Chapter 1: Hardi’s Recovery – The Fever Chronicles
What just happened with my son Hardi? Four days of high fever. Four days of a lot of worry and thermometers. It was intense, exhausting, horrific experience.
Oh, I have loved him, this, that, myself, but I have never loved someone so so much, as I am loving my little boy. So this time Hardi was sick, I just was so, so heartbroken, so scared. I was trembling in intense fear of losing him.
This whole ordeal made me take a step back and reevaluate my priorities. I realized something profound: our family’s health and well-being must always come first. Sewing, my beloved hobby, will have to sit patiently in second place. The needle and thread aren’t going anywhere, but Hardi and Richard need me here and now.
Chapter 2: Operation: Health Overhaul
From now on, I’m taking no chances. The plan:
- Probiotic foods? Back in the game! Time to give those gut bacteria a feast.
- Prebiotic foods? Every day! Feed the good bugs so they can fight the bad ones.
- Family doctor. We need new one! Ours is not always there when needed.
- Safeguard soap once a day—for those “just in case” germs.
- No more big smoothies. Hardi needs to chew on foods to get the stomach juices flowing. Digesting starts in the mouth.
- Handwashing before every meal. No exceptions. (Even if dinner’s burning.)
- No more tasting all the food I make all the time. Turns out, if you’re the chef, you’re also the prime suspect for spreading germs. Oops.
- Dishcloth revolution: Always dry it and swap it often. I do not give a damn about saving the planet in this area!
- And, yeah—no raw meat for Hardi. Not even a taste. No culinary experiments here.
Chapter 3: The Fever Files – Lessons Learned
Let me say this loud and clear: the fever number isn’t the villain. It’s the symptoms that matter. Next time Hardi spikes a fever (because let’s face it, kids are magnets for germs), here’s the plan:
If he’s got a 39.2°C fever but is semi-comfortable, maybe even able to nap? No panic. No marathon dosing of paracetamol and ibuprofen like we did this time. Instead, we’ll calmly grab a wet cloth or a lukewarm bath. Fever reducers are helpful, yes—but they gave Hardi so much energy, he turned into a turbo-charged toddler. That’s energy he should’ve been using to rest, recover, and sleep!
Here’s the truth: a child’s fever will go down on its own, eventually. You just ease it down a bit, trust the body, and wait. Note to self: less obsessive thermometer-checking. More faith in biology.
Chapter 4: Ambulance Adventures (Or Not)
Calling the ambulance? Yeah… that was pretty useless. Instead of helping, it just ended up irritating Hardi big time. On the bright side, we learned one key fact: diapers and fever don’t mix. Big NO-NO. Instead, it’s towels to the rescue. Not glamorous, but way less uncomfortable for him.
Chapter 5: The War Inside My Head
Now, let’s talk about me—specifically, my overactive imagination. Why on Earth do I think that conjuring up the absolute worst-case scenario is somehow helpful? It’s not. Thinking, “What if it’s something catastrophic?” doesn’t prepare me for anything except anxiety.
And those body trembles I get when I’m stressed? They mean nothing. Absolutely zero. It’s not my body predicting doom; it’s just my body saying, “Hey, let’s release some tension.” A shaky body isn’t a sign of insight, it’s just my personal (and slightly dramatic) way of calming down.
Chapter 6: Stress Won’t Kill Me (I Checked)
Let’s clear something up: this stress storm I had? It didn’t make me sick. I won’t get ill just because my nerves decided to throw a party. Stress is annoying, sure, but it’s not going to knock me out. It is not that I did not know this. It is more that I must know this with all my heart.
Chapter 7: Growth Through the Storm
Looking back on this fever-filled journey, I realize it wasn’t just Hardi who was fighting—it was me too. He battled the physical discomfort, while I wrestled with fear, doubt, and the overwhelming weight of responsibility.
This experience taught me that parenting is about showing up, learning, and doing your best with what you have. I’ll never stop worrying about my kids but I’ve also learned to trust their resilience and my instincts more.
As intense as it was, this moment reminded me of the extraordinary strength that comes with being a parent. It’s messy, exhausting, and yes, sometimes terrifying—but it’s also filled with endless opportunities to grow, love, and appreciate the little moments.
