A Testament of Gabriel

Our poor Gabriel just got over being terribly sick. Like I have mentioned before, Gabriel has been all sorts of sick this past year. He's had all kinds of colds, viruses, the Swine flu, ear infections, and strep throat in the last year. Being sick always interferes with his sleep and play. Despite the fact that it wipes him out, he tries his hardest to be happy and also puts a smile on our faces.

Last week he was the sickest we had ever seen him (besides the swine flu maybe). He developed a fever Saturday the 10th, and by Sunday we could tell it was super high. When we took his temperature it was 104.3 f. He only wanted to be held. So I held him all day Sunday. The high fever was his only symptom. We assumed it was a fever virus. But he was so lethargic, sad, and was burning up, so we decided to take him to an after hours emergency pediatric practice. We were shocked to find out that he had a really bad double ear infection. The doctor also decided to do a strep test, just to make sure he did not have strep (apparently it's been going around). To our double surprise, he also had strep throat. Poor Gabriel never seems to catch a break in the sick department. We were so shocked at how sick he really was. We felt so bad. They forced all sorts of stuff down his throat that Sunday evening. It traumatized him of all nurses and doctors, and medications (which he normally loves to take, he thinks it's a treat). Of course, forcing medicines didn't work, and he threw all of it up a few minutes later. Consequently, they also had to vaccinate him with a strong antibiotic. Luckily he was not allergic to the medication. Despite all the medications he continued with a super high fever Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. His fever was 105 f. We were so scared! I would just hold him all day long. The antibiotic that we had to give him made him really nautious and his stomach would hurt. Tylenol and Motrin would not drop his fever by much. After three days with fevers of up to 105, his fever disappeared. He continued to be extremely lethargic until Saturday the 17th. So my entire week consisted of holding him all day long, which I enjoyed. I just cuddled and loved on him as much as I could. My heart just broke to see him so sad; he would whimper and whine through out the day, and all I could do was just snuggle him.

The reason I'm sharing this story is to document how amazing Gabriel really is. On Monday, while his fever was 105 f. he suddenly jumped out of my arms, with a smile from ear to ear, and decided he wanted to be his happy self. He wanted to push away how sick he really felt. He cheered himself up and us also. He ran around, laughed at nothing, cheesed at David and I. He just wanted to show us that he was still happy and ok. We actually really needed that, because we were so worried! While he was playing around, I decided to snap some pictures of him. He played with me and the camera. He would take his golf clubs and point them at the camera, playfully. I felt like I was literally documenting a testament to his character. I am so grateful for the wonderful disposition that Gabriel always has, even when he is so dang sick. He's got such a funny, happy, kind, strong-willed character. Nothing in life is ever going to stop this child.

Below are the pictures I took while he was burning up in a fever. I think they are my favorite of any pictures I have ever taken of him, because they mean so much.

In an attempt to cool him, we kept him in a diaper most of the time.

The final picture below says so much. After all the playing and cheesing, he finally had a thought to himself, "Mom, why the heck are you taking pictures of me?? Don't you know I'm soo sick!" Haha. This is a true Gabriel expression, which is so hard to capture on camera.
I'm so glad I did. After this picture he played for a little longer and then went back onto my arms and I loved on him all over again for the next few days.

Aside from getting all the colds etc., that many little kids his age get, Gabriel is a super healthy, resilient, happy boy. Every experience brings forth new treasured memories. I am so grateful for the joy he brings into my life. We are so lucky.