Poor Belle baby has been sick. It’s nothing real serious or anything but for this new mama it’s serious enough.

Last week Belle started having a pretty bad case of diarrhea. We kind of thought it was a reaction to the oatmeal because it started right after her last oatmeal feeding. She continued to take her formula ok until Saturday night she started to get all cranky, which isn’t like her, at least not lately and she wasn’t eating as much.

Sunday we traveled to my parent’s house and she continued with the poopy diapers and continued not wanting to eat much. She was still very cranky, only wanting me or Hubby to hold her which didn’t make Grandma, Grandpa or Aunt Nellie very happy!

On a good note (well kinda) we did have some journaling material. She had her first diaper blow out. Yes, we journal about these things. Give me a break, it’s my first baby!

Anyway by 4:00 pm on Sunday afternoon she’d only eaten about 12 oz. We called our doctor and the nurse said we should probably take her in to Acute Care (not quite emergency room but after hours care that still costs as much as ER).

Before we took her into Acute Care she had another blow out. Princess had some friends over and I’m sure they were quite impressed with all the poop flying. That’s right teenagers, babies are not just cute little things that you get to hold and cuddle and make goo goo sounds at.

We made it to Acute Care with no more blow outs but while we were waiting to be seen Belle heaved all over Hubby. I had no idea so much stuff can come out of such a little person. He was covered. Thankfully the clinic is right next door to a drugstore that sells clothing so I ran over and bought him a new shirt.

I don’t really like Acute Care. We almost always get the PA, who I’m sure is a very nice person. It just seems she says the exact same thing to every one of us when we go in no matter what is wrong. “I have a stomach ache.” “It’s viral.” “I have a fever and I’m seeing double.” “It’s viral.” “I can’t feel my right arm.” “It’s viral.” I can’t confirm this but I wonder if she was the one that told our brother-in-law he was having a heart attack when, well, he wasn’t. So that would have been the opposite. “I think I have something viral.” “You are having a heart attack.”

Needless to say I wasn’t happy to find out she was going to treat our Belle baby. (Please do not take offense Laurel. I know you will be a wonderful PA and I would gladly go to you any day).

She mentioned something like “admitting her to the hospital for dehydration” and the room began to spin. And then she said, “We’ll get some blood work done first before we do that.” Yes, please, that would be wonderful.

Then the cutest little thing of a technician came in to take Belle’s blood. They had to take some out of her arm first but couldn’t find a vein in her right arm. So they went to the left. I just admire these people so much. Her hands weren’t even shaking but I can just imagine she was scared to death to put a needle into this precious little girl. I was praying, praying, praying that it would take and praise the Lord it did. But not for long, she lost it, although she did get enough for what they needed.

But then she said they need some from her finger for another test. Belle of course has little fingers so she thought it would be better to take from her heel. Did she not notice that Belle has the biggest, thickest feet in the world?

After what seemed like 10 minutes of Belle screaming and the technician squeezing her foot she decided she’d have to take from her finger. That went much better. I do have to commend the technician. Besides making the heel decision she was very gentle with Belle and did a good job.

The tests came back fine. Nothing to be concerned about. Thank the Lord. Although it’s bittersweet because you still don’t know what’s wrong with your baby. PA then said we’ll need to bring in Belle’s poop to get that tested. And I probably should have apologized to PA for doubting her because we were overall pleased with our visit. She seemed to know what she was talking about. And she gave Belle a Pediatlyte popsicle, which she loved. PA is now my friend. (Notice how I just skip right over the whole poop testing thing? You’re welcome.)

We got home and Belle wouldn’t take the apple flavored Pediatlyte but like I said she loved the popsicle. She was getting mighty upset at her Daddy because he wouldn’t let her hold it. I would love to share the picture with you but you’ll just have to imagine – naked, little baby Belle laying on her changing table, her feet up in the air hanging on to her toes and Daddy feeding her the popsicle. It was just precious.

A little while later we thought we’d try some formula. She took about 2 oz and then was full. We sat for about 10 minutes and then she decided to heave all over mommy. I think this one was worse than in the waiting room. It’s amazing how things that normally would gross you out don’t when it concerns your baby.

Thankfully this morning she’s doing a little better. She took 2 oz of Pediatlyte at 4 am and kept that down. 2 oz of formula at 6:30 am and kept that down. 3 oz of formula at 9:30 am and kept that down. Hopefully we’re on the road to recovery.

The heart of this new mom has been hurting as I watch Belle getting sick and not feeling good. And although I feel helpless in not being able to make her feel better I know I can hold her and rock her and tell her we love her and that she’ll be feeling better soon. I also remind her that she can throw up on us 100 times and we still wouldn’t trade her for the world.

And I can only imagine all the future “throw up” times in her life that will be challenging, overwhelming and possibly full of sorrow. But Lord willing, we will sense the need to hold her and rock her and tell her we love her. And to remind her that we wouldn’t trade her for the world.