Does this look like a kid with Giardia?

Just checking. Because the test results from 1/2/08 indicate that he has Giardia! He's one of those rare individuals who shows NO signs, NO symptoms, yet has it.

Thank goodness I persuaded his pediatrician to order a lab test... for a kid with no symptoms.

So what happened?

Back in October, there was a sign on the door of his daycare class indicating that a child in the class had Giardia. When I asked a teacher about it, she said that the child had been having diarrhea, but the parents kept bringing him to daycare anyway (!!!). They kept calling the parents to take him home, saying, "You can't bring your child if they have diarrhea!" Finally, they said, "This is not clearing up - you should get him tested." The parents relented at last... and found out he had Giardia.

A couple weeks went by, and two more cases popped up.

Then November was silent.

In December, another notice went up. Turns out EIGHT more children had Giardia. EIGHT. A letter went out to parents just before the Christmas break, stating that if your child is tested and comes back "negative", they'd be put in a different room, with all of the "negative" kids. They had come in on a weekend and bleached down the entire room. They had called the Dept. of Health, which had sent reps in to give an additional workshop on precautions with diaper changes.

So, just to be helpful, I thought Colin should be tested. Then, once he came back "negative", he could go into the "negative" class after Christmas break.

The day after Christmas, with the scent of pine in the air, and some still-unwrapped presents under the tree, I scooped poo into vials.

Then we waited.

The pediatrician's office called the day after New Year's... with a bit of shock in the voice... Colin was positive for Giardia!

Talk about a stunner. How long had he had it? How many other kids in that class could be positive, little ticking time-bombs of Giardia poo, without knowing it?

So then I needed to call my doctor and persuade them to sign a lab sheet, even though I had no symptoms. And my husband had to do the same. Both offices hesitated greatly until we mentioned Colin's asymptomatic "positive". (And the fact that I was just days/weeks from having a baby.)

We're still waiting for our lab results.

In the meantime, Colin can't go to daycare on his usual days. Which, of course, are the days I'm supposed to be going to obstetrical appointments, taking extra naps, and running errands that I won't be able to do once the baby comes (not immediately, at least). The poor kid is not getting enough exercise, between me being so pregnant and having all of these sciatic/back issues, not being able to take him to gym class (because of my same issues), not going to school, and the rainstorms that prevent trike-riding and park time.

We've had three calls from the Dept. of Health. Luckily, all of the people I've spoken with ARE SO FRIENDLY AND PERSONABLE AND PROFESSIONAL. One nurse is going to bring the next two sets of vials for poo sampling to the house, so I only have to deal with drop-offs (because of my impending labor and delivery). My favorite part, though, was when the nurse was doing a questionnaire with me over the phone to determine where Colin might have swallowed water from a stream or eaten dirt. I said, "I know where he got Giardia. He got it at daycare when a kid had it back in October and his parents kept bringing him to school. There's a big outbreak there now that they can't get under control."

So Colin needs to take medicine for 10 days, three times per day. The first two days were fine, then he decided that he hated the medicine. (It's very bitter, even when mixed into a cherry base syrup.) I started mixing it into chocolate syrup, which is an incredibly rare treat for him. That worked for another two days, but was messy and difficult to administer. Then I hit on it: squirt the medicine in his mouth, tell him to "swallow quickly!", then squirt whipped cream into his mouth. Well, that's been a HUGE hit. It's worked like a charm. I don't know how I came up with that one; I have never had whipped cream squirted into my own mouth! But I'm glad I did. I'm like freakin' Mary Poppins over here now, with my spoonful of.... whipped cream.

It's just been rough in that Colin is having to take medicine, even though he doesn't feel sick; he can't go to school, and doesn't understand why; we have to bleach down all of his toys (the nurse's suggestion from today), which sent him into a tizzy because he thought we were putting away all of his toys in the garage so he'd never see them again; and, of course, I'm pregnant and supposed to be taking it easy.

BTW, if I come back "positive", the doctor said she wouldn't treat me unless I became symptomatic. She'd treat me after the baby was born. (And, of course, I'd need to tell Labor and Delivery that I had Giardia so they could make accommodations for that when I delivered.) In addition, if I started on medication, I'd have to pump-and-dump milk, as the medicine is not compatible with nursing.

SOOOOOOOOOO.... needless to say, our household has been turned upside down in the weeks when we really need it least. But we need to make sure our home becomes Giardia-free before the baby comes, as it can be a real danger to infants (dehydration, failure to thrive, hospitalization, etc.).

As my husband says: "Damn daycare!"

What I'm listening to: Matt watching "Nova" without me. Stop!
I just: Started watching "Nova" without him, then paused it. ;)
Now I'm gonna: Pour some orange juice and go chastize poor Matt

Parenting a four-month-old

So it's been WAY TOO LONG since my last post. I've been busy learning how to be a parent... AND starting up work again.

As the three-month mark approached, and brought my start back to work with it, I began to worry. My mom would tell me, "What if [day care] lets him cry? What if they say, 'You're cute, but there's another baby over here crying, so you'll have to wait'?" My mother-in-law told me, "You should just stay home."

But I was committed to going back three days per week (down from five days).

But the time three months came along, I *really* wanted to work. I needed a break from the "Mommy Show". Women feel guilty admitting that, and other women may deride them for that, but it's true: staying home is the hardest job there is. Some people are cut out for it. I needed stimulation outside of the home and, realistically, a break from my son, no matter how cute and wonderful he was and how much gravity of responsibility for him I felt.

So I went back to work; my mother-in-law started coming on Mondays to watch the baby; my husband dropped him off at daycare on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and I picked him up in the afternoons.

And though there is no such thing as "free time" any more, I feel that I'm a much more effective parent. I really enjoy my time away, and I really enjoy my time with him. I feel like I've got the best of both worlds. And yes, day care could actually end up being beneficial for the baby as well. I'm sure some would agree, and others would disagree. But it's a personal decision.

I still feel like I'm learning all of the time. For example, a couple of weeks ago, the baby started to be fussy and not sleep well. I noticed he had what looked like the start of ingrown nails on two fingers. He also had gas. And he had already developed eczema and his first cold. But the fussiness lingered. Sleep became a blessed event when it occured. I even took the baby to the doctor to find out what was wrong. Then, last Wednesday, I was home playing with him when I noticed that two of his fingers had green spots on them!! The same two that were red before. I just knew that meant infection. I took him to the doctor two hours later, they drained one area (no crying!), and put him on Keflex. Looking on the Internet the other night, it appears that he has the most common hand infection in the United States. It can be caused by staph or strep, and starts with a break in the skin (like from an ingrown nail!) and then nail biting or hand-sucking (like my little pre-teether was doing). BINGO!!!! Not to mention that once he had been on antibiotics for about 24 hours AND taking Tylenol, he started sleeping again.

I feel totally lame.

Well, hopefully the second one will not end up as psychologically scarred as the first, the one who dealt with the first-time parents!!!!

All in all, my life is even more wonderful than it ever has been... every day is an adventure, and truly interesting. And seeing that beautiful little face smiling at me, and patting his head as he nestles up against my chest... well, it's just the best.

Here's my little mijo at three months. Love that face!