Birthday Bummer

Caroline turned one on Saturday.  We had all kinds of fun things planned, but, as we all know, things do not always go as planned.  This will probably be long, more for me to remember, so don't feel like you have to read everything.

On Friday night at around 6 Eli was changing Caroline's diaper and he noticed a couple small red dots on her stomach and legs.  We thought it was weird but we would just keep an eye on it.  By six forty-five I was getting her undressed for her bath and the dots had gotten bigger and spread all over!  We gave her a quick bath and then went to the nearby urgent care.  The said it was probably the amoxycillin she was on from the previous weeks sickness and to stop giving it to her and it would go away.  We thought, "ok, Eli and his brothers and father are allergic to it too, so that makes sense."  So, we came home, put the baby to bed, I made two cakes and a birthday banner for her party, and then Eli and I went to bed too, excited for our baby's first birthday. 

At 2:30 she woke up screaming her head off.  We went in and the rash was worse, all over her body and face.  Her eyes were swollen and her hands.  We called our pediatricians after hours line and they told us to take her to the childrens hospital emergency room.  We went there and got in immediately.  They diagnosed it as Erythema Mulitformi, which can be caused by a reaction to antibiotics, but in her case they said it was from a virus.  We could give her benadryll, and that was about it.  It usually lasts for about 2 weeks, with a nasty red rash, swelling, fevers, itchiness, and sleeplessness.  So, we went home and she slept from 4 to 9:30. 

When we all woke up we called and texted everyone and cancelled her birthday party.  She was okay in the morning, but by dinnertime was much worse.  She was fussy, itchy, hot, and tired.  She wouldn't nap at all on Saturday.  And, she wouldn't go to sleep at night for more than 20 minutes.  When I was holding her from 12-1, I noticed that her face started swelling very rapidly.  I called the afterhours line again, and they told us to take her back in because if her face was swelling that fast it could block off her airway.  So, we went to the ER two nights in a row.  Once again, there wasn't really anything they could do for her.  They did prescribe a suped up benadryll, and sent us home.  She slept until 9:30 again, was up for an hour and then took a three hour nap.  She took another hour nap before dinner and then slept better that night, Sunday.  She only woke up a couple times but altogether slept 16 hours, until 10:30 in the morning!  When she woke up Monday morning the swelling in her face was gone.  Yesterday she took good naps and then she slept all night last night, from 7:30 to 9:30.  She is much happier now, and more like herself.  The rash is mostly gone, its just on her legs and feet now and her feet are very swollen.  I don't think they'll even fit in her shoes.

It was hard on all of us.  Poor Caroline was so miserable.  She just wanted to sleep but couldn't stop scratching at her face and was so hot!  I was so tired and emotional.  I was so upset about her birthday.  I know Caroline didn't care, but I did.  We were so excited for her birthday.  Also, I had to cancel our trip with my parents to my sisters house to see her new baby and then onto Florida to see my aunt.  I was really bummed about that.  I was looking forward to a vacation for about a month, but now it's not happening.  The worst part was our plan was for my parents to drive out Saturday, spend the night a couple nights and then leave on Monday morning.  But, because it was a contagious virus we couldn't risk them picking it up and taking it to the new little one at my sisters, so they still stopped by but didn't come inside.  We just stood on the porch in the cold for a few minutes and then they left.  It was so sad that I couldn't even spend any time with them. 

I think it was hardest on Eli though.  Eli's been pretty busy lately.  Two weeks ago he had big block tests and was studying about 16 hours a day.  The Sunday after that, he got called to be the second  counselor in the bishopric in our ward.  That was very unexpected.  So, that whole week when he needed to be sleeping and recovering from the stress of the previous week he was really busy trying to learn his new calling.   The nice thing was Eli's dad was able to fly out in order to ordain him to a high priest.  That was very special and we had a lot of fun with him.  Caroline really loves her grandpa, and his iPad.  His dad left on Friday morning and then Caroline got sick Friday night.  Eli was up almost all night on Friday, then all night on Saturday, then he was at church on Sunday from 6 a.m- 4 p.m.  He crashed on the couch by 6 and was able to sleep until 8 the next morning.  But he is sick with a cough and sore throat.  Poor Eli.  He works so hard, and always makes sure to put me and Caroline first.  He will surely be blessed for all that he does. 

This was on Friday before it started.  She just looks so cute.

Saturday morning.

It was actually worse than it looks.

Birthday girl!  Although she was itching and tired, she still managed to smile sometimes.

That's the birthday banner I made her out of scrapbook paper.

Birthday cake

She really liked the cake.

Grandma and Grandpa Rhoads gave her the stroller and we gave her the baby doll.  She loves both.

Oatmeal bath Saturday night, this was before she went to the ER for the second time. 

Poor baby.  It got worse than this if you can believe it, but I didn't take pictures.  Eli has some on his phone but they make me too depressed.

So, that was our crazy weekend.  I am grateful it did happen over a weekend when Eli was home and it wasn't as bad for him to miss sleep.  She is our sweetheart.  I must admit it was pretty terrifying though.  I was so scared.  Eli was calm and kept me from freaking out too much.  I can't wait until he's a doctor and can diagnose things for us and know exactly what we should do.  He is such a good dad.  Well, happy birthday Caroline.  Sorry it sucked.