Baby always getting sick

[sstaples]

I have an 8 1/2 month old son and a 9 year old daughter. I am a SAHM so my son does not go to daycare. We go to a mommy and me workout group twice a week but his health problems came before we started the class. Until he was about 4 months old he was completely healthy. No problems at birth, gained weight the way he should, etc.
At four months he got pnuemonia. He was really cranky (very out of character) and lethargic. Had a cough, the whole nine yards. He never ran a fever so it took a while for them to do the X-ray. He was put on an antibiotic for it and it made things so much worse for him. His pnuemonia got better but he could no longer digest his food (something about his body not reacting well to taking an antibiotic at such a young age). We went through a month and a half of him screaming all the time, day and night. We finally found a formula that worked and then he got bronchitis. After that he got strep throat (so much for babies not getting strep). As soon as he finished his antiobitic for strep he got pink eye in both eyes and a double ear infection. Another antibiotic. The last day of his meds he started getting a stuffy nose and a lot of congestion. Now he has croup, 5 days after he finished his last meds. He has an appointment tomorrow morning but I am at a loss. I breast fed for 3 months then went back to work for a while so I couldn't do that anymore. I am a clean freak. My house is sprayed with lysol all the time, I clean every day to make sure there isn't a spread of germs, my daughter is mostly healthy (except for asthma and allergies).... Am I just an freaked out mom or does anyone else think that being sick for four straight months is not normal? He almost never runs fevers when he is sick which makes me think his body is not even trying to fight the infections. Am I crazy? His doctors just keep telling me that it is a bad run of luck for him.
On top of this, he still isn't crawling, and really not even trying. He won't hold a bottle himself unless I put his hands to it and make him, he won't hold his own sippy cup either. I know all babies are different but he just seems to be going a little slow. He eats great, and has even started grasping with his thumb and finger to eat cheerios... Anyone think I am just being over protective?

[myboysmom]

he probably isn't crawling b/c of all the illnesses! Poor little guy's probably weak. It's just so bad when your little ones are sick. And, in my personal opinion (personal, mind you), I think a few germs around the house are a good thing. If they are never exposed to anything, they're body can't get used to it, or fighting it off. Like I said, MY opinion only. For your and his sake, I hope it IS just a string of bad luck and not an immune thing.

[sstaples]

Oh, I agree that some germs are good. I didn't start trying to kill them all until he started always getting sick. We have dogs and I am sure my daughter brings stuff home from school. I just wish that he would be healthy for a week, a month... A day! I worry that his body isn't fighting this stuff off for another reason.

[ra11en]

I so feel for you!! It is so hard when they are sick and we can't seem to make it better for them, or even figure out what to do most of the time!

Some babies don't crawl, they go straight to walking. At almost 9 mo, I can see why you are concerned, but he isn't delayed in walking by any means so you just can't tell yet. With all his health concerns, he may just have too much going on to be bothered by crawling. :) A very good sign is his finger coordination - my daughter was extremely delayed in that area so I know how easy it is to focus on a delay and be so worried. Is he rolling over really well, sitting up on his own, all that good stuff?

As for being sick so much - my heart goes out to you. I've been there. For almost a year and it was soooo tough. Even my boss was starting to remark on my inability to complete a full week at work. From ear infection to ear infection, then surgery to insert tubes because of all the ear infections, then the flu, then horrible allergies, then she came down with a UTI so that enlisted lots of tests and specialists in hospitals which was just a horrific experience, it was just crazy! We could never go a week without something new popping up! She ran fevers left and right, came down with colds constantly, etc. I really thought I was going to lose my mind, which is easy to do when sleep deprived and worried. Like you, I was constantly steralizing toys, washing her hands, my hands, and making everyone else wash constantly. Nothing seemed to give us a break!

But finally it seems to be passing. Her body just seems able to fight it off better for some reason. It's been 3 months (knocking on wood) and she even managed to get by without coming down with a stomach virus all the other babies had at the daycare so I'm finally getting to count my blessings. Take it one day at a time, and assure yourself that this too shall pass. And the bright side is that you are becoming his hero each and every time he gets ill and you're there to soothe him. It might not be that bright, but it is something to hold on to. You are the ONLY thing that really makes me feel any better at all when he's so sick, and the bonding you are doing with him is priceless.

Good luck and wishing good health to you all!