Well, if we thought that after our hellish holiday experience we were due a bit of good luck, then we thought wrong.
In the very early hours of Saturday morning, we were (OK, my husband was) woken by the cries of the toddler*.
She was extremely hot and miserable so we administered calpol and hoiked her into our bed where she remained, feverish but asleep, until morning.
She is quite prone to temperatures so we didn’t worry too much and encouraged her to sleep most of Saturday in the belief that it was a sign of teething or something viral and toddler-y and with enough paracetamol, cuddles and rest it would shift in its own time.
That night, she went off to sleep without argument, albeit in my bed. I am no newbie to co-sleeping but she isn’t the world’s most amiable bedfellow at the best of times, and with the addition of a 40 degree temperature it was like sleeping next to a very warm, noisy tractor who wanted to kick me repeatedly in the nose.
After a fractious few hours’ kip, I had the pleasure of being woken at 3am by a much happier toddler, whose body clock was telling her it was time to get up and play.
Indeed.
By 5.30am, I’d had enough of being assaulted and asked daddy, who had been sleeping in her (fortunately adult-sized) bed, to take over.
Thankfully, I managed to go back to sleep for a bit whilst they binge-watched terrible cartoons on Netflix.
Four am is a shit time to start the day but I absolutely draw the line at 3.
When I got up, she was asleep on the sofa and stayed like that for most of the morning.
With a bit of calpol she seemed to be alright; we even went to the park where she threw a tantrum about ice cream so she can’t have been that ill.
However that night, when I went to climb into the three square cm of my kingsize bed that wasn’t taken up by toddler limbs, she was burning up, coughing and her breathing was quick and shallow so we rang 111 to make an out of hours GP appointment.
Never ones to shy away from a bit of drama they instead sent an ambulance.
Her oxygen was a bit lower than normal so off she went with daddy in the ambulance to A&E where, over the course of three hours, they waited (and waited), she was inspected and told it was probably viral, and discharged. At this point it was past 2am, which is not a time that small children, let alone the parents of small children, are designed to be awake.
Upon being summoned to collect them, I got dressed, having been in bed trying, but not succeeding, to sleep. I went downstairs to check everything was in order before waking the baby, and realised my car keys were in the change bag… which had of course accompanied the toddler to the hospital.
That was an expensive lesson to learn during a Bank Holiday.
Unfortunately the next day she was no better and so my husband took her back to A&E in the afternoon. They checked her over properly and did an x-ray which showed she had a chest infection and needed IV antibiotics, necessitating her first overnight stay in hospital since being born.
She was quite excited about the whole business; at least until they started sticking needles in her arm. For the most part though she was a happy little soul. The nurses told her she was their favourite patient – I can’t possibly believe for a moment that they say this to everyone.
The next day she was much improved and allowed home.
She had to go back in for more IV antibiotics that evening though, and, annoyingly, her cannula fell out resulting in another overnight stay. Once again, daddy went in with her whilst I stayed at home and looked after a baby with an upset tummy. After a refreshing four hours of sleep, the baby woke me up with a bowel movement so explosive I had to change the cot sheets, which was a most excellent start to the day.
My sister came to look after the baby whilst her husband gave me a lift to the hospital, so that I could take over toddler-watching duties and my husband could go to work.
Working out how to do this in a one-car family and questionable to non-existent public transport was a bit like a MENSA logic problem so it is a blinking good thing this all happened during half term and my closest family happen to be teachers. I’m sure it’s precisely what they wanted to be doing with their holiday.
The toddler that greeted me was a different one to the sad, sweaty mess that had left the previous day; she was clearly on the mend. Shortly afterwards the doctors came round and, as well as pointing how much of a daddy’s girl she was (thanks, guys. Like I don’t already know who the favourite is), the good news was that after the next round of antibiotics, we could go home and administer the rest ourselves. Hurrah! So we played a bit and she watched cartoons on the iPad whilst we waited for the drugs to arrive.
And then this happened.
In the words of teenagers everywhere, FML.
She’s OK now. Not even two days on and, apart from a bit of a cough, you’d never be able to tell she’d been ill.
I, on the other hand, have no iPad. I may treat myself to the whole bottle tonight.
* Actually, now the baby is full-on toddling about I may need to look at new names for the Whingelets. Big toddler one and slightly-smaller-toddler perhaps. Happy to take suggestions.
Glad poppet is better. Big Trouble and Little Trouble? Haha. Sucks about the iPad!!! Must get a case for ours!! Did you get your badge from Huff or did you steal it like I did? Xx
Haha nicked it of course! Thank you 🙂 And yes, rest in pieces iPad. Sob.
Poor little girly! Poor you too! Leaving the keys in the bag, which would coincidentally be at the hospital, would be something I'd do too. Hope everyone gets some rest now and nobodys' nappy leakage stains the bed x #kcacols
Back from #KCACOLS still feeling sorry for your iPad! 😉 xx
They go downhill and back up again so quickly don't they! Glad to hear everything is OK now, apart from the ipad… #KCACOLS
Oh no. What a nightmare. Why do rubbish things always happen together? Glad to hear that your girl is doing better now…and I think you well deserve the whole bottle #KCACOLS
I need new names as well- we have the wobbly baby toddle going on – but digression! I'm glad she's on the mend, must have been horrible to have ambulance out, even worse to discover those keys….. I'm devastated for your iPad. I'm off to drink wine to commerate for you x #kcacols
Eek to the i pad, I've still never owned one for fear I would break it! Sounds like quite a drama with your hospital visits and far from a relaxing few days. I do hope things are back to normal for you now #KCACOLS
aww bless her! glad she's better now.. Ive spent a night or 2 at the hospital myself… never nice! shame about the ipad – maybe something stronger than wine for a couple of days to take the edge off?! lol #kcacols
Oh honey what a nightmare of a weekend!!! I'm so glad little one is feeling better though. Big hugs and virtual prosecco coming your way xx #KCACOLS
Oh what an awful time for you and your little one – I've had chest infections repeatedly since I was 16 and can't imagine it as a baby, must've been scary. So glad she's feeling better now 🙂 #triballove
Oh bless her. Glad she is on the mend. I'm sure she would have saw it as one big adventure though.
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
Azaria- Being Mrs Lynch
Oh My Word! You deserve the whole bottle for sure. You poor loves – you deserve a major good run of things after your last few weeks! So pleased your daughter is better now – such scary times. Oh and pants to the iPad – "can't even deal" as my teens would say #KCACOLS
Omgosh! Bless you guys, it looks as though you have roughly the same amount of luck as I usually have, if not more (or less depending on how you look at it!)
Lu xx
#TribalLove
Oh god, how HELLISH. NG had a chest infection when she was about one and a half and had to stay in for two nights – it was horrible. And I think I did something similar with the car (also a one car family), although it was to do with the car park ticket. I think I lost it. It is all a blurry fog to be honest – I HATE it when they're ill and am not a natural nurse, I'm afraid. I bloody hope you did drink the whole bottle at the iPad revelation. It would have taken less than that for me to after an experience like that! Hope your week was ok and this weekend's been superb. xx #KCACOLS
OH man what a weekend. I am so sorry, but glad to hear all is on the mend. I am sorry about your ipad, I may have cried over that after going through the stress of sick little ones. Hope all is well now, #kcacols
Oh dear, what an awful time. My daughter had a bad bout of viral tonsillitis when she was 3 that meant overnight in hospital, made worse by the fact that she refused the oral antibitotics. Took 3 nurses to hold her down, we spent the next week trying to mix it into her food x
#KCACOLS
Oh goodness, poor all of you. Glad she's on the mend and now to get the ipad mended though. A whole bottle of wine is the very least you deserve for the stress you've under gone, then go onto ebay while a little squiffy and splash out on the latest model. I think it's for the best;)
mainy
#KCACOLS
Eeek what a stressful time! Glad your little one is feeling better now though. It's crazy how they take it all in their stride and its the mummies and daddies left stressed to the max! Sorry about your iPad too, you have defo deserve a new one after all that!
S xx
#KCACOLS
Oh me too – hoping for a better night tonight!
Yes, thank you for your very tactful message showing me your new iPad case. Very nice of you 😉 Hahaha!
Ah yes. I've ordered myself a new screen. With the help of youtube it may live again… or not
I think we are due some good luck soon although didn't win the euromillions last night like I was expecting…
goodness me what a drama a hospital visit/stay is with a toddler. done it twice this year and it's no fun
good on you for smiling through the crapness #kcacols x
Hahaha chin chin!
They seem to be – although the baby is getting his top teeth through so that's fun…
A gin and lemonade would be good, ta…
Thank you. I'd love a glass 😉
Looks very much like it! Thank you
Thank you. She did, and she keeps saying at bedtime she wants to go back to the hospital. A delaying tactic, I suspect.
Can't even. Just can't even.
Hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here!
Thank you – it's actually been a lot better. Well today was – yesterday was a DIY day. Eurgh.
Do you know I didn't, but I did cry yesterday when I'd had four hours sleep for absolutely no reason at all. I am not good on no sleep
Fortunately for us she's been a star at taking them, even though they are utterly vile. Maybe the thought of the needle is making her compliant!
Bahahaha I wish I could, not sure my bank balance would thank me!
Fortunately it's a nice hospital but would still rather be at home, obviously!
Maybe if I win that lottery…
Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear that the toddler was so sick-I know that must've been exhausting for mom and dad! So happy to hear she's feeling better-can't say the same about your iPad. How awful! Sounds like the perfect reason to get yourself a new one! <3 #KCACOLS
Oh those A&E toddler visits are fun aren't they?!
You deserve to treat yourself to a new iPad after that drama… And/or a nice new case for it! Xx #KCACOLS
awww pleased she is better. never fun and always a worry #KCACOLS
So glad she's better. 🙂 It can be so frightening when they're poorly. Hope this is a much better, completely non-eventful week
Oh no! What a week for you! But I am so pleased your little lady is better, bless her. I hope you get some rest now and have a calmer week. Sorry to hear about your Ipad. #KCACOLS
Aw what a nightmare! I always find that everything rubbish seems to always happen at once! So glad she's feeling better – it's a good job you took her back the next day, I can't believe they missed the infection the night before. Hope you have a better week this week! x #KCACOLS
Oh, I remember hospital trips, thankfully we haven't had one in a while. It can be scary, and when you are sure they are okay and aren't, ugh. As for your poor innocent Ipad, ouch, ouch and ouch. We have gone through a couple broken kindles in this house and I was not amused!! #KCACOLS
Oh god, what a tale ! So glad the little one is OK and my most sincere condolences on your poor iPad !
I'm so sorry you had such a rough long weekend. It's so hard to have a sick kid and there not being much you can do for them. I'm dreading the day we have to take ours to the hospital. Glad she is better though☺ #KCACOLS
Thank you. I've ordered a new screen so fingers crossed that works…
I've been ordering rubber cases for all the technology in the house like a demon! Haha!
Thanks 🙂
Nightmare! Just glad she's okay. We can replace 'stuff' but the important thing is your daughter is doing fine! #KCACOLS
Thanks, very. So far it has been. Touch wood.
Thank you 🙂
That better be it for the year! The nurses and doctors who saw her the next day were not best pleased believe me!
I'm just about to try and repair it. Odds are I make it worse.
Very true. She is very much back to her normal self this week 🙂
Rest in pieces poor paddy 🙁
Thank you 🙂
Oh bless her, I'm so glad to hear that she is doing much better now. Gosh you really have had your work cut out for you. Oh bugger, it's a real shame about your Ipad.xx #KCACOLS
Oh my days sounds like a horrible stressful time. Don't you just love how they are really ill one minute and then jumping around the next like nothing happened! kids hey! #kcacols
I've got a new screen but having looked at the instructions I'm not sure I'm capable!
That's the beauty of being a toddler I guess 🙂
Oh man, that's a hell of a few days. I'm glad she's getting better. When it comes to kids they tend not to mess about if they're having breathing problems. My neighbours little boy was in the hospital for a chest infection too at the weekend. #kcacols
seriously you guys must be due a spell of good luck! Glad little lady is ok and sorry about the demise of the iPad 🙁 Still least you can get a swanky new upgraded one now? (the iPad I mean not the toddler!) #kcacols
Thank Pud. I dunno, gonna try fixing it when I have a brave moment!
Definitely not something I'd recommend. I hope they are better!