Nathan's Bites

**Update below**

Nathan and Luke went to a birthday party Saturday afternoon, and they had a tremendously fun time. They ran around outside and had a huge water gun fight, then they ate dinner and watched a Star Wars video.

Sunday afternoon Nathan mentioned that he must have gotten bit by something, as he had this spot on his belly that was red and itchy. It had these black marks in the middle, which made out pastor's wife ask if he had written on himself with pen.

In this picture above, he has scratched off the black parts, so they are just redder and more bloody. They were definite puncture marks, though.

We had him put antibiotic ointment on the bites, as well as anti-itch cream. Sometimes Nathan would put ice on it, and he has also been taking Benedryl. Here's what it looks like today.

This is actually a bit of an improvement, in that the skin around the original bite area had been really quite hard, but it is softer again. As to why there is now a spreading rash--who knows?! We're thinking about taking him in to the doctor, but I just don't know that they would be able to do anything other than what we've been doing. It's not infected or anything, and it's not making him feel sick or anything. Just itchy! This is where having a doctor nearby might be nice, LOL, as opposed to 40 minutes away on the Beltway. You definitely can't accuse us of leaping off to the doctor's office at every little twinge!

This has not affected Nathan's ability to play football this week (first week of contact!) or to watch marathon hours of "Lord of the Rings", which we are borrowing from the L's to watch while Caleb and Jonathan are not home. So I would have to say his quality of life has not been suffering too much, LOL. As a side note, does it seem like Nathan is the only one who these sorts of things happen to? Does anyone else remember Nathan's amazing technicolor Christmas rash back in December 2007? What is up with that boy and mysterious skin rections?!

**Update** We did not take him today, but I would say that his belly is finally looking a bit better. It's not as red and swollen. The rash spread all the way around his right side, but I don't think it is spreading any more. I think the bumps of the rash are becoming a bit more separated, as opposed to one big red blotch! Tonight we stayed up late and watched "The Blindside", and again, his belly rash did not hinder his enjoyment, LOL.