And heaving.
Monday morning was the fever’s peak, slightly above 102.5. By 1pm, it was 101.5. That was after I dragged us out for Isobel’s follow up with the pediatrician. We got the results of all of her blood tests, sort of. They showed she is not allergic to milk or lactose intolerant and is not specifically allergic to wheat. All of her thyroid and other blood levels were exactly normal. But the lab forgot to run the test for celiac’s disease – the one we were really betting on – so we have to wait another week for that.
By Tuesday morning, I wanted to die. My fever was down to about 100, with regular tylenol administration – I wasn’t even positive if it was safe, but I knew a fever above 101 is considered detrimental to fetal development during the first trimester. Stargirl came over to babysit while I was at my first prenatal physical (note the lack of happiness. Speculums and me, we don’t get along.) and they had a great time at the beach while I was told that a) I have the flu, not a cold, b) I should take the tylenol every four hours until the fever goes away and then as needed for the pain, c) my post partum that I had with Isobel? pretty much guaranteed again and potentially worse since I’ve been unmedicated since and d) I am very aware of my drinking tendancies. Yay me.
So that vacation I took a week or so ago, involving lots of tv for Isobel and reading for me? Ya, we revisited that concept but replaced reading with sleeping or in the case of sleeping not being possible, reading in an entirely horizontal position. It’s a great thing that she’s started this empathetic pretend phase where going “ni-nights” is fun and she’ll crawl onto the bed with me for about three minutes and rub my back or pat my hair.
It was like she was taking care of me and so sweet, everytime, until the three minutes expired and then she was elbowing me in the tummy and going “bam bam bam!” on my sinuses with her hands as my face became her drum.
As of today, I’m feeling less fluey and more coldy. It’s moved from joints and muscles to sinuses and throats. Wait, only one throat. My fever is gone, thank god. In the past three days, I’ve lost six of my 10 pounds that I was complaining (sort of) about. I’m still not thinking very clearly, but we made it outside twice today. Once for groceries and an iced decaf white mocha and the second time for a movie, an iced decaf white mocha and two teeshirts for me. Faking out maternity wear shirts – a babydoll tank and an uber-long fitted paul frank tank. Pictures to come.
So here’s the really, really great news: the flu, it woke the beast. Morning sickness has arrived, my friends. All day, keep virtually nothing down but specific fluids morning sickness. Today’s solid foods digested? Two bites of chocolate doughnut, a half a slice of tapioca rice bread with peanut butter and a few grape tomatoes.
Yes, I fully plan to get back to my inhalation of ice cream, chips and cereal as soon as my gag reflex is squelched, don’t you worry. We’ve gotta nourish this fetus all the way into gestational diabetes, don’t we?
