damn jellies

Todd and I are convinced that Gordy is a jellyfish magnet.  He's only 5 and he's had 5 pretty bad stings already.

Yesterday we ventured to the windward side of the island for a going away party for our friends.  Gordy was in the water for a grand total of 5 minutes with all the kids before he listed his arms out of the water with a look of concern on his face calling to me.  When I got close enough, I saw the blue strings that were wrapped around his arms.  So, I carefully unraveled the tentacles from his arms trying not to let them sting him any worse than they already had and we hustled up the beach to a friend who had a spray bottle of vinegar on hand.  We doused him with it and then he decided he was ready to go back to playing on the sand - such a trooper!

All was fine until the night came.  His arms swelled up and red bumps appeared in long lines where the tentacles had been stuck.  We spent the night taking warm baths, rubbing on anti-itch cream, and laying with heating pads.  All of which, only marginally helped.

As of this morning, he's had his third dose of benedryl and he's painfully itchy.  Thank goodness he had his spring suit on, or he may have had more of a fully body issue like last time.

Damn jellies!