I’m trying hard to relax. I’m failing. I envisioned this summer to be a nonstop orgy of baby – mommy fun with trips to the park, fun at the pool, and long walks learning all kinds of new and age appropriate words. While we have had some of that, and I have not yet taught him any of my awesome swear combinations, I am not relaxed.
That thing I couldn’t quite put my finger on this weekend? Well, yes of course, it is croup. Four nights of no household sleep to be had due to a waking, screaming child. Today’s hoarse voice and raspy naptime cough finally pushed me to call the doctor.
He played in the waiting room. He played cars with a 9 year old girl. He then tried to literally play with a pretty teenage girl by rubbing his hands up and down her bare leg. (Strangers say, “oh it’s ok” …no…it’s not.) He played in the examination room. He had no fever. Smiled at the doctor, patiently sat through his examination, mimicked the stethoscope by pressing a stray plastic outlet cover to his chest, and ran off to the corner with my cell phone. When I took it away – then the cry and the raspiness was completely apparent. He may not have a full blown viral case of croup but he needs steroids.
And thank you God for steroids.
While I am laying in bed at midnight with a thunderstorm raging outside, my son is doing this:
- zzzzzzzzzzzzz Thunderstorms? What thunderstorms? zzzzzzzzzzzz
Although he has his issues, and they are, umm, more than I ever hoped for, I keep it in perspective by remembering that there are so many children and parents who deal with chronic life threatening health issues. Every day.
We are not those people.
Yes, we must be vigilant. We must administer medicine whether it is yucky or not. We must go to the ER when the seizures come and and won’t stop. But we will get through this and so many don’t.
We have so many blessings and while a toddler who has now learned both the concept and the word, “MINE” and is not at all shy about using it can be annoying. It’s a blessing. What if he had no words? What if he had no understanding?
So yes, honey the cars ARE yours, but if you launch them at mommy’s head then they are never, ever coming back again.
Do you understand THAT yet?
All in good time.
