Charlie's Fever -- A Survival Story

Except for a few days spent in NICU for a low platelet count ("Charlie's Bad Day..." 1/27/10), our little Beansprout has enjoyed perfect health. Other than teething, a diaper rash or two and the occasional bumps and bruises that come with being a Stunt Baby in Training, her days have been healthy and happy, filled with lots of love and little pain. We have been blessed.

But earlier this week, Charlie started running a fever -- a "beneficial" fever. (I guess the "beneficial" part was that her little body was fighting off something that might have been worse than a fever.)

By the time Charlie's mommy was her age (10-1/2 months), Meagan had had numerous fevers -- one so high that we took her to the emergency room in the middle of the night, where she was given an aspirin suppository. Other times, her father (that would be My Awesome Husband Greg) actually sat in a tub of cool(ish) water with her. (Doctor's advice.) And while my baby was burning up with fever, I did what I do best -- I worried! That voice in my head -- the one pointing out all the things that could be wrong with her (including things I'd never even heard of) -- would not shut up!

So naturally, when Meagan called me with news that Charlie had a fever, my mind immediately traveled back to those days when Meagan was my baby, and my baby had a fever...

I was impressed with how calm Meagan sounded over the phone as she told me that the thermometer had registered 102. But, even though my mind was racing to "Panic," I tried to sound calm, too; so maybe if you asked Meagan, she'd say she was impressed with how calm I was. Calm is not how I felt, however.

You may think I'm being silly and overly dramatic, writing about "surviving" a fever that never got higher than 101, and lasted only 24 hours. That's okay. Sometimes I am silly, and I'm often overly dramatic. I'm also very grateful that we weren't facing something more serious for Charlie!

I know it's not realistic to think you can have a child who never gets sick. And I know that as a mother and grandmother, I'll always be prone to worry, bordering on panic. I also know that my daughter has a pretty good head on her shoulders, and either did not inherit my tendencies, or is a far better actor than I could ever be.

For now, I'm just thanking God for hearing this grandmother's prayers. Our baby is fine again, amen!