SF update...

So far, all is good :) Baby "S" is doing MUCH better (thank the Lord for antibiotics!) and no one else is sick. I think we will be past the incubation period for the rest of us on Sunday.

Thank you for all your precious prayers...our Lord is hearing them & blessing us!!

SCARLET FEVER!!!!

What do you think of when you first hear the words Scarlet Fever? I, for one, think of a terrible, terrible illness from the 1800's. I also think that it's extremely rare!

Well...guess what?!?!? It IS definitely rare and it WAS definitely a tragic illness in the 1800's but even though it is extremely rare ... my baby "S" has somehow gotten SCARLET FEVER...weird, hun?!?!?

Scarlet Fever: Scarlet fever is caused by an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. The bacteria make a toxin (poison) that can cause the scarlet-colored rash from which this illness gets its name.

Symptoms...

~fever 101-104 for 3-5 days...CHECK

~full body rash...feels like fine sand paper...CHECK

~strawberry red tongue...CHECK

~very red cheeks...CHECK

~sore throat...CHECK
~feelin' just plain yucky...CHECK

We have no idea where she got it from because we've pretty much been home bound. I am sooo glad I kept the 3 youngest one's home from church Sunday.

Concerns...

~highly contagious during fever

~incubates for 3-5 days

~rash lasts up to 10 days then followed by peeling :(

~possible side effects of SF...pneumonia, impetigo, meningitis...uuggghhh (these are rare though...LOL)

So, needless to say, this stinks! Please pray that our sweet "S" heals quickly and that no one else gets it...hey, a girl can hope, right?!? I will say that my God is totally capable of protecting the rest of us and that's what we are praying for.

UPDATE: I just got a call from my sister and my niece has SF, too. She called me earlier and my niece had almost all the same symptoms of "S". She took her to the dr. and sure enough...she's got it! We were all together on Saturday and both girls fevers started on Monday...uuggghhh!