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One of the joys of parenthood that I didn't anticipate before having children was just how often the kids would get sick, and just how many of those times I would be nursing them while struggling with the same vicious germs. I'm not sure whether this happens to all moms, but somewhere around 80% of the time that my kids get sick, I also catch the same bug. When they were younger it seemed like we could practically write off an exam room at the pediatrician's office as a second home. Now that they're older they don't get sick quite as often, but when they do it wallops the whole family. Case in point: Everyone in my home has the flu.
It all started innocently enough, with Jack running a fever on Friday evening. To be honest, the thought of flu never crossed my mind. After all, the boys had their flu shots this fall. By 3:30 am Monday morning I knew Jack was in trouble, he had a terrible asthma attack (his asthma never bothers him unless he has a cold/flu). I had to give him repeated doses of his medicine and throw him in the shower. The steam opened up his lungs a bit, and he was able to rest until 8 am, when I packed him off to his doctor. My older son, meanwhile, was moaning in bed. We gave him some medicine and my husband stayed home with him.
Jack's doctor decided to admit him to the hospital until his lung function was better, so of course I stayed with him the entire time. Which would have been fine, except that I was feeling like I'd been chewed up and spit out by the parenting mill. Monday night was SOOO long. I was resting on the standard hard-as-rock hospital foldout chair, waking every hour to a parade of nurses and respiratory technicians. I was grateful for the excellent care they gave Jack, of course, but I felt so terrible. At the same time, I was mindful of the impression I must be giving: Spaced-out mom slugging NyQuil at her son's bedside. Nice.
Now we're home again, so all I have to worry about is the 'roid rage: Yes, Jack on steroids (prescribed to bring down the inflammation in his lungs) is quite an experience. At least the yelling stretches his lungs. As for me, all I need a rest from my sick days!
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