JINXED

Aw James, I'm so sorry buddy. I totally jinxed you.

The Harry Potter sorting hat will go on the mantel as decoration this year. James was just happily modeling it for me because we're currently reading the first book of the series (our second ever chapter book and he loves it).

 

Poor kid hadn't been eating well all last week and we'd given him such a bad time about it (because it really chafes us when lunches come home barely touched and dinner is a "take a bite on the count of three or else" battle). On Friday night we had pizza as usual and set out to watch the new Spiderman movie. James had been asking to see it for months, so we figured for once this week he'd eat a good meal (we pause movies when pizza sits untouched, which is an excellent form of bribery/consequences). That's not what happened though. After the first hour of the movie passed and maybe three bites had made it into his belly, we told him he either had to start eating or go to bed (it was 7:45pm, so just slightly before his school night bedtime). He chose to go to bed. Hmmm... Worrisome, but he wasn't feverish and didn't complain about any aches, and he woke up seemingly fine Saturday, so?... He ate a good breakfast Saturday and played soccer happily, trying his best during the game, but then refused lunch afterward even though it was well past lunch time when we got home. Instead he ASKED to take a nap. What?! Guess soccer really wore him out?... Well, he slept for 2.5 hours that afternoon. He woke up happy and picked fish for dinner (our kids love fish, especially James: snapper, tuna steak, salmon, mahi - all of it), hooray! Cured by sleep! But then once dinner was cooked he picked and whined and barely ate two bites without us prodding him. We finally told him he could eat half his dinner and then we'd finish watching Spiderman, or he could go to bed. He chose bed. Again. And it was only 7:20pm. We'd been checking his temperature nonstop (for the past week, not just over the weekend). Suddenly he was warm (99, and he usually runs cool down at 97) and complaining about his belly hurting. Oh man... Gave him some ibuprofen for his head (because he said it hurt - probably the little fever) and a Pepto chewable for his belly, and sent him to bed with a big bowl just in case... He slept fine all night and seemed OK again Sunday morning, but by the time I got home from my long run he was sluggish and warm again and refused to eat lunch. That's when the nastiness hit (and not from his mouth). His temp went up to 100, but we refrained from giving him meds because he had an empty belly and we didn't want to make anything worse. So he and I sat on the couch the rest of the day doing nothing (Jay was busy in the yard with his adorable little blonde assistant - I voted myself as sick kid babysitter since my long run did me in). Poor kiddo was in the bathroom every 10-15 minutes all afternoon. By bedtime it had slowed and his fever was gone, but he once again went to bed early without dinner. We stayed home from school/work today (because obviously he cannot go to school for at least 24 hours after having fever or potty issues) and he was 90% better all day long (he ate well, drank plenty of Pedialyte, and had no fever or potty issues - just a little sluggish, though plenty happy to be home alone with mommy). It was a rough 24 hours for him, but we're extremely thankful he didn't get the 4-6 day bug that's going around town and sending kids to the ER for IV fluids (and with kids at his school, including one in his classroom - too bad we didn't get a heads-up on that). Then again, maybe he did have the bug all week (hence his poor appetite) - just a much milder form than the other kids have gotten? Anyway, fingers crossed nobody else in the family gets it!

And P.S., for those who have been concerned, Jay's echo came back clear as well. So they have no idea what could have caused the "off" feeling after Ashland. The prednisone is wearing off and he is feeling better, but just in case, he asked about going back on his beta blocker (the doc had taken him off it at his last yearly check-up because his MVP was virtually cured due to running strengthening his heart). The doc decided not to do that, but to put him on an ace inhibitor instead (since he's so active now). Only time will tell how he does with the new meds.