Rant: Herpes

I have been sick for the last 7 days, with whatever bug seems to be making its rounds everywhere I have friends - the one where a river of thick mucous runs down the back of your throat and keeps you coughing all night long.

The kids seemed to started getting it, too, but Wed. evening Sammy also got a pretty high fever. And then some time yesterday afternoon I noticed nasty blisters along both sides of his tongue. They looked just like the ones I had when (we were pretty sure) we had Hand Foot and Mouth disease back in July.

I took him to see our favorite pediatrician this morning, and apparently what he has is Herpetic stomatitis. The poor baby can't eat, can barely swallow, can't nurse (won't even try!), can't talk without it hurting. And he's drooling all over the place. On top of that I've had to force the medicine for it down his throat, with him kicking and screaming and pushing and slapping at me.

I feel rotten for him. And a little for me, for not being able to do anything for him. But mostly for him.