Poor little girl…Hannah woke up this morning with a fever of 101! This is the first time she has been “sick.†(I attribute the episode on the Texas freeway to motion sickness, since it was a one-time event. After a series of shots at her 6 month check-up she did have a fairly high fever, but again, I can blame that on something other than true illness.) She felt warm when I checked on her last night, but the house was warm, so I didn’t think much of it.
This morning, she slept much longer than usual, and when I went to get her she was hot. I took her temperature, and it registered at 101.3. Aside from the fever she has been fine – no other real symptoms to speak of. She just “hasn’t been herself†today. My usual little ball of energy has been pretty quiet. She is not a TV watcher (except for “Elmo’s World†while I get breakfast ready), but today she was content to lie on her boppy, or sit on the floor watching Sesame Street (all of it – not just Elmo), Winnie the Pooh, and the Tigger Movie. Being the overprotective, worry-wart of a mother, I of course called the doctor…. He suggested Tylenol to bring the fever down (which it did – slightly), and told me to keep an eye on her for a few days. He didn’t seem too concerned…so I shouldn’t be either, right? During her nap, I spent some time on WebMD researching childhood fevers, and possible causes. Basically, I came away with no more information than what the doctor had given me.
At dinner, we noticed a large sore on her tongue…I have 2 theories: The first is that she bit her tongue. 4 new molars have recently broken through, and I think she may be getting used to having some bigger teeth in new places! Especially since the sore is on the top and bottom, directly in line with the new teeth (still does not explain the fever, but seems plausible anyway). My second theory is that she may have picked up Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the nursery at church last week. After seeing the sore, the possibility crept into my mind, as I do know of a few other children who have picked it up there – though not recently. So, once again I was back on WebMD (since her pediatrician’s office is now closed!), and some of the symptoms and the incubation time frame did seem to match up…I guess now it’s just a waiting game to see if anything else shows up. (I sure hope my first theory turns out to be correct!!)
It is so hard to see your child suffering. I knew she wasn’t feeling well, but she couldn’t tell me exactly what the problem was. This is not a guessing game I wanted to play! I just wanted to make it better! But, I couldn’t…. I spent a lot of time praying that she would feel better. But, even as I was praying that, I wondered how she would respond if she didn’t begin to feel better quickly….It eventually became evident that the fever was here to stay, and I began to pray that she would learn the importance of enduring pain and discomfort. I truly believe that the Lord answered that prayer.
She was a great example to me today. Even though it was evident that she did not feel well, she was constantly smiling. I never heard her whine or fuss. When I did ask her to do something (simple things like, “Come here,†or “Don’t touch that.â€) she listened, and obeyed, immediately. (Something we have been working on!) It was a joy to see her response to this situation…I don’t know that mine would have been nearly as good! She constantly amazes me.
She is in bed now – sleeping. I am continuing to pray that she feels better tomorrow. After all, she is in the hands of the Great Physician…