To sick, up with sick kids and ask for a handhold?

[Merryoldgoat]

I’m sorry but this is so self-indulgent.

I returned to work two weeks ago after 11 months maternity leave.

Baby has struggled to settle with childminder but Wednesday we were getting somewhere. He was a grouch all night and cried solidly for about 3/4 hours in the early hours of Thursday. By the morning it was apparent baby was sick so I’ve ALREADY had to take a day off (which work have been absolutely fine about somil very lucky there).

Baby was very ill until Saturday. But I woke up on Saturday feeling like I was at death’s door. It’s honestly the worst cold/virusy thing I’ve had in years.

DH took on all he could during the time he was home but by Saturday night he was also sick.

Baby much better, I’m now full of catarrh and ear pain with a fever as is DH.

5yo is crying on the sofa in pain because he’s getting it too.

I’m so so low. I’ve got PND and I’m seeing the doc on Friday as it’s time for tablets but I’m so tired out.

I can barely swallow, I’m half deaf and ache everywhere - I can’t inahi how dreadful my little boys must feel.

And the next week will be taken up with juggling my return to work and childcare as 5yo will not be at school for 2 days minimum.

I just want to cry.

Imagine - no clue what inahi means

We’ve had weeks of it, never ending coughs and infections with my 4 year old. Before Christmas I was so ill I was hallucinating. It’s still going on.

Hang in there, this too will pass.

That is so rough!!! I’m sorry that your going through this, though it’s great you’ve got a supportive (if ill!) hubby and are being pro-active on the PND front. Those things are so crucial. This week has been shitty for you, but you’ve got a 5-year-old, so you know how hard the return to work can be even without illness, and you know you’ll get through it! Likewise for settling in with the childminder. It WILL happen. You’ve got a bunch of really hard things you’re needing to deal with all at once, but you’ve dealt with them all before and I bet that in a few weeks you’ll look back on this period and laugh at the back-to-work transition from hell! If a hand hold is what you need, then here’s a firm one. You’ve got this!

Likewise - we had to cancel everything Christmas dinner because we were all sick again. I was at emergency doctor twice with baby over the break. Thank god he seems ok now.

It’s DH’s shift at 4 - watching the clock

Thank you both. I’ve cried more in the last 6 months than any other point in my life and that’s saying something.

My DH is very supportive - he’s convinced I’m more ill than him so there’s no competitive nonsense to deal with. He also cleaned the kitchen, dragged himself to the shop for supplies and sent me to bed a few times.

Without him I’m not sure what I’d do as I don’t have parents anymore so I’d be alone in a heap.

Oh OP that sounds so tough. I’m happy to listen and keep you company. I’m currently in A and E with a baby who is vomiting following an earlier bump to the head. She seems absolutely normal in herself except for the vomiting so fingers crossed it will settle down soon. A long night ahead for me though I think! I really hope you feel better soon and that you get held with the PND too. It’s so tough when you return to work and kids enter childcare as they pick so many illnesses up. It should be illegal to have to look after kids when you are ill yourself 😝

Two hours to go. You’ll make it.

I used to write the quarter hours on bits of paper and cross them off it rip them up as each one passed waiting for DH to get in so I could sleep.

Have you got some distracting videos for your 5yo? You can’t go back to work if you’re sick so don’t worry about that now, just concentrate on being as comfortable as possible.

Magicmonster oh my gosh, hope all is ok.

Oh Monster - that’s awful - I hope you get seen soon. I’m sure baby will be fine. I had a similar visit after baby rolled off the bed. It’s very anxiety inducing.

Fusioluxe - 5yo is watching cartoons with a big bottle of water - we’re at right angles to one another on the sofa. He’s actually being a champ now he’s been dosed and cuddled a bit.

I’ve relented and taken codeine which is helping my throat.

I thankfully only work Tues to Thurs somif requiref I could probably move days to Wed - Thurs is I can make childcare work those days.

Wed to Fri.

DH will take time too if necessary as we share being off when they’re sick.

. Gosh this will be one to remember won't it!! I think we've all got at least one of those times just when you think it can't get worse and it actually does

You have a brilliant DH who has your back, and you will get through. All I can advise is to do really bare minimum to rest all you can, avoid dairy like he plague and d rink loads of water, warm, with fresh lemon.

Ignore outside pressures, they will be there when you are better and ready to deal.

Speedy recovery to you all!

I thought getting readmitted day five after having the baby and coming out to get flu was tough but that was nothing!

Oh God. I'm with you OP. I've just started back and 11 m/o DD has been crying since midnight with a cold. I've tried everything, including bringing her into bed with me. No luck. We're now downstairs watching Duggee because it's the only way to get her to stop crying. I'm miserable. I'm not in work tomorrow but honestly I think I'd rather be there than have a day at home with the baby to cope with.

I'll wake DH up at 5 so I can get some sleep. But that seems so far away.

Oh yes and I'm ill too, as is DH!

Thanks guys. And OP smotheroffive is so right - the fact you have a lovely-sounding understanding DP does count for a lot, even though the rest of life is conspiring against you at the moment. Only 1 hr 38 mins to go for you now...

Oh and I have PND too. It sucks, doesn't it?

@Magicmonster Hope your DD is okay!

So. Baby woke up very cold - 35.6 temp. Called 111 and theyretold me to take baby to A&E 😭😭

Life is truly hard sometimes.

Yes Peach - it’s very sucky. I didn’t have it with DS1. I’ve found it so much harder this time round.

Drive carefully OP.

We had this with DS when he was a baby. The fever broke and he was shivery and I couldn’t even get a reading on the thermometer, too low. Doctor said it was common but take him in as a precaution in case he found it hard to regulate his heat again.

Good luck

Unwrap top half but keep light cover around so doesn't chill, and cool flannel to face . good luck in A&e. Keep us updated. Always very cautious with babies on 111 try not to worry. They will likely send you home! Busy night, heh! Let's hope you get back for some sleep later.

Ignore me! (And unwrapping baby). Sorry, muddled and tired, going to bed ...good luck, yes drive careful

I’m about to leave it took temp again and it’s up to 36.5 - I’m just going to get sent home, I can feel it.

Oh no! If you’re in London, I may see you soon!!