Sick of being sick

I swear, if someone sneezes a block away from my children, they catch a cold, or an ear infection, or pinkeye, or RSV, or pneumonia, or a sinus infection or some combination of those along with vomiting, diarrhea and fever. I mean, COME ON! It's MAY! My kids have been sick pretty much non stop since FEBRARY!

We're clean people, I promise.  We don't live in squalor (though my house is littered with toys and does have a layer of brown dog fur throughout, but STILL, I mop, I vacuum, I Windex, I Clorox, I Lysol... every week).  My children are bathed on a regular basis.  John and I bathe and shower on a regular basis.  I do laundry twice a week at least.  I change all our sheets regularly. We all wash our hands after using the bathroom and throughout the day John and I both use the hand sanitizer I keep on the counter in the kitchen. All of us take a multivitamin and the boys take a vitamin C supplement as well. I discourage my children from licking the floors at the grocery store.  Neither of my kids go to school or daycare, though Alex does take a preschool sports class once a week and they both have playgroups once or twice a week.

I'm really at a loss as to what I can do to keep my family healthy.  I suspect it's the sports class and playgroups because where else can they be picking up these germs??  Another thought I have is they could just be getting sick from going to the doctor all the time.  If one is sick and has to see the dr, I usually have to take the other along with us, and since one is sick, we can't sit in the well child area, we have to sit in the germ infested area where they both immediately start playing with the toys, and always, ALWAYS whoever wasn't sick soon becomes sick within a day or two.  Then they both get well, we go to playgroup and the next day someone wakes up with their eyes gooped shut.

Right now the baby is well except he has a runny nose and has had diarrhea for two months.  I sent in a poop sample to test for a bacterial infection and the doctor called this morning to tell me that his poop tested negative for the bacterial infection, YAY! But he doesn't know what else could be the cause.  Just wait it out was his suggestion.  Great.  He did tell me that it could be his formula (which he'd dismissed as the cause Wednesday because he was so sure it was the tummy bacteria) and to switch to soy milk.  Which Max HATES. I was able to give him 1/2 milk based formula mixed with 1/2 soy based formula, so maybe I can wean him on to soy milk eventually.  Until then, I suppose we'll all have to just deal with the toxic sludge he's shooting out of his butt.

Alex's entire head seems to be consumed with a raging sinus infection.  Where Max is prone to ear infections, Alex is prone to sinus infections and gets them all the time.  But this one is the worst.  His eyes are swollen and goopy, his nose is a booger faucet and now he's got a cough (which isn't related to the sinus infection I don't think).  He's on a pretty strong antibiotic that is now giving him the runs.  The bad kind.  The kind that sneak up on you when you least expect it.  Poor kid.  He's going through underwear like crazy and keeps telling me how sorry he is and can I forgive him.  Of course I'm not getting mad at him for these accidents, but he feels bad all the same, which makes me feel awful too.

This has been hands down, the sickest we've ever been.  It's got to get better at some point.  The doctor keeps saying that we're getting out of flu/cold/ear infection season, but then, a few days later, I'm back in the office again with a kid and a 103 degree fever.

I really hope they get better and stay better this time.  Because it's such a bummer to see my little boys lazing around on the sofa with runny noses when it's so nice outside.

Comments

[Scott and Sara]

Poor kids. You know what they say, get all the illness now and build up the immune system! I don't really love when people say that though. I HATE germs from other people and have a hard time not blaming others when Cam gets sick. Luckly it hasn't happened too much this winter. Hopefully, lie the Dr said, it will pass soon and when it does, the season is over. Good luck cleaning up all those gross diapers. Are you still being green using the "natural" diapers during this illness. Sorry if you are : ) You are a trooper.

[Jen Beans]

WHAT
I'm sorry that is just crappy all around ...and you know what I mean. I think your doing everything you can, and if the mommy can't figure it out no one can. Dang and we want to come play...(sad face)
I know how it is to be in for a couple weeks but as long as you and your fam. have that is just overwhelming. How are you feeling, if you get sick and need anything let me know I would love to run to the store for you. xoxo

[AndreAnna]

Dude, that blows. You poor guys.

My kids go to a family-style daycare with other kids and weekly activities run by the county and they've NEVER been sicker than a run-of-the-mill virus. I've never had to take either of them to the doctor for anything other than a well visit. Hell, they've never been on antibiotics and I only breastfed for the first few weeks.

Believe me, I know how friggen lucky I am.

My point? Sometimes it's random - there's no rhyme or reason why your kids pick some stuff up and other kids don't. I don't think it's the activities they go to (unless it's really gross there) or how often you wash and disinfect.

Did you get my tweet about trying the canned pumpkin on toast? Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and it's great at ending diarrhea and healthy and yummy.

Hope you guys get better soon!