Here we go again.

Jack had another rash show up earlier this week. I decided to watch it for a while before heading to the doctor. He had no fever and always said no when I asked if his tummy or throat hurt. He had no symptoms other than a rash. And in general, if the rash is accompanied by nothing else it's not a big deal. Besides, Jack has had mild eczema since he was tiny.

But after a few days it wasn't going away, so I took him in. Better to be safe than sorry. Especially with our recent doctor's visits and the things we've learned about how diseases spread in this small town.

Because they fit us in at the last minute we had to see a new doctor. She seemed to think I was crazy. She was practically rolling her eyes at me when I was describing the lack of symptoms aside from the rash, even though he had recently had scarlet fever. She told me that it wasn't anything to worry about because there were no other symptoms. It was just heat rash. But that she would run the labs anyway just to make me feel better. (I hate arrogant doctor's. Especially because I rarely take my kids in to the doctor except for well visits unless I'm really worried.) Anyway, she sent us home and said that IF the tests came back with anything she'd call.

Of course I felt stupid for going in when it was probably nothing and called Jason and my mom to let them know. I hadn't even left the parking lot when the doctor's office called me back. It was scarlet fever. Again. Just about a month later. I asked if there was anything I could do (besides the antibiotics they were calling in) to keep him from getting it again. They gave me a list of things we already do (wash hands often, don't go out when we're sick, take all of the medicine until it's gone, blah, blah, blah) and wished us luck. Ugh.

So we started the medicine last night after dinner and put kids to bed. Jack still seemed fine at that point. After a little while I could here him coughing hard in his room. Poor kid. He eventually woke up from the hacking and came downstairs to find me. He could hardly breathe. And it wasn't like he was congested. It was something else. I don't really know how to describe the shallow, strange way he was (hardly) breathing without you hearing it. It scared me to death! Thanks heavens changes have been made at Jason's work and he was home with me.

I called my mom and asked her what she thought I should do. (I always have to have someone tell me to go in to the doctor. I really hate going in for nothing.) We figured it couldn't be pertussis because he's had all of his shots. It didn't sound like pneumonia (more wheezy) but I couldn't be sure because I've never actually heard pneumonia. It could be croup, so I took him outside to see if the cold air helped him at all.

While I held Jack out back Jason gave him a priesthood blessing. It started to rain, so I brought Jack back inside and opened up our big family room window, wrapped him up to keep him warm, and sat with him by the open window to help him breathe. Eventually his breathing calmed down enough for him to sleep but I was too scared to sleep the rest of the night. I stayed awake and just watched him. Sometime after I gave him his medicine again around 2 am I finally crashed. It was a long night, but he seemed a little better this morning and throughout the day. He's still a sick little boy, but his breathing has been okay at least.

I have been reading up and pneumonia can be a complication of scarlet fever, but his cough sounds more like croup to me. Either way, if it gets bad again tonight I'm just taking him to the ER. I'd rather be safe than sorry. So keep my baby boy in your prayers, please. I just want him to feel better and be my silly, smiling, active boy again. Especially with his birthday coming up.