This last week, Giovanna has been sick. It started Wednesday with fatigue and nausea. I kept her home from school. Thursday and Friday I sent her because she really wanted to go, but I had a nagging feeling something was wrong. She had no fever, no runny nose, no coughing, no symptoms. She just seemed off normal. More tired, less talkative.. my gut was telling me something was up, but with her eager to go to school and literally without even one symptom, I tried to shrug it off. Friday night she complained of tummy pain. She woke up about 10pm and threw up all over her bed. Giancarlo stripped the bed and prepped her bath and I cleaned her up and put her in a little travel bed right next to our bed.. incase she got sick again. She has a spotted history with gastro viruses. Like that one time she ended up in the hospital.
There have been other times when she has thrown up one time and been bouncing off the walls in 24 hours. So I really never know how these tummy things will go with her. This one was not as bad as the gastroenteritis she had in January of 2008, but much worse than the 24 hour bug. Saturday and Sunday, she did this:
and this:
This is noteworthy because Giovanna has not taken a nap since 1902. She started the "Toddlers Against Naps" Association at the age of 2 1/2. She is the FOUNDER. She excels at night time sleeping, she is a rocket scientist of sleeping all night. But if you even say "nap" she will call a meeting to order with all her Non Nap-ist followers and next thing you know your house is full of nap hating pre schoolers with destruction on their minds. I'm totally emailing the VP these pics. Giovanna should be overthrown by noon tomorrow. Updates to follow.
The whole napping thing was totally great. I want her to sleep and heal. What wasn't so great is that when she was awake, she didn't move. Or act at all like Giovanna. She was stationary for 48 hours and by Monday morning when she asked me to carry her to the couch because her whole body hurt, my heart couldn't take anymore. The dr deduced that since:
-
No fever was ever present
-
TONS of gas and terrible noises in the tummy
she had a gastro related virus, non flu, and the lack of nourishment over the days had caused her muscles to feel tight and sore. So basically, we waited it out and are still waiting it out a little. I have soothed myself by bathing her often, keeping her clean and in the coziest clothes she has.. keeping her hair out of her face. Wrapping her in the softest blankets we have, keeping socks on her feet.. she may be sick, but she smells SO GOOD. Granted, these are all my neuroses but it makes me feel better to do SOMETHING for her. Today was her best day in that she didn't nap and sat up most of the day and actually PLAYED WITH SOME TOYS. In not so great news, she lost some cheeks:


Giovanna is a very petite child. She had no padding to spare so she is looking a bit spindly at the moment. Don't worry, her cheeks are still fluffier than most and very kissable. But I don't like seeing her quite this thin so my plan is to feed her fried cupcakes until she can't button her jeans.
Because she has been so sick and is finally perking up, I bought her a new toy to celebrate. I think I bought it half for her, half for me in utter relief that she is finally progressing to wellness. She loved it:


I found it at a consignment shop. It is a gently used "Little People" toy and the Little People are numbered. She quickly lined them up in order and noted "The one holding #5 is missing". I said "Maybe she is home sick with her Mommy?". She sat on the driveway and played for an hour. Her brother was VERY interested in what she was doing:
But how does he even balance on those teeny tiny toes? How?

I'm no physics major, but even I can see that he is padding around on feet no bigger than most 6 month olds'.
It was a good day. I expect tomorrow to be even better. I love her.