Oh My God! What a weekend! Elizabeth's diarrhoea continued until Saturday, with explosive vile nappies that leaked onto the wraps, necessitating much washing, and I have learned my lesson and will order a fourth Motherease Wrap from the Nappy Lady as soon as possible in case this situation arises again! I feel like I haven't stopped washing at all!
On Friday we went to the Town Centre and did some shopping - little t-shirt as a present for our God-daughter's sister, a couple of tops for me from H&M, some vital supplies from Boots and a look for clothes for Elizabeth. We had decided to go to a cafe as a treat for Elizabeth, so at around 12 went to M&S cafe... What a disappointment. Firstly it cost us over £17 for a sandwich each and a tea cake for Elizabeth. Secondly she hardly ate a thing, she seems to have completely lost her appetite. Thirdly Edward didn't wake up so I couldn't feed him, so when we eventually gave it up as a bad job I had to feed Edward in the baby change room after we'd done Elizabeth's nappy. Then someone tried the door, and husband ushered us out in a hurry, so I was panicking that he hadn't fed enough.
Saturday - garden centre. We made good time in terms of getting out of the house, but I felt shattered, and emotionally drained - crying and feeling really bleak... where's the enjoyment? Is this all there is to life? Etc. etc. We chose some herbs and God must have been smiling on us because the assistant gave us a tray of herbs for free. Dashed home, had lunch, husband out in the garden planting what we'd bought, I planted some of the little ones too... Then that evening packed the children off to bed and had a chinese takeaway, then started feeling really rough. Knew things were not right, and sure enough at about 2am was sick. urrrgh!!
Felt like death the next day, Easter Sunday, but hauled myself out of bed for Elizabeth's Easter Egg hunt. It was really sweet actually, given that she's not having chocolate (still!). Husband had hidden four plastic Easter Eggs in the garden with four little surprises inside - a bouncing ball, a plastic dog, a box of raisins and a wind up caterpillar. She retrieved them all, and seemed to quite enjoy it. They spent the morning relaxing while I tried to get stuff together to go to the in-laws for Easter lunch, gathering changes of clothes for Elizabeth and Edward as her nappies were still leaking. I was so slow it was unreal, as I felt so awful.
Within minutes of arriving at the in-laws Edward was ready to fed, fed, then projectile vomitted all over me, then again all over husband and the kitchen floor. My top and jeans now both soaked. Tried to mop down, then he fed again and his nappy just exploded, again all over me, and all over the outfit we'd just changed him into, post-vomit. Felt so exhausted by it all, and stressed out at not being able to monitor what Elizabeth was doing in the garden/kitchen etc while I was stranded in the armchair feeding Edward. Husband disappeared off upstairs to load things onto the computer, and in the end I had to go up and say we were going. She had missed her nap completely and had to wait an inordinate amount of time at the formal table for her pudding during the meal. She went into meltdown when we got back, and I had to struggle to get her ready for bed.
By Easter Monday my stomach was in turmoil having had diaharroea that night, so spent much of the day in bed, shattered. Obviously still feeding Edward though.
Husband went back to work, and Elizabeth got more and more lethargic as the week went on. On Wednesday she sat on my knee and listened to the Hillsborough memorial service on the radio most of the afternoon, and could barely mutter a word. She seemed so 'out of it' and when my parents came around that afternoon they said to take her to the doctors. Miraculously I got an appointment there and then, and carried her in convinced she was near comatose. He said she had a slight temperature and was just getting over the bug, she was fine! Off she went to bed, and I had another night of horrendous diahorrea.
By the end of my illness (Saturday - Thursday) I was beginning to feel that life would never get back to normal again. The enormity of having two children and being unable to tear myself in two has hit home. Being ill and breastfeeding has also been so thoroughly exhausting. There is no time off as a parent! I never want to go through another two weeks' like the last two weeks. Ever. Ever!
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