Maybe not everything's funny

Last night was rough. We haven’t had a night like that in about six months – as in before Allyson was sleeping through the night.

Allyson’s got diaper rash. Horrible, terrible diaper rash. Diaper rash that wakes her up in the middle of the night screaming bloody murder. Diaper rash that makes my normally happy little girl a screaming, heart wrenching painful little thing to watch.

She’s never had this happen before. I’m not one of those Moms that lets her sit in wet diapers. I’m pretty anal about it if you ask me. So I was at my wits end trying to make her feel better and every time the solution I came up with failed I could feel my heart break that much more.

It started when I got home from work. Steve said her had changed Allyson and she fought him the whole time he was doing it – her bottom was just red all over. She’s usually pretty good about getting her diaper changed. When it was time for bed and I was putting on her PJs I noticed that she was still dry so I just peeked and saw the same thing. I figured I’d just let her be…no use in making her feel any worse.

Bedtime was 8 pm. The screaming started at about 10:15. Thankfully Steve and I were still up watching TV. Usually when the kiddo cries once she’s in bed I let her go for a few minutes – she usually goes right back to sleep. This time things were different.

Picking her up out of her crib I noticed that she was jerking backwards any time I put any pressure on her bottom. Poor thing – I knew she was in pain. I could tell that she went number two and took her to her changing table. Here’s where it got really bad. She wouldn’t let me near her with a wipe. Kicking…screaming…crying big huge tears. She was in so much pain. I tried a warm washcloth, a cold washcloth. I yelled at Steve to draw her bath…I needed to get the yucky stuff off of her somehow. The bath was even worse. Hot water and hot baby bottom was not a good combo. By now Steve and I were feeling like the worst parents on the planet.

When I got her calmed down, naked girl in my arms wrapped in a blanket, she seemed to be doing a bit better. I let her run around the family room sans diaper for a little bit. Things were better…until she peed. Oh lord…screams all over again. I called my Mom, hysterical, who prescribed hydro cortisone cream (which I had Thank God) and cornstarch (also had it – YES). Steve and I laid her down and administered the remedy. The cortisone cream seemed to help. We were able to get the diaper and PJ’s back on.

Unfortunately, the only time my kid will sit and cuddle with me is when she’s not feeling well. I love these times, but hate that she has to suffer for it to happen. We rocked in the chair and watched Private Practice until she decided it was time to go to bed. (She’s been telling us “buh-buh” and waving when she’s ready to sleep – adorable). I put her in her crib on her side and let her fall asleep.

Then I broke down. Hysterical – seeing my kid in that much pain was the worst. Steve was able to talk me down but… 3 am – it started all over again. At least this time we knew what to do. I was able to get her changed and calmed down a little quicker but –UGH–it was bad.

The morning was better. We’re slowly getting there. Her poor bottom is improving, but this has been a real rotten 24 hours. You win some, you lose some while parenting. This one we figured out a little late. Thank goodness she’ll never remember it. Maybe only ready Momma’s blog sometime. :-)

~Becky