I hate it when babies have coughs. Maeve did it to me--a little bit of asthmatic bronchitis last fall put me on edge, where I guess I've been living ever since. Sophia is so healthy (knock on wood?) and Maeve has been sick every month for the last 15 months. It looks like Leo is more like Maeve. He's on cold #2 and this one has led to an ear infection. So he's got gooey eyes and a sore ear and a cough.
I know in my head that a productive cough that doesn't fatigue the baby and allows him to sleep is nothing to be worried about. But this has been my stream of consciousness, which should be unconsciousness considering that it's ten to three in the morning and I'm still awake (holding him at a 45 degree angle):
It's just a cough but does it sound musical? What is a musical cough anyway? Why couldn't the baby book use a more appropriate description? Or maybe come with a CD of cough sounds to compare to? That would sell, you know. I would buy it. Fever? Is this a fever? Why didn't I get new batteries for the thermometer when I was out this morning? Then I'd know. At least sort of. Maybe a new thermometer would be better. Or an OLD one. Like the old ones with the mercury. That's what I need. Or the red line, what, is that alcohol? How many breaths per minute is this, anyway? It seems normal, but maybe. No, it's ok. Maybe the next time he coughs I can try to retrieve mucus to examine. Because that wouldn't be crazy at all. If he's asleep and his nostrils aren't flaring and his lips are pink and his face is normal, Bridgett, it's ok. But what if I go to sleep and then it isn't ok?
And I'm just post-partum enough to go down the road too far in my head, you know? So I turn on Netflix and watch the pilot episode of Red Dwarf. Consider and then reconsider Law & Order. Realize that yes, I am hungry, and no, there's not much I can do about it here. Hope that Mike can take over the vigil in a few hours so I can get some sleep before church. And what, do I take him to church? Thing is, he's probably not that sick. And I have sundowner's syndrom by proxy and need to just go. to. sleep.
With him in the crook of my arm, of course.
Did I just hear Maeve cough upstairs?
78. Quilt #4 I think 2012
-
I think this is the 4th quilt of the year. This one is a baby quilt, about
45x45, for the school auction/dinner/thingy coming up next week. One of the
ele...
5 days ago
3 comments:
It's no news that, in first-world countries, the immense majority of babies grow into healthy, normal adults. The real miracle is that mothers manage to survive as well.
Ah, yes. I've had these nights. I hope you both got some rest and that Leo's feeling much better this morning.
I spent countless nights in a recliner in your situation -- afraid to go to sleep but dozing off and on til daylight. Things always seem worse to me during the night. I hope you're all doing better.
Post a Comment