Why Doesn't Anyone Want To Play With Us?

As you all know, Kaylea had the atypical case of chickenpox a few weeks ago. Well, if you remember, she had them for an entire week before I realized that they weren't bug bites and that I needed to take her to the Doctor. As it turned out she had, POTENTIALLY, passed the pox to her entire class. (I am happy to report that no one else came down with them though.)

Well guess what? This week Kaylea was sharing with her classmates again. Only this time it wasn't chicken pox. OOOOOOHHHHH, nnnnnoooooo, way better! Here, let me set the stage for you. Tuesday, I was at the school subbing and spent a lot of time out on the playground. While I was out there, so was Kaylea's class. They stayed out for an extended recess of about an hour. At the end of my day (2:00), Kaylea, all red faced, came up to me in the hall and showed me her arms. They were covered in welts and a red rash. At first, I thought it was from being out in the sun, but then she said her sides were starting to itch, again. I took her into the bathroom to check her over a little closer. When I lifted her shirt, I could see that she was beginning to get the rash on her torso, also. I decided not to be a slacker this time and rushed her to her doctor's office right then. When her doctor came in the exam room after a quick lookover we were told that Kaylea had Fifth Disease. I was unfamiliar with this particular illness, so naturally I asked what we needed to do to treat it. I was totally surprised with the response I got. The doctor said we didn't need to do anything. With Fifth Disease, once the child breaks out in the rash and has the "slapped cheek" look they are no longer contagious. It is the 7-10 days prior to the rash that they are contagious. Unfortunately, during those 7-10 days there were no symptoms indicating that she was sick. So wait, let me get this straight, ONCE AGAIN, my daughter has, POTENTIALLY, infected her entire class with a contagious disease. You have to be kidding me. This just can't be.

So friends, if you drive by the playground at Kaylea's school and see a lonely little girl standing by herself in the corner of the field with no one around to play with, well, that will be Kaylea. I am quite sure all of the kids' parents are telling them to stay away from her.

I promise we normally aren't a breeding ground for infectious diseases. She just seems to catch everything coming and going this year. I can't wait for summer to get here. Then we can get her away from all of the kid germs at school. Oh yea, but speaking of summer reminded me that I forgot to mention the best part about Fifth Disease. The welts and rash can reappear for 1-5 weeks following the outbreak; whenever the child gets hot or is exposed to the sun. Sounds like a fun beach trip for Kaylea. Whatchathink?

First A Flea Circus And Now A Chicken Coop

As of my last post, we were thinking that Kaylea might have come in contact with some fleas, either from Angel or the yard. Well, the "bites" have continued to multiply over the last week - not a lot, mind you, but a few new ones each day. I have thoroughly cleaned Kaylea's room; went over her bedding with a fine tooth comb; washed everything in HOT water that would fit in the washing machine; vacuumed on my hands and knees around the baseboards; and vacuumed the rest of the her room as well. All of this and not a single flea in sight; additionally, Barry and I have yet to receive the first flea bite.

I just couldn't figure out where the "bites" were coming from, so I decided it was probably best to take her to the Doctor on Monday (today). In the meantime, I spent quite awhile Saturday on the Internet looking up all sorts of insect bites and children's rashes. (Man there is some funky stuff out there - just sayin'.) I quickly eliminated the possibilities of shingles and body lice; however, I was questionable about the whole bed bug thing. So, I sent Bub to Walmart to buy a microscope so I could examine some black flakes I had collected in Kaylea's room during the cleaning process. (I know, I watch way too much CSI.) When I looked at Kaylea's crime scene - I mean bedroom samples, well they looked like the same black blobs of stuff as before, only now they were just really big. In other words, I still couldn't tell what it was.
*****Note to self: Horatio Cane didn't get his microscope at Walmart!

Yesterday, Grammy offered up a diagnosis of the mystery "bites". She said that Bub use to get similar spots when he was little and they were caused by his allergies. That gave us something else to think (worry) about. I was afraid the Doctor would want to give her an allergy test and this child is deathly afraid of any type of needle.

Kaylea went to school this morning armed with her Benedryl Itch Stick and I told her I would make a doctors appointment and check her out of school early. When we arrived at the Doctor's office the nurse seemed a little stumped when she looked at Kaylea's "bites." She took down all of the information and left us to wait for the Doctor.

When the Doctor came in she looked at Kaylea's "bites" and then confirmed that I was correct. She does not have shingles or body lice or flea bites or bed bug bites. The Doctor seems to believe that Kaylea has an atypical case of the ..........................................CHICKEN POX! Bub and I were quite surprised by this diagnosis, especially since Kaylea received the chicken pox vaccination twice, with the last one being within the last two years. The Doctor said that the bumps had the appearance of chicken pox sores and since new ones had continued to appear each day over the last week this would match the cycle of chicken pox, as well. She felt that because Kaylea had been vaccinated twice, her symptoms were not normal for the illness. Nonetheless, she said that Kaylea is contagious and we needed to keep her home from school through Thursday. Typically, the pox will develop for about a week, so we should be about done; however, if Kaylea develops any new pox tomorrow or Wednesday, we are to keep out of school through Friday. If she is still developing pox by Thursday they want to see her again, because it isn't chicken pox that she has. If that is the case they will have a dermatologist look at her.

Well my friends, now you know as much as I do. I might have a child with chicken pox and then again, maybe not. I guess the good part is that Kaylea gets a second Spring Break, but, unfortunately, she doesn't understand why she can't play outside this time.




Oh and P.S.
I bet you had always wondered why this Blog is called Curiously Kaylea. Now you know - she just gets curiouser and curiouser!!!!!

Welcome To The Flea Circus!

Sunday, Kaylea and Angel were playing outside in the yard. They were rolling around and having all kinds of fun. Then, Monday morning, Kaylea awoke with some mysterious little red bites on her tummy and chest. I looked her over carefully and did a sweep of the bed sheets, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I figured she had been bitten by something while playing in the yard the day before.

I treated her itchy spots with Benedryl gel and sent her to school. We have been watching the spots the last few days and they have not spread, but they have not gone away as of yet, either.

Today, while I was playing with Angel I found a flea, yes just ONE flea, climbing on top of her fur towards her head. She had just come inside from using the bathroom. I immediately pinched the little sucker's head off (NOT Angel's - THE FLEA'S) and then proceeded to give Angel her first dose of K9 Advantix of the season.

As I was sharing Angel's adventure with Kaylea after school, she asked me, "Mom, do you think I have fleas, too?" My only response was, "Well dear, anything is possible."

Since the K9 Advantix clearly states in big bold letters, "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN" and warns against any contact with skin, I guess I will have to come up with a different treatment for Kaylea. HMM.....I wonder if they make flea collars big enough for a 9 year-old?

Kaylea's Feeling Icky

Yes, we have a sick child at our house. Well, I think she's sick, anyway. Yesterday when I picked her up from school she said, "Momma, I think you need to make an appointment for me to see the Doctor." She went on to say that her throat was really sore, she had a bad cough and the night before she felt like she was going to throw up. When we got home I took her temperature, but it was normal. After dinner, we went to Walgreens and stocked up on Throat Lozenges, Triamenic Cough and Runny Nose meltaway strips (way awesome product, no more having to measure liquid), and Children's Motrin. When we got home I told her to take a long hot shower and then get ready for bed. Honestly, she looked and sounded terrible. You know, droopy eyes, dragging around, scratchy voice and croupy cough. I guess it was about 7:30 when we laid down and she fell asleep almost immediately. Unfortunately for her she didn't stay asleep. Her cough kept waking her up and she would get up and get more throat lozenges.

This morning I let her sleep in and set-up a Doctor's appointment for her at 10:30. Of course, the first thing they tested for was Strep, but it came back negative - Thank God! Then the Doctor looked at her ears, nose, throat and listened to her chest. The verdict - everything was clear. I was told to keep on the Triamenic during the day but to give her Atuss DS at night. Supposedly it will help her sleep; great I get to drug my kid!

She says her throat is feeling better, but the cough is still there. Who knows what kind of bug she has. We'll keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't get any worse.