RSV

It's been 2 weeks from today when we first heard that innocent cough. At first we thought he was just choking on salvia...because I swear this boy is teething. He is constantly chewing on his hands and drools like crazy. So we didn't think much of it...on Sunday though, his cough started to sound more like a cold and the congestion started to roll in. He wasn't sleeping well either but no fever, so we assumed he picked up a cold from daycare. We sent him in on Monday and when Joe dropped him off, his teacher let him know another infant in his room was confirmed with RSV over the weekend. Awesome. I think we went through denial that day...hoping he had somehow avoided it. During the night, his temper started to slowly rise and things were getting worse, so we decided I would stay home and take him in that next morning. They did the nose swab and it came back positive. There is nothing we could do, other than to treat the symptoms. And because he is so young, the doctor wanted to see him back the next day to make sure things didn't progress into an ear infection or pneumonia. So we went back in the next day and things had stayed about the same...but the doctor thought he could return to daycare on Thursday, so that's what we planned...until 5am Thursday morning rolled around and I heard the wheezing. UGH. So I stayed home again and we went back in. This time, they gave us a nebulizer to use 3-4/days...ever try to make a 4 month old breath from a nebulizer...impossible unless they are sleeping. And he hated the nebulizer so it  was not fun. I ended up staying home on Friday as well, since the doctor wanted another followup. So 4 days of precious PTO used, 4 doctor visits and $80 in copays later, we were finally on the mend. He has been in daycare all week but the cough has lingered, although it has improved tremendously.

I also have spent the last 2 weeks sleeping in the rocker...at first it was to help him breathe and sleep. Last week, he could barely breathe and would choke on the mucus in this throat, so I slept with him upright. This week, he can sleep flat again but now he is used to sleeping on mom and breaking that habit has been hard. Especially when you have to work the next morning, you can't afford to lose that much sleep. One of the biggest lessons I've learned over the past 4.5 months...you do what you have to get through the short term and you worry about breaking the bad habits later. I know I used to be a lot more judgmental before becoming a mom...but once you are a parent, you understand that getting through the moment is sometimes all you can do and you'll deal with the consequences later....that it's future Laura's problem :)

So we survived the first big illness with some bags under the eyes but nothing that a good night's sleep won't cure (if and when we ever get that chance, of course).

My sick little dude...so glad he's doing better now!