Thoughts on Sick Babies from a Thankful Momma

Well we had a rough weekend.  It started Thursday afternoon when I went to get Isabelle from her nap, and she was burning up and running a fever of 102.something (I can't quite remember).  She had a runny nose and was acting so lethargic and pitiful.  Ariel came with me and we brought her into the after-hours clinic, where we waited for two and a half hours - the doctor tested her for flu and strep, both came back negative. 


The next day, her fever still hadn't gone away, and she had thrown up and had had diarrhea, so we brought her back.  This time Blake and I were there for FOUR hours (a large part of the wait was us waiting to be seen).  They took her temperature there and it was 104.4 - the highest it's ever been, and that was really scary.  They checked her oxygen levels, and drew some blood and urine (through a catheter, which was horrible, not only for her, but for me and Blake as well).  The doctor ended up prescribing antibiotics just in case and told us to give her pedialyte for hydration and ibuprofen and tylenol for the fever. 

Saturday morning, she seemed to be getting better, but by the late-afternoon and night, her fever was back, and she was still throwing up a little.  Sunday I brought her back to the clinic where the doctor told me that all of the tests came back negative, which means that it was probably a virus that just had to run its course.  By Sunday night, her fever was gone (it seemed to go away just as suddenly as it appeared), and she was back to her playful, energetic self.  (I should add that Sunday morning, Isabelle cut her first tooth!  You can barely see or feel it, but it's definitely there!  And, yes, I know that some babies are cranky and run fever when they're teething.  But with the high fever, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea, I still believe it was a nasty virus, and just a coincidence that she happened to be cutting teeth at the same time).

It's so scary having a sick baby, and knowing you can't do anything to help.  Even though it was just a virus that had to run its course, I don't regret bringing her to the doctor.  She's 11 months old, and incapable of telling me what's hurting or bothering her, so I'd much rather play it safe and have her checked out.

Blake's mom had given me this wonderful little old prayer book last week called "Mother's Manual" by A. Francis Coomes, S.J.  It contains prayers for just about anything a mom would pray for - for pregnancy, for breastfeeding, for grace to correct a child properly...anything.  Including this prayer for a sick child, which I would like to share, since I know many of you who read this blog are mothers too.

Prayer for a Sick Child:

Dearest Mother, how helpless I feel in the presence of my ailing child!  No labor of my hands, or sacrifice of my energy, can restore it quickly to health.  And yet my heart years to do something for my child. 

So to you I turn, dear mother, consoler of the afflicted and health of the sick.  Show your loving protection once more and, as my child was blessed in my womb and at its birth, so intercede for it now that God may restore its health of body. 

I renew the consecration of my child to you forever, most cherished mother.  In sickness and in health may it always be yours. 

Mary, sorrowing, Mother of all Christians, Pray for us!

I'm so thankful that Isabelle is doing much better, and thank you everyone for your prayers.  I know that sickness is a part of life, and this won't be the last time one of our kids gets sick.  I pray every day that God will give Blake and me the wisdom and courage to handle whatever challenges we'll face as parents, and the grace to trust in Him through it all.  And hopefully this experience will make me a better mom in the end.