but threw up his meds. We won't be going to the hospital, but we will be having a long night as we do one med at a time. We go through this process every time Ben gets sick, which as you know is rather often.  We are struggling desperately to get some food into him. We managed four snacks today, and I plan to keep him on snacks tomorrow and possibly the next day until his appetite improves. The meds are so bitter, they trigger his gag reflex on top of an already upset tummy.

On yet another front, Ben has been having daytime seizures today.  We know this is because he is ill, and he has vomited nearly every night after meds, so probably is not getting them all. Nevertheless, this is distressing. We're trying to stay positive, but it is so hard when he is sick like this. After all he's been through the past eight months, it seems very unfair to get the stomach flu, too. Especially since it seems likely he and I caught it at Children's Hospital. Nope, not fair.

Teena

Ben has taken a turn for the worse this afternoon.  He slept much of the morning and has been very lethargic this afternoon. He is keeping down his snacks today, I haven't tried any meals.  I've given him juice which ought to bring up his Ketones and make him feel better, but he is still just laying there.  We've begun to wonder if we ought to take him to the hospital, because after all, what would a Ben illness be without a trip to Childrens?  Just this moment he got up and began to play, so I'm hoping he will perk up after all. Please continue to pray he will get better on his own without further complications.

I am feeling much better today, and improving as the day goes on, so I think this might be the end of it for me.

Dr. Mark told me yesterday that if this is the virus he thinks it is, the incubation period is about two weeks, so though it is wonderful that the rest of the family is still well, we can't quite be sure we are out of the woods yet.  His kids just had it, one right after the other.

Teena

Please continue to pray for Ben. I have spoken with Dr. Mark, and the “stomach” portion of this bug lasts about 4 days.  Ben is still throwing up at least twice a day and is very nauseated. We can scarcely get him to eat, which is causing his Ketones to rise, which is causing him to be more nauseated. We really, really, really need him to eat.   Meds are staying down, praise God!

Teena

I woke up with it around midnight last night.  Ben had a rough night, but we finally managed to get hold of the neuro and had instructions to give him the Diazepam, which we did, and then Ben slept beautifully. Megan spent the night at a friend’s house, but did not get sick there, thank goodness. She wanted to stay home and be sure Ben got well, and didn’t want to leave on Nate’s birthday, but Ben was much better yesterday(I can't wait until tomorrow!) and Dave didn’t have nay work yesterday so we celebrated in the morning.  Unfortunately for Dave, he does have work today, so he’s wearing a lot of hats-mother, sick Keto dietitian, day after birthday your other festivities are canceled parent…you get the idea.

I feel like death.

Teena

Nate is thirteen today! It will be another strange birthday as I only got about three hours sleep last night, and Dave not much more. We've had to cancel some plans in case Ben is contagious, although this seemed more like food poisoning than gastroenteritis. Things did begin to improve around 8 o'clock last night-thanks for praying. Ben kept down the two important meds, not so much the Keppra. He did have more seizures than normal, and they were more intense. However, aside from a low grade fever this morning he is doing well and so far keeping down some fluids and meds.

We are trying to keep a party atmosphere around here for Nate-after all, this is what our life looks like. Illness intrudes on some of our best moments.  We had weekend plans, too. I'm not sure what will happen with those. In the meantime, I'll make a special dinner and the requested mint brownies.

Teena

He is doing a bit better, but so far not well enough to keep meds down. He is sleeping, which is of course good, but we are definitely seeing a seizure increase and an intensity increase. It is going to be a very long night. Dave and I will probably take turns sleeping.  The real bummer here is that tomorrow, at long last, is Nate's 13th birthday.  I feel badly for him, too, though I'll feel worse if we all get it and are sick on his birthday. Then he'll know how Megan felt.  UGH. We were trying to make it special, what with being a teenager and all.

On call neurology just called. We now have a medication dispensing plan.  We'll start meds sometime after 10, to give Ben time to settle even more. Usually once you get to the place where you can sleep, things are tapering off, so hopefully he can keep his meds down for the required 40 minutes.  However, unless they come right back up, the neuro felt Ben would be ok as long as we could keep the meds in him in the morning, and as long as he doesn't get dehydrated.  

Did I mention that Ben was dispensing kisses on the lips to all of us this morning? He was all sweetness and light and we couldn't resist...

Teena

Please pray for Ben. He has been vomiting every 10-15 minutes for the last hour. If it doesn’t stop, it most likely means the ER for him tonight as he won’t be able to keep meds down. It looks to me like this is sick, not Ketones, but is still dangerous as we need his Ketones to stay down, and they will rise if he can’t eat.

Thanks

Teena