Illness Abounds, 02/04/2004

I've not written in awhile. I don't even remember where I was when I last wrote.

It is cold and yucky here. It's been that way for awhile. They've predicted "the big one" all week. Tonight I finally decided it looked yucky enough out there to pack up some files and my laptop to bring home in case I get snowed in with the kids and/or the husband tomorrow. I just watched the news and it doesn't look very likely. I imagine it'll be slippery in the morning but not world stopping.

We took the BoyChild to the ER again this week. He'd been fine. A little runny nose but he wasn't cranky, wasn't running a fever, was eating good and didn't act the least bit under the weather.

He went to bed like normal between 8:30 and 9:00 with the Husband and I following about 10:00. About 11:30 (there's something about being awakened from a deep sleep by your moaning child that's truly distrubing) he woke us up with his moaning. He wasn't crying or coughing but moaning. And we went in to check on him and he was wheezing. Big, pained wheezing sounds with every breath. It sounded like he was actually struggling to breath. My throat closed up, my heart started to pound and for an instant I wanted to barf. I had images of him not being able to breath and me not being able to do anything for him. It was scary.

We thought maybe he was just upset but after he got fully awake and obviously wasn't upset the wheezing continued.

We debated the options. Take the GirlChild to Baba and GranMa's and both of us take him to the ER. The Husband take him and I stay home with the GirlChild. I take him and the Husband stay home with the GirlChild. Finally we settled upon I take him to the ER and the Husband stay home with the GirlChild; I would call if I needed him and he could take the GirlChild to Baba and GranMa's or bring her if a problem arose.

The BoyChild and I had been spending a lot of time alone together the last week or so.

Thursday night the Husband's school had Parent Teacher Conferences. The Husband took the GirlChild with him. Hey he doesn't have any students,he's the In-House Suspension guy, so there weren't a lot of demanding parents wanting his time. The GirlChild enjoys the time at the Husband's school. She gets lots of attention, not just from the Husband but the other teachers like her as well. So the BoyChild and I spent all evening together alone, playing and watching TV and reading.

Friday night the Husband and the GirlChild and the BFFEIS went to the hockey game after the Baba hurt the GirlChild's feelings. She came home from school all excited by three tickets to OU's hockey game. I didn't even know OU had a hockey team but apparently they do.

She told me that Baba would love it. It was OU after all and she was going to call him and she and Baba and Daddy were going to go. So she calls. And when she said "so you wanna go with me?" instead of saying "gee, honey, I wish I could but I have to bath the cat tonight" he said "no." That's all. Nothing to soften it. Nothing to make her think he appreciated her thinking of him. Just "no."

I was sitting here watching her and it was painful to me. Her whole body language changed. When she called she was sitting up tall and kind of wiggling. But when he said "no," she sagged like she'd been hit. Her tone of voice changed and she said "o.k." and hung up the phone. And she promptly burst into tears. Man talk about wanting to punch someone.

So I sent the GirlChild downstairs with the promise of a Pepsi and 30 minutes of television. And I called the Baba and chewed on his ass. He said "I'm tired." I said so you couldn't say "Gee, I'd love to go, honey, but I'm tired tonight. Maybe another time." So he said "Why don't you go instead and I'll watch the BoyChild?" "Because JERK I didn't actually say that she wants YOUR attention, she wanted you to go, because it's OU and she just knew you'd want to go see OU play."

The really sad part is I really don't think he gets it. The GirlChild is alwasy looking for something she and Baba can do together. She wants to do things with him. She wants his attention and tries hard to figure out what they can do that he would like. Since the BoyChild was born she's become aware that the Baba really likes the BoyChild and I think feels slighted that he doesn't seem to like her as much. Some day in the not to distant future she's not going to be interested in him or what he wants and he's not going to understand.

So Friday night, except for being pissed at the Baba, the BoyChild and I spent another pleasant night playing with trucks, and reading and generally having a good time.

Saturday night was the fundraiser at the GirlChild's school. I felt bad (I had the croup before the BoyChild) and decided to stay home. The Husband went because we were committed and the GirlChild went because all her friends were going to be in ChildCare. So the boychild and I ate chicken and rice soup and played and read and had a generally good time.

Monday night the GirlChild had basketball. I came home early, well early for me, and stayed with the BoyChild while the Husband and the GirlChild went to Basketball practice.

And Monday night he got sick.

We had the same uninspiring doctor as the last time. He listened to his chest and said "how long has he been sick again?" and listened to his chest some more. Took some chest x-rays. Gave him a shot in the leg (I think that's when the BoyChild decided the ER was no longer a fun place). Gave him some sort of breathing treatment. We got home about about 3:00.

We took him to the KidDoc the next day. He said the shot would make the symptoms go away quicker and I think generally tried to make the Husband not feel bad for rushing him to the hospital for croup. The BoyChild has that awful barking cough now. He doesn't act like he feels bad. I think he kind of likes the resulting horseness because it makes him sound different. We've got him sleeping under a humidifier and that seems to help. If we could just get one big enough for our whole house.

The GirlChild has remained well through this bout of disease in my house. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she won't get it next.

Peace,
M&Co.