Nicholas caught a stomach bug

Today Nicholas was at Adventure Kids for a few hours while I went to a doctor appointment. I picked him up around 1:45 and he said he had a tummy ache. I told the receptionist at Adventure Kids and asked how he had been while I was gone. She said he seemed fine and she confirmed that he had eaten most of his lunch. We were in Plano and it took a while to get back home. By the time we got home he was whining about his tummy hurting. He didn't want anything to eat or drink and he didn't need to go to the bathroom. I let him just lie down for a while but then he started crying and rolling around in pain. I checked his temperature and it was about 99.6. As I was calling the pediatrician's office he started quieting down and eventually went to sleep for his nap.

He didn't sleep as long as he usually does but he seemed ok when he woke up. He wanted to just lie around some and I thought this was probably due to the fact that he hadn't gotten a full nap. However, he soon started moaning and whining about his tummy and then it escalated into crying and rolling around again. By now his temperature was 100.1. I called the doctor's office and brought him right over. At the doctor's office, he continued to cry and squirm. His temperature had risen to 103. He seemed to have no other symptoms except that his tummy hurt and he had a fever. The doctor ruled out gas, constipation, and swallowing some small object because those would not be accompanied by a fever. She said that it could be many other things though - an infection such as strep throat, pneumonia, or gastroenteritis (stomach bug). They took a swab from his throat and it came back negative for strep. They drew blood from his little finger to check his white blood cell count but it came back normal which ruled out any sort of infection. His lungs sounded clear so pneumonia was ruled out. From deduction he was given a diagnosis of gastroenteritis. I was told that it may get worse before it gets better but it should resolve itself in 24 hours. While we were at the doctor's office, he quieted down again and said that he felt better. The doctor confirmed that a stomach bug can bring on sudden pains which disappear just as suddenly. The only thing I can do for him is give him Tylenol or Motrin for the fever and some Maalox to help his tummy feel a little better.

We came home and he ate some chicken soup and 7up and he's been fine. We didn't play as usual. I don't usually let him watch much television but when he's sick he can watch it all he wants. We snuggled on the couch and watched the Cars movie and then he watched a Justice League video that Grandmama Owen sent him recently. Nicholas loves it because it has several super heroes in it. He went to bed just fine and showed no other symptoms and had no other stomach pains.

I'm exhausted from worrying about him all day. I've checked in on him several times since he went to sleep. I can't help but to be reminded of times when I was young and sick and how my parents hovered over me, worrying, and taking care of my every need. It is hard being a parent. There is always so much to do just to keep up with the day to day chores. But when your child is sick, nothing else matters. Everything else loses importance and all that matters is that little person who needs you. I pray that this bug passes quickly without much discomfort to Nicholas and that he is back to his happy energetic self by the end of the day tomorrow.