So being cooped up in your house for three weeks with a never ending sickness seems to wear on a persons nerves and sense of reality way too much. Perhaps it’s because we live in a “go” society. Maybe it’s because I felt so isolated from the rest of the world. Maybe because I’ve NEVER been sick that long and it was driving me nuts that I couldn’t get better RIGHT NOW! But whatever the reason I was getting close to losing it. So when Saturday October 24 was approaching and we had a primary program practice/activity scheduled in the morning and a birthday party on the beach in the afternoon I wasn’t so sure we were going to make it.
BUT………
After Alix broke out in larger than life welts I think I finally lost it. She had been complaining of itching and just wanting to crawl out of her skin. We had been giving her Benadryl which seemed to help temporarily but she still was just going nuts. Then I noticed them. They were a good 2 inches in diameter and she had 7 of them, only on the left side of her body (not sure what that means). No fever but she complained of a head ache. I had visions of another week of staying at home, canceling everything, being a hermit. I think the thought freaked me out and I just broke. I called my presidency and told them to write the Thompson’s out of the primary program. We were going to just stay home the rest of our lives. I went to bed VERY pessimistic.
I spent a VERY restless night trying to figure out what I was going to do. I got up at 12:30am and just worked on things. I think I finally fell asleep at 4:30am. When everyone woke up they seemed fine. Even Alix seemed fine, except for her welts. We have a pediatrician in our ward so I called him to get the low down on when someone is contagious. His recommendations of someone who is not contagious were this: No fever for 24 hours. No cough. No visible boogies coming out of the nose. All of my kids fit that description so we went to the primary activity/program practice in the morning and then WE WENT TO THE BEACH!!
[When we first got there it was totally foggy. But it was actually very nice. It was cooler and it gave the beach an almost mystic feeling. The kids enjoyed it too.]
Can I tell you how therapeutic the beach is!? Not one kid complained of being sick. Alix didn’t have any itching. Nobody had to blow their nose.
[Keri’s usual beach look. However if you look closely her sandy face is mingled with frosting. She had just eaten a cupcake and had frosting all over her face, then she face planted in the sand. It was sooooo cute!!]
They ran around, played and just enjoyed being a kid and being outside! I think that has been the best medicine this family has taken in the last three weeks. Thank you Sophie for having a birthday party on the beach!
[BFF!! Niah and Emilie flying a kite together.]
Thank you Heavenly Father for listening to my pleadings and allowing my kids to be healthy enough to participate the primary program. Thank you Scott for enduring the last three weeks and being a great dad while this mom was checked out.
[Milo, Sophie (the birthday girl. Blue shirt), and Afton. As you can see the weather cleared up and it was a BEAUTIFUL day.]
I LOVE BEING HEALTHY!!
Could playdough be giving Alix an allergic reaction??
Dad has had the some thing the past few days. His welts, rash and hives were the worst I have ever seen. He complained of headache and nausea and terrible itching for a couple of days. He then broke out in welts that lasted for three days. He has been living on Benadryl and is much better today.