Home again, home again, jigetty jig

Work is over and I'm a stay-at-home mum again!  Ok, so work was over 2 weeks ago, but it has taken me this long to get around to blogging... it's been a helluva fortnight!

I'm happy to report that by the end of the four week work stint, Cooper was finally getting used to me leaving him and settling down to the new routine.  I was quite enjoying lots of aspects of the work and getting out on my own too, however still felt that 4 to 5 hours every day was too much for my liking.

I ended up doing an extra day, finishing at lunch time on the Thursday... and that's when the fun started!  Gastro hit!  Cooper started chucking at tea time, with me joining in during the night.

(Dare I admit here... at first I thought it was my poor handling of the chicken that had given my poor bub food poisoning!  I was quite relieved when I found out my whole mother's group had it, yet have been making extra effort to not leave food out since.)

Having gastro SUCKS when you're a breast-feeding mum!  Feeling like you've been hit by a truck, needing to grab a bucket in preparation every time you move, unable to keep even fluids down, yet still feeding your son (who can keep some breastmilk down, but not much else).  Oh, and to thank me for my efforts, he would kick me in the tummy while I was feeding him - not helpful!  I felt dehydrated for days afterwards. 

Friday arvo was the worst - he was feeling a lot better and desperate to play outside, but I felt so crap every time I moved.  And Cooper would not stay still and play - he insisted on crawling around the yard putting all sorts of inappropriate things in his mouth :(  So thankful my mum was free and able to come take him to the park for me.

Coops followed up the gastro with diarrhea a few days later, then ear infection, then a cold, adding a fever a few days later.  I've called Nurse On Call several times, visited a midwife, the local clinic doctor and my doctor.  I feel like a totally paranoid mum every time I do, but I'm so stressed about my poor sick, sad bubba.  I really hope this is the last and the 5 hr (yes, FIVE! and counting) sleep he's having today means the end of it.  I'm really looking forward to not anxiously monitoring every snuffly breath and him being able to sleep in his own again (instead of ON one of us!).

I think Cooper is telling me I should go back to work and bring Nan and Ama back again.  Heaven knows work is easier than this!!