Last Saturday, Em woke up around 1:30 AM and came in our bedroom, saying her tummy hurt. I went in her bedroom with her and around 2:00 AM, she started throwing up. She said her tummy hurt on Friday night, but really had acted fine and went to bed okay.
She was sick all day Saturday, and must have thrown up 20 times--she couldn't keep any liquid down, and had no appetite for solids at all. She had no other symptoms (not even a fever), but couldn't stop throwing up. Sunday was more of the same, so we knew she wouldn't be at school on Monday.
I called her doctor Monday morning and we got her a 9:30 appointment that morning. She didn't get to see her regular doctor, but the one she saw checked her out and determined it wasn't her appendix and there were no signs of strep, so we were assuming a virus. He prescribed an anti-emetic so she could get over the nausea enough to at least stay hydrated. It worked a little, but she kept throwing up anytime she drank too fast or a large quantity.
On Wednesday, we took her back to the doctor. She saw a different doctor who told us she was really dehydrated--he tested her blood and urine to rule out anything more serious, and said we needed to double her fluid intake or our only other option would be IV fluids. Her vomiting had slowed a little, but we still had to be careful with her drinking too fast or too much.
I found some apple flavored Pedialyte that she really liked, so I bought every bottle they had at CVS. Mick and I were taking turns staying home with her all week. She was so pitiful with no energy at all--she really only wanted to lounge around and rest, and didn't get out of pjs all week.
On Thursday, I stayed home with her again, and she had a quart of Pedialyte by 10:00 that morning. She hadn't thrown up in over 24 hours, was feeling much better, and really wanted to go to the Easter Egg hunt her class was having that day. I called and talked to her teacher, and we headed over--she was weak from not eating, but felt up to running around with her friends and playing for a few minutes.
Soon after we got home, she threw up again. I regretted taking her at that point, because I think it was just too much activity before she was ready.
That afternoon, she felt terrible and stayed in bed. She was so happy that Bella wanted to come upstairs and comfort her. Bella would gladly take over any of our beds, but isn't usually allowed upstairs.
On Friday, I kept her at home again. When she threw up again that morning, we decided to take her back to the doctor. We saw someone different (they only had a sick clinic open since it was Good Friday), and she reassured us that she looked good, and didn't show any signs of dehydration anymore. What was funny is that Em started feeling better while we were in the doctor's office. She asked her to do some jumping jacks, and Em went to town--the doctor explained that any major stomach issues would have prevented her from jumping like she did.
By Friday night, Em was almost back to normal! She wanted hot dogs for dinner, and was dying to get into the Easter candy from her school egg hunt. Instead, we made mashed potatoes together and she ate some of those. Just to have any appetite back at all was a relief for us.
By Friday night, she was dressed as a princess and wanting to dye eggs!
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