First swine flu. Then croup and baby's second hospital visit. Now a blizzard. It's been a busy week.
Axel has made a full recovery from the bug.
Jonas was then struck down by what I thought was the swine flu. Turns out it was regular old seal-bark cough, gasping for breath croup. Croup, like the sort that Axel had a minor interaction with last year, that I thought I could handle. Croup that landed with such force that an all-fronts croup attack plan - steamy bathroom/cold night air/humidifer - was no match for it. It quickly turned into stridor, into noisy struggling for breath, into nightime panic, and we had to make a 3 am visit to the hospital yet again.
The only good thing about two hospital visits in less than four months is that you don't have to fill out all of the paperwork the second time around - you're already in a database you don't really want to be in. Oh, and you know the best place to park. Other than that, I can't really recommend it.
After a breathing treatment, a dose of steroids, and a comfortable nap in a set of warm arms (for Jonas) and an uncomfortable sleepless night trying to settle in a stiff chair or on the exam bed (for his mother), we got sent home. We didn't even have to stay a full day. No offense to the warm and friendly nurses and doctors, but I'd rather not see them again. Ever.
Two days later, Jonas has again mastered the art of breathing. Breathing, as any asthmatic knows, is not something you want to have to think about. One croup attack before six months sometimes means that more are coming. I hope that Jonas hasn't inherited my sometimes faulty lungs along with the reddish blonde hair. He can have my hair, he can have the same dimple, and he can even have my deep adoration of the brownie, but my lungs? Take after your father on that one, kid.
On a much more cheerful note, we're ending the week with a blizzard. A little snow is good for the soul - and a little cold air is good for a recovering croupy kid. The world gets colder, cleaner, slower, quieter.
On our agenda for the rest of the week: first snowman of the year, attempt at making snow angels, mugs of hot cocoa, first time demanding candy from neighbors and strangers, and Axel's second birthday. Good things.
And no more sickness. We've had our allotment of germs for the year, I think.
