Or is that Day — The new night?

Who knew?! Apparently nighttime is no longer for sleeping. I guess that's just an old, out-dated notion that only fuddy-duddy folks like us parents ascribe too, right? In other words, "Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as sleep deprivation torture." And my son is acheiving rapid mastery of the techniques, I gotta tell you.

Up from 10 to 12:30 last night, again from 1:30 to 3:00 a.m. this morning. Awake at 6:30. Not the pleasant, "Golly it's the middle of the night, isn't this a swell time for fun and games" awakening. Nah. More in the "OHMYGODMOMMYMOMMYMOMMYPLEASEWAKEUPRIGHTTHISVERYMINUTE THERE'SSOMETHINGTERRIBLYWRONG!" kind of way. Worked like a charm on this mother.

Ok, in the kid's defense —because that's what any good mother does after a night of intensive sleep deprivation does, right? —he's still feeling really crummy. Feverish off and on, even with the overlapping of both Tylenol and Advil, and —I'm guessing —achey with a sore throat. The general cruds. His longest stretch of sleep last night —and therefore mine, as well —was a whopping 2.5 hours.

Six-thirty this morning and the fever and rash were back. This mysterious rash seems to come and go as the fever escalates. I've heard that this happens but we've never experienced it with Nik before. It's a tad disconcerting to watch the red splotches creep up his leg in front of my eyes, only to disappear just as quickly as soon as I pick up the phone to call the doctor. (Do you think the rash can hear me dialing? Could it possibly recognize the number??) Poor little guy (um, that would be Nik, not the rash).

Obviously he hasn't learned the trick for staying awake after conducting his maternal torture sessions. I brought him downstairs, changed his diaper and gave him Tylenol (Advil plus empty stomach equals tummy ache). He was singing happily on the sofa.

In the time it took me to walk ten feet into the kitchen and start to prepare the pump for his breakfast, he fell silent. When I turned to check on him? Out cold. Four and a half hours.

We are going to the pediatrician again this afternoon —with photos of the rash. Let's see, I think this makes six trips in seven weeks, not counting the two round trips to the hospital this weekend.

But really, who's counting??