy, and now this? After our previous week of putting the "fun" back in "bodily function?"
It was about 4:30 when I reached the doctor's office and spoke with a nurse, and by 5:00, I was on the phone with Dr. O'Dea. Again. She told me she thought it was indeed hives, based on my description, and to give her 1/4 teaspoon Children's Benadryl. But just to make sure, we scheduled an appointment for the next day.
Although she was much better by the next morning, in we traipsed to the sick kids side of the pediatrician's office. We'd only just visited the well appointment side on Tuesday, for Makela's three-year check-up. She was pronounced healthy that day, although she's lost some weight recently (down to 30 pounds 6 ounces, or 50th percentile; also 36.5" for 45th percentile in height). And Dr. O'Dea also put her on a mild laxative called Miralax to help with her continued constipation. Now, on Friday morning, Makela pronounced to all who would listen as they came in and out of the office: "I have dots." With a huge smile on her face, of course.
After taking a look at Makela, including a slightly different rash that I'd uncovered on the back and side of her neck, Dr. O'Dea decided that we were looking at a virus. It turns out that there are a number of viruses that can cause hives in small children, and secondary rash fits the bill as well. That explained Makela's runny nose the last day or so, as well as the fact that she hadn't come in contact with any new foods or materials that might have caused an allergic reaction. So Dr. O'Dea told us that the hives might come and go for a while, and to continue treating it with the Benadryl as needed.
Sure enough, by bedtime last night, Makela was coughing. And by this morning, it was a wet sounding cough, and she had a fever of about 100.5. So joy of joys, Makela is on a splendid anti-viral, pro-pooping cocktail of Children's Benadryl, Children's Motrin, and Miralax! Poor thing.
But curious as always, Makela wanted to know this morning why she was sick. And her daddy, too -- he's feeling rotten with his own pestilence of sore throat, fever, and cough. So I explained that they both caught germs that were making them sick, but their bodies were fighting it.
I had to go out later, and apparently Makela kept talking about germs with her daddy while I was gone. Joe told me that she asked him, "We both have germ, Daddy?" And then she added, "I no like germ. I want germ to go away." You and us both, kiddo.
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