Sickos

Today I am home with both kids because they are both a little sick. Yesterday Delaney was hoarse in the morning and I didn't think much of it. Then when she woke up from her nap she was burning up with a fever and was having trouble coughing or talking. I assumed croup and called the doc. They asked me to come in ASAP. We did and Dr. K thought it was likely croup or becoming croup so she prescribed prednizone (sp?). We had the humidifier cranked up full blast in her room and also took her outside to clear her lungs a few times before we went to bed. And o yeah, I am supposed to keep her away from Garrett as much as possible. Ha! The good news is that today she seems much better and almost like she wasn't sick at all. When she coughs you can hear some nastyness but all in all she seems back to her normal chipper self.

And Garrett has had a cold all week and every morning I spend 10 minutes with those darn nasal aspirators (mildly effective at best) trying to suck the snot outta him.

Oddly enough it feels somewhat satisfactory to care for your children when they are sick. Delaney is such a rambunctious girl that she doesn't often crave my nurturing or caring. But when she's under the weather she lets me fuss over her willingly. Last night I laid in bed with her for much longer than usual and read her books, told her stories and sang her 3-4 songs. She didn't want me to go and because she was sick I was bending the rules and decided to stay. It was really sweet.

I guess there are times in this whole parenting game where you question whether or not you're doing the right thing or being effective. Lots of times actually. But when the kids are sick and you spend your full energy nurturing and making them feel like you're willing them to get better, it seems easy. And it's fun to bend the rules a bit because they're sick. Like... for instance... watching Sesame Street right after breakfast and staying in your PJ's all day. :)