I still find it hard when Henry is sick

Even now Henry is 3 years old, I still find it so difficult to handle when Henry is sick. I am not talking about a cold, even though that can be hard to deal with aswell, but more when he is vomiting. Sorry if this is TMI, but babies and toddlers can be sick in that way a lot.

Last Monday we had a really good day at the start, it was quite gloomy outside so we stayed in, but played with some toys, listened to some music and played upstairs. We had been playing hide and sick, well a hobbled version as I had hurt my leg the week before, falling down the stairs.

I had wondered when running his bath as he had dribble on his chin, if he had been sick, but he did eat his lunch even though he was a bit hesitant at first, and then after his bath it was as if his hole body decided it wanted to do something else and sorry for the TMI, but he was sick all over his carpet and some clothes, and for me to help you mums out there sometimes I have to paint the picture you can identify with.

At times you can feel like”I am a failure” but let me tell you, if your child is sick and you are thinking that “Why does this only happen to me*  it does not. When a sick bug strikes it can be all of a sudden.

Now I know babies and toddlers can be sick and Henry was on some occasions, but no way to this extent not like that and it was if he couldn’t stop, and I could nor help but panic myself. He was crying and I was like a frantic woman lost.

What do I do?

How do I handle this?

I tried to get him to move and then took him in the bathroom to wash him off and get him by the toilet in case he was sick again, which he was. I was so unprepared and I kept thinking “Oh why didn’t I see the signs”, but there wasn’t. We just before then were laughing and I was tickling him and singing.

It seems to always happen when I am on my own. I called Elv and then my mum. I was in a complete mess. It was one of those episodes where I felt it wasn’t going to end, and this was just the start.

He did finally settle that evening and in the morning he was fine, but kept and eye on him, and stayed in doors just in case, but my word I don’t think I could have anymore of that if I can help it.

It was scary how quickly it passed. I cleaned all the sick and had to throw some bits of clothes and a fabric storage box away, and went on a cleaning frenzy, all the doors and handles, the bathroom, kitchen and washed the bedding.

Then on Wednesday morning, it was my turn. It just hit, I was fine when I went to bed, but so totally different the next day.

All I could do is lie in my bed no sudden movements I felt like I was gonna become the girl in the exorcist so my husband took Henry to nursery on that day. I stayed in bed the whole time as I also felt really cold, with fuzzy head and headache. As soon as I stood up I felt sick again.

It made me think about my son and how he must have felt, I wish sometimes I could see into my child’s mind. For children they have no idea and to them it is a shock. Henry was in shock and I could see as he was being sick the not knowing what was happening to his body. I couldn’t help that night on Monday, but cry myself.

I felt so helpless.

As a mum you want to have a magic wand with you all the time to get rid of anything bad, and I could have done with a wand that Monday. It was horrific and I know children do get sick, but I find it so hard when he is.

I always like to turn a negative situation to a positive and so doing so, I wanted to share this because I know that there are other parents who may feel the same too about their child being sick, even when they are 3 years older. It can be traumatic all around, when Henry was first sick in hospital with Reflux it was a massive shock, especially as I had no idea that milk can come out through babies noses. I had no idea that could happen, there was no mention of that in any of the baby books I read, and even my husband found it a shock at first.

So what I have learned through this experience is that:

• To think who is the most important? Your Child
• So comfort first make sure they are alright
• Then clean up after and if you can call help to support you then do so, as it can be like a sudden pressure and make you panic, but having someone else help can help stop you from getting too overwhelmed when your child is suddenly sick
• Remember it doesn’t last forever

When it comes to being a mum and expecting a child you can prepare but you can’t really plan, as it is like entering the unknown, you don’t know what to expect really until your child arrives, and can be totally different to what you expected to be. It is life changing, and so when they are sick for the first time, up to when they are a toddler it can still be heart wrenching, and you can panic.

Never fear that you are alone as you are not. All parents go through dilemmas, and so knowing that there are others who are going through the same, can be a massive help as a parent.

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie X

 

Transitions

Image from: http://spfinsurance.com/california-baby-health-insurance/best-health-insurance-policy-for-baby-in-california/

As soon as you full pregnant there are loads of transitions from the get go. At first they are so small you can hardly tell they are there, but you feel the symptoms of the little person growing inside you. Morning sickness, sore breasts and for me indigestion.

I knew something was not right, and as soon as my period was late, as it is regular as clock work, I bought a pregnancy test. In fact two. I found out I am pregnant with my first child.

Tip 1#I would always advise to do more than one pregnancy test just to make sure.

Then there are the differences in the scans, in the first one you can see a hand and foot, but at this stage we didn’t know the sex of the baby. This was confirmed at our 20 week scan, where you can make out hair, nose, mouth and if the baby has a male part or female.

You then start to feel movement, you can have further symptoms of sickness and indigestion. I kept getting acid re-flux a lot, cramp at the back of my leg, which was excruciating, and would often wake me up in agony.

Sorry to scare monger but it is true.

Image from: http://www.twin-pregnancy-and-beyond.com/twin-belly-transition-12-to-32-weeks.html

Then as soon as they enter into the world, they continue to change. It is surprising how quickly they develop, smiling, making noises, reacting to sound, images on the TV, recognizing the things they like and don’t.

Then they go from just having milk to then solids, then proper food, and less milk. They can suddenly roll over, sit up, stand, walk and then start to talk.

Now my son is going to nursery, and last week we altered his cot into a toddler bed.

The picture is of my son Henry, who just woke up from his nap today in this photo so looking a bit grumpy, as I was writing this blog. This was taken whilst he was in his cot which we have taken one of the sides off from, to then put the Bed Rail  up you see in the photo, from Argos priced at £19.99. This turns it into a Toddler bed.

Tip 2# I would recommend one of these cots, where you can change it into a toddler bed, as they are really a great money saver

We also bought him a new mattress too, as the other one was becoming worn and he had, had that since he first slept in his cot. Mattress from Argos, priced at £99.99.

The first night we changed the bed, I knew it would take him some time to get used to. My husband and I, just knew that Henry had outgrown his cot as it was and so it was time to change it.

He appeared to settle well at his bedtime, which is usually between 6:30 to 7pm, and got straight into bed. We had put a new gate on to his door aswell. So he couldn’t wonder around the house at night. The Gates were also from Argos at £19.99. We bought two, one for Henry’s room and one for the other entrance into our kitchen.

Putting up the Bed rail was not easy. It took a bit of time to figure out, and so my hubby put it up for me in the end.

Tip 3# If you can have someone help you with putting the bed rail up then do so. I still adamant that as parents we do need more than two hands from time to time.

As luck would have it, as soon as I got into bed, my son woke up, and kept getting up.

So settled him back down, checked his nappy, the temperature of his room, if he was thirsty and also he can have a blocked nose, so I spray his nose with  Calpol Nose spray, then settled him down.

It took a while, but eventually he did settle. I sat with him for a bit whilst he drifted off.

Advice: #It is all new to them, so don’t be surprised if they get a bit anxious at first about the change.

You will know, when it is time for the transition.

Image from: http://talkmum.com

Nursery is a massive transition. I took for grunted I think at first, of how much of a change this would be for us all.

It was a brand new nursery and it so happened that my mum knew the people who were building and owned the nursery. So we went to see it with Henry for ourselves, as we had such wonderful feedback, and Henry walked in as if he was already attending the nursery.

I had no idea how it worked now. It was years since I went to nursery. I would drop him off and leave; however the last settle in, it was only and hour and I got a call to say Henry had a temperature and to come back to collect him.

I next time, had to let them know how Henry is before dropping him off. He had been fine all that morning so I hadn’t thought anything of it.

I felt so bad, and I did cry too.

Now it’s as if those days didn’t exist and he goes in as if there was never an issue.

Tip 4#They can become a bit weary at first. As it can take a while for them to really suss out what is happening. When the realization that mummy or daddy goes, and he stays there can be an unsettling shock to them at first. I would recommend to stay for a bit so they know that you are just there. Once you see them happy playing and have forgotten you, then go and take some free time to yourself.

When Henry realized that we, mum and dad come back, he then settled in fine.

I felt lost the first time I had to leave Henry at nursery, and I had no idea what to do. I had all the must do’s listed, but put on the spot the to do list went out the window.

Transitions are part of growth. As adults we are still going through transitions. Becoming a parent is a massive transition, getting married, changing jobs and old age.

Tip 5# Gradual steps I have found to be the perfect way to build their confidence with transitions. Before taking them to nursery for example, I would recommend some children’s classes such as Monkey Music, Gymboree or Tumble Tots, Play Schools, and soft play cafes. It helps build their social skills ready for nursery. Children tend to copy other children, which in turn helps their development and skills even more.

The next thing will be potty training. It will take time, and if I find Henry isn’t ready then we will not continue until he is. With parenting you do have to be persistent and listen to your child. You will know, by his actions if he is ready or not. I find Henry will decide when he is ready not us.

So good luck with the transitions, remember it is part of their growing so don’t be too hard on yourself, as I know us parents can be at times, as you are learning too as much as they are. Take gradual steps so you can all get used to your child’s development and changes.

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie X