Down With The Sickness

by Leslie

It all started with Julia catching a cold. I’m not sure how she caught it - kids catch colds, yo - but I’d been trying to convince her that it was because she picks her nose so much. Cure the cold, cure the nosepicking. Two birds, one stone. That’s what I was thinking. Anyhow, she got it first.

A few days later, Dave had it.

By Wednesday afternoon, I had it.

And by Thursday, my three week old baby had it and I officially became THE WORST MOTHER KNOWN TO MAN. Not only did I allow my newborn baby to get sick, I GAVE IT TO HER.

It really was inevitable. She spends 89.6% of her time within two feet of my face - the place with three germ spewing holes. The good news is, I also have these amazing breasts that produce extra-super-fantastic-miracle milk. So, we settled into bed for a nursing marathon, hoping that the power of the boob would prevail over the sickness.

By Friday, the sickness had come on full force and I was miserable. Lucy was congested. Julia was all better and completely bored with being stuck at home with sick people. Dave was making requests for me to get some of his jeans in the laundry and, well, let’s just put it in the form of an equation in which BP = Bored Preschooler, IH = Insensitive Husband, SM = Sick Mommy and CB = Congested Baby:

(BP + IH) (SM + CB) = BP In Washing Machine + IH Beaten With His Own Pants

I spent the next twelve hours doing everything I possibly could to make Lucy feel comfortable. In between feedings, I administered saline drops. I held her in the shower with some Shower Soothers. I ran the vaporizor. And I woke up this morning with a pulled muscle in my back from holding her in crazy positions that opened up her nasal passages and allowed her to sleep.

She seems to be feeling better. Her congestion has cleared up enough to allow her to sleep soundly next to me as I type to you. And the fact that I’m blogging right now rather than sleeping could mean that I am A) crazy or B) a genius who has figured out how to survive without sleep altogether!

Posted in Mommy's Stuff, Julia, David, Lucy |

Comments

6 Cool Kids Came To Play

Karly on May 10, 2008 2:08 pm
You aren’t a bad mom. You can’t help it if you get sick! Glad Lucy seems to be on the mend. Hopefully you are feeling better too!
Toni on May 10, 2008 5:16 pm
I bet it’s “B”.
Mackey on May 10, 2008 7:37 pm
Ohhh honey….that is the first thing I thought of when you posted a few days ago about Julia being sick. Sick babies= no fun for anyone.
Hope everyone is back to normlal soon.
Veronica on May 11, 2008 9:49 am
Oh no!

Thank god for miracle boobs with their awesome milk.
Jen in MI on May 11, 2008 10:06 am
Huge hugs and chicken soup to all of you! And happy, happy Mother’s Day! I hope that if Lucy is needing uber-care right now, that you can celebrate next Sunday.
Daddy Forever on May 13, 2008 12:52 am
I hate it when the baby gets sick. I feel so helpless. On another note, you and Dave should stop picking your nose. Otherwise, you’ll get colds again.