Coxsackie!

I've been a bit lax on the blogging lately. Our usually very healthy girl picked up a Coxsackie virus at preschool and came down with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. What a nasty little bug! Although highly contagious, it's considered a "mild" virus. Mild? It caused such painful ulcerations in her throat, and on her tongue, cheeks, gums and hard palate, that it was difficult for her to eat, sleep or even talk. And although complications are rare, I worried about possible viral meningitis, encephalitis and myocarditis.

Hydration and pain control are the keys to suviving the 7-10 day period of misery and suffering. My professional recommendations (and what helped us survive) include: Alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen every 3 hours while the ulcers are present, using diphenhydramine to help with sleep at night, and providing chocolate milkshakes laced with Carnation Instant Breakfast ad lib. She's the picture of health now, but I have to admit that after more than a week of averaging 3 hours of sleep a night, I was feeling more like something the cat dragged in (or threw up).

Oh, to be 4 (or even 40) again ...