What Should I Do? - A Question for Parents

[OceanAnnie]

I'm glad the doctor can see your DS. I hope your little guy is feeling better soon, and that you all will be able to go to the party.

 

[SaraJayne]

Stay home. If he is not feeling well, he needs to be at home, not riding for 3 hours in a car, expected to go to a party where there will be a ton of people, and then ride 3 hours home again.

Also, if he is still contagious, not sure all the party goers would be very happy with you for knowingly bringing a sick child to a party.

Also, how much fun will it be for you at the party if he is sick?

This.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Often with viral rashes the child is contagious before the rash shows, but not at the time of the rash. But my kids always had fevers when they had those viruses. Hopefully he'll be ok to travel and you'll be good to go. I can't way I'd want to spend 6 hours in the car with a baby--even a healthy baby--for a party, though! Are you spending the night there at least?

 

[mjaclyn]

So the doctor said that it's a combination of teething and a mild virus he had at the beginning of the week. He is not contagious and the doc said he's fine to be around people at a party as long as he's in a good mood. I'm going to see how he acts this morning and decide from that whether or not to take him. Of course I don't want him to be miserable, so if he's crying and cranky DH will stay home with him and I'll take DD to the party. I'll let you know!

The drive is 3 hours EACH way. Originally I had declined the invitation because I thought it was WAY too far, but the person throwing the party was so disappointed that we decided to try it. Plus I thought the kids could sleep in the car, since the party starts at 5 and their normal naps are around 2:00 when we would be leaving. I had planned on leaving around 8:00 to come home since their bedtime is 7:30, bring their PJs to change into so that when we got home around 11pm we could put them straight to bed. Ideal? Absolutely not, but it's something I'd be willing to do once in a GREAT while for a special occasion..which is what this is.

 

[sunnyday123]

Stay home. If he is not feeling well, he needs to be at home, not riding for 3 hours in a car, expected to go to a party where there will be a ton of people, and then ride 3 hours home again.

Also, if he is still contagious, not sure all the party goers would be very happy with you for knowingly bringing a sick child to a party.

Also, how much fun will it be for you at the party if he is sick?

This. I don't see how it's even questionable.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Umm...Rash on the stomach sounds like strep/scarlet fever to me. I'd definitely see the doctor.

DS was at the peds for his 18 mo checkup once -- had been fine, just a well-check up. The doc had an intern tagging along and I got the feeling she was trying to impress the intern, so she commented on DS's slight rash on his stomach, said to him that she didn't think anything of it, but would test him for strep. Yep, it was strep. My kids always seem to get it in early summer for whatever reason.

ETA: He had no fever at the time of the appointment. Here's an article: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/strep-rash.html

True, but it can also be caused by a virus.

ETA: OP, just saw your update. Glad your ds is good to go!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Ideal? Absolutely not, but it's something I'd be willing to do once in a GREAT while for a special occasion..which is what this is.

I totally understand. Kids can be flexible and most do great when we have these occasional adventures.

 

[JerseyJanice]

He really should be seen by the doctor, and this is why:

I guess what makes me most nervous about this is his energy level. He's usually crawling all over the place, laughing, playing and bouncing off the walls. For the past few days he's been very tired and will play but not to the level he normally does. He also has been cranky and crying more.

My pediatrician always told us to be concerned when our baby didn't act like himself, and that lethargy is one symptom that shouldn't be ignored.

Could teething even cause those symptoms?

No. Teething by itself would not cause all these symptoms.

 

[kbeverina]

My pediatrician always told us to be concerned when our baby didn't act like himself, and that lethargy is one symptom that shouldn't be ignored.

I agree with this. It's probably just a virus, but if he continues to be lethargic with rashes and overflowing diapers, definitely have his blood sugar checked.

 

[mjaclyn]

So I'm on my way to the party with my parents... DH is staying home with the kids. I feel bad going without them but DH insisted and I'd like at least one of us to go. The baby was feeling better, so we were going to take them.. But I thought DD felt warm so I took her temperature and it was 100.1. She has no other symptoms and is still playing normally so it's hopefully just a 24 hour bug. Anyway, thanks for the advice! I'll try to post a photo of us in our hippie outfits if DH will let me.

 

[ksjayhawks]

You made a wise decision for your children. Even though baby was feeling better, he has been sick this past week and all the riding/party activities probably would not have been the best for him.

Hope you and your parents had a nice time.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'd probably would pass on the party. Yes it is an absolute disappointment. But your child simply will be miserable. Could maybe just one parent stay home and the rest of the family go to the party?

We've made concessions like that in the past when someone I our fam was not well.

 

[mjaclyn]

The party was fun... People dressed in crazy hair and huge bell bottoms. We decided to go with a hippie theme. I really wanted to get a picture of us all together even if we all weren't going to the party. How often do we all get to dress in tie-dye?

http://yfrog.com/f/83htij/

 

[Disneyrsh]

ok

 

[LisaInNc]

Lisa

 

[kristilew]

thinking the "rsh" in Disneyrsh is short for HARSH. Wow. What an ugly post in an otherwise supportive thread.



OP - glad things worked out. Your family is adorable in the tie dye. That's a picture to include in the holiday card for sure!

fwiw - my DD always got a viral rash as the final stage of a virus. MDs told me that some kids produce so many antibodies to some viruses that they rash out, so to speak. We learned that the rash meant she wasn't contagious anymore, but it's always best to err on the side of caution, as you did.

 

[mjaclyn]

LOL! Disneyrsh...sounds like you want to start some drama but fortunately I'm not that kind of gal. Yes, my son was seen by his doctor and it was the doctor who said he was not contagious and fine to go to the party. My husband and I both made the decision not to bring the kids but it was my husband who insisted that at least one of us go to the party and that's why I went. I wanted to stay home with the kids but we thought it would be rude for all four of us not to show up to an event that was catered at the last minute. I called home constantly to make sure they were doing okay and it was very difficult for me not to think about them and try to have a good time. As for the photo, it was literally 3 minutes of their lives and did not harm them in the least. To me, that's a very small price to pay for an adorable picture that we can keep forever. To everyone else...thanks for all the advice! Today, two days later both kids are completely fine and over whatever it was they had on Saturday.

 

[Magpie]

LOL! Disneyrsh...sounds like you want to start some drama but fortunately I'm not that kind of gal. Yes, my son was seen by his doctor and it was the doctor who said he was not contagious and fine to go to the party. My husband and I both made the decision not to bring the kids but it was my husband who insisted that at least one of us go to the party and that's why I went. I wanted to stay home with the kids but we thought it would be rude for all four of us not to show up to an event that was catered at the last minute. I called home constantly to make sure they were doing okay and it was very difficult for me not to think about them and try to have a good time. As for the photo, it was literally 3 minutes of their lives and did not harm them in the least. To me, that's a very small price to pay for an adorable picture that we can keep forever. To everyone else...thanks for all the advice! Today, two days later both kids are completely fine and over whatever it was they had on Saturday.

Glad to hear everything worked out well!

I think you made absolutely the right decision. Your friendships are also important, and your children can easily survive without you for a day, even when they're sick. After all, their dad was there looking after them!

It's too bad you didn't get to use the cute outfits, but perhaps if your children don't grow TOO much over the summer you'll be able to reuse them this Halloween. You have an adorable family! And two very healthy, happy kids.

 

[krcit]

Glad it all worked out ok. The pic is adorable and I love all the red heads