My Sick Baby

Laney came down with the Croup again Friday night. Nothing pricks your heart more than your child being sick. Nothing. I couldn't believe she got it A-GAIN. It was a rough night for Laney, Nana, and myself. Nana was up visiting, so thankfully she joined in on the all-night festivities with me. Hugh needed to sleep since he was preparing to work three long 10-12 hour days back-to-back as well as preparing for classes to start up on Monday for him.

Friday night was full of 20 minute intervals of holding Laney in my arms in a steamy bathroom. She'd sleep for about an hour and then I'd hear her laboring to breathe, so I'd carry her back there again. My night looked a lot like this:

• lay down with one eye and one ear open as I listen for wheezing while maybe drifting off for five or ten minutes
• guzzle a full glass of water or two (I'm sooo thirsty in this stage of the pregnancy)
• lay back down while listening
• hear Laney breathing roughly and get up
• head to the bathroom to get the hot shower and hot vaporizer going
• scoop Laney up and hold her for twenty minutes
• take her immediately outside to breathe in the cold air
• lay her back down
• head back to the bathroom use the bathroom
• guzzle another glass of water or two
• lay back down again....and listen.....and round and round we went.
  

Our goal was to get through the night without going to the ER. At one point, Laney had a 102 degree fever, possibly higher since those ear thermometers aren't the most accurate around. It broke throughout the night on it's own. In December, Laney did not have a fever. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't with Croup. But we were able to make it through the night, praise the Lord! Our app't was that next morning. I'm so grateful for Pediatricians that work on Saturdays. Below is a picture of Laney that next morning (Sat) at the Ped's office. Look at that happy girl! Despite the rough night, she still felt pretty good and started to breathe better. With the Croup, you breathe a little bit better during the day, but worsen at night.

Having Laquita here for extra help and for moral support meant the world to me. SO THANKFUL! I'm not going to lie though, I was in rough shape from no sleep, all the while trudging through the 9th week of my first trimester. I just want people to know what the real "picture" looks like when your child has the Croup. I'm incredibly tired even if I sit all day, so I was really worried about staying up all night. There were times I would almost lose my balance in that dark bathroom, with one foot on the toilet and holding her so Laney could get the thickest part of the steam. Most of the time I'd sit on the toilet though with her in my arms. I would hold Laney and just pray that the Lord help me and give me the energy I need to care for Laney all night. He did just that. He's so faithful. Always faithful. At times Laney would wake up, say, "I sleep...I sleep..." and struggle to get out of my arms and go back to her bed. She's a strong little girl! I'd sing some of her favorite songs and that would stop her in her tracks and thankfully lull her back to sleep.

Here's Laney today resting on the couch. Today was a rough day for her.

She's now feeling the sickness. She felt really badly today. This is a rare sight in our household and one I care not to see often. Poor thang! Look at these pitiful eyes.

It's 7:55 pm on Sunday night, and Laney has been asleep since 6:45. I'm hearing some serious coughing from Laney. Please pray for us. Hopefully tomorrow we'll see some improvement. Thank you.