Sick.

About a week after everyone left, Maia woke up from nap with a fever on a Sunday afternoon. No other discernible symptoms, just a fever. Just Maia dialed down from 11 to 10.  She still had a temp in the morning, but didn't seem any worse, so we sent Parker to daycare and I brought Maia to work with me so I could complete a few reports that were due, and grab some work to do at home.  I brought Maia's back-pack (my "bag o'tricks") full of paper and stickers and quiet toys, but she was delighted just to be there, be special, and get some special attention from my co-worker, Kelly.

So a quiet day at home. She watched her Princess movies and some shows on Netflix while I worked.  Tuesday, much the same. More whiny, a little slower. But then she perked back up in the evening, so we thought maybe that was the end of it.  Nope. Wednesday was worse.  She really didn't complain about anything specific being wrong. I couldn't see anything bothering her, specifically.  So on the 25th, we went to the pediatrician to see if they could help us solve this mystery.  While we reviewed her symptoms, and she talked the PA's ear off... we finally came across the realization that she had complained her tongue hurt.  So we looked. And lo, and behold: Blisters. Hand food and mouth.  Which meant it was going to get worse before it got better.  And worse is what it did.

Last time she had this as a toddler, she only got blisters on her hands and feet, and they didn't bother her in the least. We had officially Gotten Lucky.  This time, not so much.  No blisters on hands or feet, but her poor mouth was covered. On her tongue and her gums and the roof of her mouth.  The blisters kept coming, and her gums were so swollen, her heart shaped lips looked more like Angelina Jolie's.  She was miserable.  There was a lot of crying, not much sleeping, very little eating or drinking. After she could no longer tolerate soft or acidic food, it came down to ice cream, pudding and pediasure. Her breath was rank because any contact with a toothbrush caused a bloody mess and screams.  She finally started to turn the corner a full week after she came down with it, but tooth brushing was still touch and go.  I wondered if she'd be able to enjoy her Halloween!  But by Monday, she was at about 85% and totally fever free, so back to school she went.  Incidentally, none of the other kids in her class got it, nor did Parker. Phew!

Incidentally - her stats:
weight = same: 30 lbs
height  = 38" - that's 1 1/4" growth since August!