The Graceland Plague

As parents of a newborn, we were charged with keeping our little one free from germs.  Being the good parents that we are, we complied.  We bought extra large Purell pump bottles.  We used them and washed our hands every time we switched from The Gracer (aka Buster Petri Dish) to Little Sader Meal and vice versa.  We coughed into our elbow crooks.  We cautioned friends and family to only visit if they weren’t sick.  We only let Grace lick the back of Sadie’s head…

We were mostly successful.

We were to keep her healthy for at least 9 weeks, when she gets her first set of vaccinations.  And at the very least, keep her from having a fever for 60 days, because before 60 days, a babe with a fever earns an automatic 2 day admission to the hospital complete with urine culture and spinal tap.

Week 1: I was still on antibiotics from a sinus infection and Grace was getting over a cold. 

Week 4: Darren denied having a cold.

Week 5: Darren admitted to having a cold. 

Week 7: Grace got bacterial pink eye.  There wasn’t a surface in the house not soaked in Lysol or a piece of bedding not washed in scalding water after one use. 

Grace also got an ear infection. 

Darren got bronchitis.

Week 8: I finally broke down and got a cold.

     Sadie and Grace both got viral pink eye.

     I got allergic pink eye.

     And Sadie got a fever.  At 1 am.  The dreaded "100.4 or over" fever.  I called the doctor on call praying for dosing instructions for Tylenol.  Instead I was given directions to the ER.   And in true Graceland form, Sades handled the poking and prodding like a pro and even smiled and cooed for the docs.   We were sent home at 4:15, skirting the 2 day stay by mere hours into her 61^st day. 

We are all still recovering from the Graceland Plague.  And we are doing so in the comfort of our pjs, with bedroom dance parties (which Darren will also deny) and lots of snuggles.  

We aren’t thrilled about our 8 trips to the pharmacy this past week, but we’re grateful it’s just a block away.

We are thrilled that Grace has learned to blow her nose, we just wish it was into a tissue. 

We aren’t thrilled about the 4 versions of pink eye we’ve sported, but we’re happy to have a large variety of pink accessories to coordinate with each stage of infection.

We are thrilled that Sadie's been a good eater, and therefore has a good reserve despite her current decrease in appetite.

We lucked out with two strong gals and look forward to having a healthy household soon!