Friday morning update:

Well, Riley NEVER got any of the blisters, so I don't think he had Hand, foot, mouth again! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

He woke up this morning fever free! Yay! Yesterday he kept putting everything in his mouth and chewing on it on one side of his mouth--I really, really think he's getting his 2 year molars. I still don't see the teeth but the way he is chewing makes me think that they are on their way. I know there is a lot of debate about whether kids run fevers while teething or not. So, I don't know if he is just teething or if he is teething and had a virus. Who knows?!? But, I am just so glad that he is feeling better! And, now we will be able to go to my mother-in-law's retirement reception at her work this afternoon.

Thanks for all of your prayers, advice, and sympathy!!

Since becoming a mom, I have learned a lot about myself. Some of these have been good things, while too often the things I have learned have revealed flaws and weaknesses.

One of the things I have learned is that I am definitely not a nurse. I think of myself as a nurturing person and I have always had a very strong maternal instinct, but I do NOT do well when people in my house are sick. I have a very small amount of patience and sickness in my house really causes me to go crazy.

After the month of sickness that circulated throughout our house in January, I have prayed since then thanking the Lord for our good health and for His mercy in helping us all to stay healthy when there's so much crud going around. We also (religiously) wash and sanitize our hands--in the car and in the house and try to take as many precautions as we can without letting the fear of getting sick rule our lives.

Well, this morning Riley woke up with a fever. As soon as I got him out of his crib this morning he said, "Mouth hurt." He still hasn't gotten his 2 year molars, so I just assumed that he's getting those teeth in and is running a fever with the teething. As the day progressed he kept repeating over and over and over "Mouth hurt." Then, he proceeded to scream for several hours with short 5-10 minute reprieves in between. He also wouldn't eat or drink anything. Meanwhile, I find out that one of Riley's cousins was just diagnosed this morning with Hand, foot, mouth disease. At this point my heart sinks because all of Riley's symptoms are reminiscent of when he had HFM back in the fall and was very, very sick for about 5 days.

I call the doctor's office to see if I can get an appointment for him for this afternoon. Riley's doctor is full but another doctor can see us. Great!! (Until I find out that the doctor that can see us is the doctor that I started Riley out with his first year, ended up not really liking him as a doctor, and had SWITCHED! I knew by switching within the practice that I would run the risk of running into the former doctor again, but I wasn't too worried because there are about 12 doctors--what is the likelihood?!?!)

Anyway, I decided to be brave and besides Riley is still screaming bloody murder and I need to find out if it's HFM or not. We arrive at our appointment ON TIME. Riley's appointment is at 4:30. We are finally seen by the doctor at 5:50pm. Now, on a normal day waiting an hour and twenty minutes while trying to entertain a 23 month old would be challenging; on a day like this it is enough to almost break me and have me committed. Of the hour and twenty points Riley MAY have not been crying for about 15 minutes of it. There were a few minutes in there where I just joined right in with him.

We are finally seen at which point former doctor spends LESS than 5 minutes with us and announces that Riley has a virus. He doesn't see any blisters in his mouth, so doesn't think that it's HFM--but did say they could show up sometime tomorrow. He said to just keep giving him motrin or tylenol and he should be better in 3 or 4 or 5 days. I am relieved that it doesn't look like Riley has HFM, but I am still dreading tomorrow and praying the blisters don't show up.

So, this is where my flaw of selfishness rears its ugly head. I feel terrible for my baby--I really do--I know that he is absolutely miserable and feels awful. Riley is normally all smiles and very easy-going, so when all he wants is to scream and for me to hold him I know he's feeling bad. But, there is a part of me that has a hard time being patient and trying to comfort my son who has screamed for several hours and is inconsolable. I am trying to be a better mom--trying to be more patient and more concerned with others than myself. But, I know I have a long way to go. Maybe with each child I will become less selfish and more patient--I may need a lot of children for this to happen--I should probably let Michael know, I know he'll be thrilled! ;)