Talk about emotional roller coasters.....celebrating 8 years, to wondering whether or not we were losing our baby!
We had a great time celebrating our anniversary even though John worked late. I love hanging out with my best friend in the whole wide world. We have had some incredible talks, prayers, laughs, lately! God has blessed me so incredibly much with this amazing man I call my hubby!
So Wednesday was a bit of a blur. We were tired from staying up too late the night before (totally worth it). The older two kids had swimming lessons bright and early and then I had to rush to work. Jude woke up with this rash on his face and torso, but we said that we would really watch it before we took him in. We did, and it progressed. After John dropped me off, he took Jude to the doctor. The doctor diagnosed it as an allergic reaction to the Penicillin he was on and after checking his ears to see if there was still an infection lingering, promptly told us to stop the antibiotics. He then gave a prescription for a steroid and some antihistamines. That was day one.....
By Thursday (day two), things were not getting any better. We had a horrible night on Wednesday and we got desperate and went back to the Pharmacist to see if we could give him Benadryl too and what the acceptable dosage was. Thursday night was horrible and he just cried and cried. He could not sleep, not settle and just wanted to be right on top of me. I barely had any sleep.
I went to work on Friday and he looked horrible! John went to our Homeopath to see what they could suggest and they gave him a cleanse for his liver. John brought the kids home and put Jude down and tried to catch a nap himself. All of a sudden, Jude woke up screaming! John went to him and could not console him. He then gave him a bath, as he would not stop scratching. John brought him out of the bath and his skin turned this bluish/purple hue and Jude was shaking uncontrollably and would not stop screaming.
Long story short, I left work and we rushed him into the hospital. We thought we were losing him. He wouldn't stop shaking, his skin was a blue hue and he was so tired he would kind of go in and out of consciousness.
When we finally get to the hospital, he was more alert, but he was in a lot of pain and would not stop scratching. So we get him admitted and then we wait, and we wait. We waited 5 hours with a screaming, child who looked horrible, so horrible that a lot of people would not stop staring. John went up and started asking questions. Why is it that when you question how long it is taking, you are suddenly the bad guy? You know, like somehow waiting for 5 hours is acceptable and should be acceptable with a screaming, inconsolable child. We finally got them to give him some more Benadryl (which did absolutely nothing), but we could not stop him from scratching and crying and bleeding from scratching so much.
We finally get in to see the doctor and they diagnosed him with Erythema Multiforme (say what?). Apparently it is common, but they don't know the cause (it could be an allergic reaction to the atibiotics or a reaction to a cold virus) and there is nothing they can do for it. The antihistamines didn't work as it wasn't an antihistamine reaction. It also takes 7 to 10 days to pass and it may disappear and then come back again. So home we went with a name, but nothing to help our poor little Jude.
We did a whole bunch of research on the net about it. Found some natural ways we could deal with the itchiness and kept pumping him full of the homeopathic cleanse. We had no sleep that night either. This rash apparently can either be mildly itchy, or in his case extremely itchy. It also causes the skin to tighten (hence the reason he was in so much pain) and it also affects the circulation. His skin would feel like it was on fire, but he would be shaking because he was so cold. The blueish/purplish hue was due to the lack of circulation and seemed to occur when he got out of the bath tub, or when we stripped him down.
We got on our knees and boy did we pray. I looked at John at one point and cried that I could not do this for another 7 days!! We were exhausted and there is nothing more painful and heart wrenching than seeing your child in agony and knowing that you can't do a thing about it. Ahhh!
We had quite a few people praying alongside us and Saturday morning we saw some relief. It had cleared up quite a bit on his torso, but his poor little legs looked like sausages. They were so swollen, tight and itchy. We also bought some aloe vera and that really seemed to help. Plus we kept the homeopathic cleanse up, and we were on our knees in desperation, praying!
Sunday, was remarkable. It was almost like we could see the rash disappearing. The rash was moving down his body. He was still itchy and his little calves and feet were super swollen, tight and hot, but his face and torso were completely clear. Our little Jude was coming back, and that evening he was ready for action.....
Monday I went into work and he had almost completely cleared up (just the feet were swollen). Tuesday I had off and he was clear, but still super fussy and cranky. We have found that over these past few days since last Wednesday he has had a few bouts of 'hives' and itchiness come and go. Finally last night we had a pretty decent sleep. We have been racking our brain trying to figure out if he is allergic to something, or if it is still part of this cold virus. This cold virus is a nasty one and it has been reported that it can take up to 6 weeks to get rid of. During this time I also fell sick again because I am so run down with my lack of sleep.
We survived though, and I guess it has made us stronger! ;o) It has been a horrible, horrible almost 6 months of illness in this household and we just need a break. Thanks to all of our friends and family who kept us in prayer. Thanks for the cookies, meals, and words of encouragement from some pretty amazing people!! Praise God that it cleared a lot sooner than we thought!!
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