Ben is still sick, going on day 5...

Honestly, we have no idea where Ben picked up this recent illness. It may have come from school. Or it may have come from the grocery store, or a doctor visit. But, I felt the above was prudent to post as cold and flu season is upon us. We are now on day 5 of diarrhea for Ben, and it is not just the occasional once in a while diarrhea. It is all the time. To the point that he was in the ER for re-hydration yesterday and is now limping or refusing to walk completely. The doctor yesterday said this could be because it is a bad virus and he feels really weak and that is how the body aches are manifesting for him. He is still barely eating anything. We are trying to push fluids as much as we can. So, yes, weakness is a definite possibility. And with his immunosuppression, any virus will most likely last a lot longer than any of his friends. He seemed to be getting better last Thursday and Friday. And then Saturday it got a lot worse and that's when we ended up in the ER yesterday. And today he is seeming a little better with the diarrhea, but he is very weak and complaining of pain in his legs. If he still won't walk tomorrow, he has to see his pediatrician. Who he just saw last Wednesday as well. It is possible that all the diarrhea depleted all the magnesium in his body. He is already very low on magnesium, that's why he takes supplements. So, with diarrhea, it is very possible it got completely depleted. And the pains he is feeling are muscle cramps.

So far, I had to take off last Wednesday, and then again today because Joe is out of town. Which, don't get me wrong, I am happy to stay home with my baby when he is feeling bad. And, I am so grateful I have a job that lets me rearrange my whole schedule to another day. I have filled up my entire day tomorrow with my clients from today and my clients I normally see tomorrow. And Joe is staying home tomorrow to bring the kids to school (We have yet to see if Ben will be able to go) and pick them up so I can see my last kiddo at 3:30. But, I just want to say, I don't even think about it. If he is sick, or if the girls are sick, I keep them home. I don't medicate and send them to school. I would hope that anyone who thinks about doing that, thinks about Ben and looks at the above and thinks again, or look at the pics of Ben below. Think about who you might get sick and how bad it might get for them. It might be a simple illness for your child, but it might be a really long illness or even a hospitalization for a medically fragile child. This is what Ben has looked like the past couple of days. And he has been waking up at least once an hour screaming in pain at night. Please think before sending your child to school sick.

ER visit yesterday

Didn't even want to get back on the bed. And complained when I tried to put him there.