The Family Sickhouse

Towards the end of last week, I noticed a tickle in my throat.  "Uh oh!" I said to myself, as I suspected that Nathan had come down with a cold a couple of days before.  I knew at this point that I too had picked up the nasty virus.  Thoughts ran through my head like, "Ben is going to get his first cold!"  and  "How are we going to get through a newborn AND a sick household?" 

I was totally frightened Thursday when I woke up with a scratchy throat and a headache.  I asked Chris to stay home on Friday to help me out, thinking that I would be sicker that day.  Luckily though, I still just had a scratchy throat and a headache.  I thought to myself, "This thing is so mild. . .no problema!" 

Saturday and Sunday were mild days for me too.  Nathan seemed to be coughing more and much to his delight, we began giving him medicine (Nathan loves medicine and thinks it tastes like candy)!  By Sunday, Ben started showing signs of having contracted this bug.  He was sneezing little, tiny baby sneezes and had a runny nose.  Chris began suctioning his nose and taking him into the steam room.

Today, we checked for fever early in the morning to see if Ben needed to go to the pediatrician again.  So far, he has been quite fever-free.  Truth be told, Ben has been very high-maintenance today.  He is wanting to nurse every 2 hours or so.  He seems to be having trouble calming down to go to sleep without nursing.  So, I am doing my best to appease his needs.

I am sicker than ever before today.  I have had to take cough medicine and tylenol to soothe my cough and headache.  Maybe that's why Ben cannot get to sleep well in my arms alone.  I hope and pray that we will all be better sooner than later.  I also pray that Ben will remain fever and infection-free this week and that this will truly be a mild cold for Benjamin's first!