When it rains, it pours.

2/3/04: When it rains it pours, and I wish I was talking about the weather. Nicholas has been absolutely miserable the past couple days. And all the other updates.

Yesterday Nicholas complained a good part of the day that his knees hurt and it hurt to walk. This morning he woke up drenched, whimpering and stiff as a board, fell asleep on the couch at naptime, and spent a good bit of time resting. His own choice. At the playground yesterday he sat with me the entire time, except for the trip home for Motrin and then the clean-up when he threw up all over the picnic table seat. Today, he was better but still sat for a while on the bench. He's sick, he's tired, he's achey. But he's not vomitting anymore. His fever fluctuates all day giving him headaches. My first thought this morning with the extreme aches... Dengue Fever.
Thankfully, no spreading rash has developed. That's not to say I won't be watching him like a hawk. His most common phrase today was "I hope I feel better for the Harry Potter party." Today is Tuesday and the party is on Saturday and I sure hope that whatever this is has high-tailed it out of here well before then.
It might be over reacting to have considered Dengue Fever, except that this evening a DVA rep came by the house saying that the results were in from the mosquito traps that were done a while back. Our house had come up positive for Dengue Fever. You know, you can't win. Malaria mosquitoes like cesspools. Dengue Fever mosquitoes like clean puddles. And the water doesn't have to be still either, a steady drip (say, from an a/c unit) is all that's needed to encourage them to breed.
Katherine was home from school again today. While she's not vomitting any longer, she also hasn't eaten enough to keep a hamster alive, and has lost weight and all her energy. She did better today, keeping down toast, applesauce and some plain macaroni noodles. Her fever comes right back whenever the medicine wears off, but Motrin keeps it under control. Tomorrow, she'll be back in school, provided she's not covered in a rash, is bleeding from her ears or has a second head growing. At this point, I don't know what's coming from around the corner.
Tomorrow is Rebecca's last day of her meds. I'll be glad to see the end of those, and I know she is too. Liquid meds from now on, no matter if I have to go to the pharmacy to get it. Pills are NOT worth this hassle.
Oh, and Jonathon? He started in tonight saying his stomach hurt. Something is up with him as he bursts into tears at just about anything. How does anyone separate the fact that he's Two from potential illness symptoms? I guess I'll just have to wait for him to burn up or throw up.