Fever

Last night, my two and a half year old woke up in the middle of the night crying.  This is unusual for him because he usually sleeps from 7p to 7a.  Going in there, he tearfully cries, "mommy, I'm sick".  Poor kid felt hot.  Moms just know when their child has a fever... no need for thermometer.. you are in skin contact with these kids almost all the time so when their skin feels hot, you know.  I tried to measure it to be scientific and to prove to daddy that this warrants tylenol but E would not let me.  But daddy trusted my judgement, so we just gave him tylenol.  In fact, I had to get up four hours later because he was crying and was all hot again.  Then this morning, he woke up before his usual wake time crying and hard to console.  He was so loud I was worried he would wake up the other three kids.  I had just finished nursing little L and had just put him down again for another short nap hoping to sleep a little more till it was time to get up.  Nope.. not this morning.  So what actually worked was laying next to my little buddy and just soothing him with "shhhhhhh".  He eventually stopped sobbing... stuck his thumb in his mouth... and layed back down again.  I actually love moments like these... just laying there soothing my baby and knowing that just my presence was all that he needs.  After a while, I told him I was going to go back to my big bed.  "Ok, mommy...  I love you, mommy."  Melts my heart...  now to keep the others from getting sick!

So few things on fever...

• not a fever unless over 100.4 degrees
• fevers are actually a sign that the immune system is working
• lower fevers with tylenol or motrin mainly for comfort
• need to find source of fever if persistent... can be viral, strep, ear infection, etc.
• rule of thumb is if fever persists despite tylenol, motrin call your doctor for further evaluation