Thursday, January 24th. I called Josh on my way home from work and he was at Dixie’s and she said Dixie was changing his diaper and noticed that his boil had burst and was draining. “Boil? Which one?” because the boy had a few (gah gah gah) and they’d all petered out, much better than mine.

On our way home from the train station, M was very quiet and stiff and sullen and didn’t even crack a smile at all. A couple of times I noticed him shivering but I figured it was because he didn’t have gloves and it was a little chilly out. We got home and I got him dinner - cue #1 that he wasn’t feeling well, he didn’t want any of it - NONE at all. And he kept walking stiffly and was shaking and shivering. He fussed about sitting down and fussed about everything. I finally said it was bedtime and got him ready for a bath and then bed.

The boil was not where I thought it was - it was about in the SAME exact position as mine were - in the back near the top of his butt crack and so swollen it was like the size of my palm!! It had bust open and drained a little, but not much. We sat in the tub for a little while and then I put some gauze and antibiotic ointment on it, put a diaper on him, and we cuddled and he’s sleeping for now. And the shivering? He’s got a 102ºF fever, so I gave him some Tylenol.

Friday, January 25th. Josh and I got Matthew ready, after another dose of Tylenol and outright anger from him when we changed his diaper, and went to the doctor’s office for walk-in hour. We got there at 9:15 or so that morning; Josh emailed into work saying he’d be late, I had my backpack with my commute stuff, ready to go after we were done there. Ha.

We didn’t see anyone until 11:30 (and by then Matthew was beyond cranky, as were we). I tried not to cry at one point when I went back to ask when we could get a room and see a doctor. We finally saw a doctor and with one look and a poke, she sent us to the emergency room at the Children’s Hospital for it to be drained - because he’s so young he would have to be sedated. I gave up the ghost on trying not to cry.

The only good bit out of this entire drama is that we live about 3 blocks from the doctor’s and we live in the other direction about 3 blocks from the hospital. Handy. So by the time we get into the hospital, it was around 12:30pm. The emergency department took a look at this nasty abscess, did an ultrasound, and decided to admit him (waterworks) for IV antibiotics and monitoring in case the abscess needed draining.

We got to our “room” - which was a curtained off area shared by 8 or so other kids, in various stages of illness. Only one parent could stay overnight at a time, and I stayed on the first night. Matthew received Clindamycin every 8 hours for 40 minutes or so a pop, and for a while also albuterol treatments for his cough. Because of the timing and the noise and everything, Matthew was a bear to get to sleep that night, and stay asleep.

Saturday, January 26th. Still more hospital. It is all we can do to keep Matthew occupied and amused. Josh’s grandmother came by to visit, and the two of them went to do grocery shopping together at one point. Bored beyond belief. Matthew’s culture comes back - definitely MRSA. Fortunately, he is responding well to the Clindamycin; according to the Infectious Diseases specialist, if he didn’t, then things would be more complicated. Josh stayed with Matthew Saturday night while I slept at home.

Sunday, January 27th. Much of the same boredom. We were anticipating being able to go home today, but no go. Gah.

Monday, January 28th. Same boredom, finally sprung from the prison of the hospital. Woo! Except Matthew takes a spill about an hour after we get back and falls down some stairs, while strapped into his stroller. So we head back out to the doctor’s office, where she proclaims him fine and reassures us that we’re not bad parents. Hard to believe that, what with the MRSA and the big ass bruise on his poor little noggin.