Birthday Week

In our family we get to decide when our "birthday week" starts. Last week the toddler and I were both really sick. Coughing, achy, hoarse voice, and no energy to do anything. I thought since everyone was getting better that the birthday week could start, but the baby woke up Monday with a cold. I decided that sometimes life isn't fun and birthdays just come and go.

All day the baby was fairly happy, sometimes sleeping, sometimes not. Then it hit me that at least I could put him in his crib and he would cry a bit, but was starting to consistently take that morning nap.

By Monday evening I was a bit worried about his stuffiness and breathing. I called the doctor and got an appointment for Tues. Since I'd gone through a breathing episode with the first born, I am a bit paranoid. Then I realized that at least at this point I knew what was going on and what I could do to call the doctor before the baby's breathing got worse.

That night the baby went into a restless sleep. The husband, who was starting to get sick, was worried, and slept in the nursery so he could listen to the baby's breathing. By morning I was ready to go to the doctor. The baby did well, but he was wheezy. The doctor confirmed it and we gave the boy a breathing treatment. By the time we got in the car the baby was relaxed and fell asleep in the car seat. As I went through a drive-thru to grab some lunch I realized that lately I could get to places in the car without the baby constantly crying. That he was sleeping while I went through a drive-thru. Almost a miracle that I hadn't noticed.

After I got home I needed to go get the boy a nebulizer. We were going to have to pay for this out of pocket because of insurance changes. A friend called and offered to let me borrow hers. I realized that the medical bills wouldn't be quite as high as I thought.

That evening and this morning we gave the baby a breathing treatment. He cried some, but was almost happy during the treatment. I realized that indeed this baby was a bit more laid back about treatment than the first born.

I started thinking. This time around we've have a wonderful support from our church, we've had my family helping, I'm not in the deepest pit of depression, and yes life isn't so bad.
Sometimes birthday weeks are wonderful times to realize how much you have to be thankful for.