Emily's sick bug lasted a few days. Our washing machine didn't know what hit it. Emily didn't know what hit her. But it all seemed to be improving by Wednesday, when David left for a work trip to Greece. My main worry was that I'd develop the bug and be unable to take care of myself and Emily in his absence.
I needn't have worried. We went out and enjoyed the beautiful weather on Thursday, and on Friday were joined by a good friend who was visiting from Malta. Emily had woken up with a fever early (
very. early. o_O) that morning and I thought perhaps she had yet another ear infection on the way, so in an attempt to nip this one in the bud, I whisked her off to the doctor to find out. But there was nothing, perhaps the fever was something to do with her tummy bug. To my mind, it didn't and still doesn't make any sense, but there was no other explanation so I accepted that and left. She was fine with Calpol throughout the afternoon and seemed to have improved dramatically by the time bathtime came round.
As I got her ready for her bath, I checked her temperature and it read 38.7C, it wasn't great but I gave her some more Calpol and hoped it would control it. I noticed her feet were strangely tinged blue but dismissed it, planning to worry only if they still were blue after her bath.
Then I put her in the bath. And my baby, who loves bathtime and her bath toys and splashing until she can take no more, just sat there. She was slumped over, staring into the water. Something wasn't right. I picked her up and wrapped her in her towel and she went limp in my arms, shivering violently. Her eyes rolled back and then she seemed to fall asleep, then awake again, staring blankly at a point far beyond me, while I spoke to her and tried to get her to focus on me. Nothing, for a few very horrible, long minutes.
I put on her nappy and called my neighbour. No answer. I called my sister. No answer. I sat there and looked at Emily, helpless, clueless as to what I was supposed to do. Then my sister called back. I cried and she calmed me down and we decided I should let Emily sleep beside me on the sofa for a while, to keep an eye on her and for my peace of mind.
At this point, events get jumbled up in my head. I can't quite remember the order things happened in but I know that I read her temperature again and found that it was now higher, 39.8C. She also had a rash all over her body. She was panting and still relatively unresponsive. Then I remembered the blue feet, which were no longer blue, but the combination of everything had my instincts screaming at me and thanks to a friend who called and spelled out what I needed to do, I was soon waiting for an ambulance.
Emily screamed throughout the 999 call. She was red in the face and chest and was screaming uncontrollably. She was clammy in just a nappy and that fever just wouldn't calm down. Ten minutes later, when the very helpful ambulance crew arrived, her temperature was 38.5C and her rash was just over her chest and back.
I explained my concerns and they agreed that she should be seen at hospital, just to be on the safe side. We took Emily out into the ambulance in her nappy, a light blanket loosely held around her.
Two hours later, when we were finally seen in A&E, her temperature was back down to normal, there was no sign of a rash on her little body, her cheeks weren't even flushed any longer, and she was babbling away to anyone who would listen in the waiting room. I didn't need a doctor to tell me she was fine.
David got home 20 minutes after I'd put her to sleep, safely - and cool - in her cot.
Short of a hint of fever on Saturday morning, she's been perfectly fine ever since.
And after a few not great days, there comes a day like today that fills you with happiness all over again. That spring feeling in the air. Dancing with Emily in the kitchen. Watching her carefully turn the pages of a magazine to look at the pictures. Spending time with my sister. Planning a new room for Emily. A date night with David. A new hair colour. Another half a kilo 'missing' on the scales. Good times, just to be able to enjoy my happy baby once again.
Although the calendar doesn't yet say so, it feels like spring has arrived. My spring.
Image Source: 29.media.tumblr.com via Clare on Pinterest
