Is he sick...

So life with baby for the first couple of months was great. It was a huge adjustment but we were getting along just fine. I was now back to work and I have to admit that I kind of liked it. Don't get me wrong, I wish I could stay home with my son or even just work part time so I could spend more time with him but there is something good about getting out of the house everyday to be in the company of other adults. It is hard to be home alone with a baby all day. I feel for my husband. It has been difficult though because by the time I get home from work, I am tired and just want to relax and play with him. But my husband has been in the house all day and wants to go out and do something. It is hard to balance both of our needs as parents.

Anyway, the baby had been healthy and happy, reaching his 2 month milestones. Then one day he was at my parents house and I heard what I thought was a scratchy throat when he was babbling. My parents thought he sounded fine but I was his mother and I could tell there was something not right with his voice. I let it go and he seemed fine.

The next morning, he was sniffling, sneezing and coughing. He sounded horrible. I knew he was sick but I didn't want to raise the alarm just yet. It was a Friday. I sucked his little boogies out of his nose. He let me me use the booger puller at first without a fuss. But then he was on to me and everytime I came near him with it, he struggled and screamed. I was persistant though because he couldn't breathe. I also started using saline drops/spray. It loosened everything up and I was able to get more when I went in for the suction. It never lasted long though and I felt like I was constantly digging in his poor little nose.

And his chest was rattling with the mucus. I felt so bad for him. I gave him his bottles very cold to soothe his throat and I bought some baby VICKS and rubbed that on his chest and feet. I put a cool mist humidifier in his room at night. And that was really all I could do.

On Saturday morning, I was started to become alarmed. He was so young and his chest and breathing sounded so bad. I had read somewhere that if they take more than a certain number of breaths in a minute that means they are struggling to breathe. I called the doctor and they were having Saturday hours. I had to wait a few hours and I was almost to the point of panic. I wanted to bring him to the emergency room. But I also didn't want to overreact.

When I finally got in to see the doctor, they checked him over. His ears were fine. And she said he didn't have anything in his lungs. I was so relieved. She said it just sounded bad but there was nothing to worry about. The only thing I could do was to wait it out and keep doing what I was doing.

He wasn't eating very much so I was concerned about dehydration. He never did get much of a fever and he always had wet diapers so he was ok. But he was just so pitiful. I could tell he was very uncomfortable and there was nothing I could do for him.

Two long weeks later, he got better. He made it and we made it through his first illness. Now I would be better prepared for the next one. Hopefully it won't be for a long time.