January was not so kind
Heather | January 31, 2010 12:06 amThe year 2010 has not been kind so far to the Atchley family. Shortly after Christmas BJ got sick with bronchitis, Sophia and Phoebe minor colds, and then I got bronchitis. While we were all recovering from that, BJ’s Grandfather died on my mother’s birthday–January 10th. The blessing is that he died peacefully, in his sleep, next to his loving wife. Who could ask for a better way to go? Almost as soon as the funeral was over and all family returned home Sophia got sick again. Only a couple days after Phoebe got sick. I mean to say, the girls got VERY SICK, particularly Sophia. We had her into her pediatrician twice and urgent care once. She had a strep test, a flu test, an x-ray, and finally an RSV test to confirm her doctor’s suspicions. She had RSV and she had it bad. Her doctor said kids her age don’t get it that bad (usually) because their lungs are larger than all the babies and tiny kids you hear about going to the hospital or dying from it. We started her on breathing treatments right away and what a difference just a few made!!! ***Which leads to believe that she may have some underlying asthma that has developed. She will be seeing a specialist this Thursday, more on this story later.*** This poor kid had gone days with horrible fever and not getting enough oxygen and no food. We were lucky she didn’t end up in the hospital, and I am glad that I as a mother kept pushing and taking her knowing something wasn’t right and this wasn’t a normal virus like she has had before. She was simply just too sick for that to be the case! She is still on the mend, only a few coughing fits and minor sniffles. It is good to have my old Sophia back…..Phoebe too!
However, amidst all this I got sick AGAIN with a nasty cough and sinus infection. I am still sick with it–go figure. So, having been sick once again at the same time as my children I have really started to think about the way the world works and mother’s being sick in general. I have come up with 3 philosophies that I wish (sigh) could be oh so true:
1. Mothers should not be allowed to get sick. Ever. However, upon further thought I can understand how this could be a problem. If a mother were never sick then how could she have true compassion and empathy for her children (or spouse I suppose) when they get sick??? It would affect, I imagine, in how she would care for them. I still believe strongly in my first idea, but I can at least recognize a flaw in the plan.
2. If a mother is to be sick (I must face reality here) then she should NOT be allowed to be sick at the same time as her children or spouse. Simply put, it makes for a crankier, messier, more unruly household.
3. When a mother does get sick (and this is me really about to get into fantasy land here) she should be taken away to a place that is like a 5 star hotel meets a hospital. She would have a doctor, nurse, and pharmacy readily available to diagnose, test, and treat what ails her. However, it would have the appearance and comforts of a plush hotel. Her family should not be allowed to visit her, because c’mon, if they do then they risk getting sick which means as soon as mommy is healthy she is simply going back home to a bunch of sickies. Do I need to point out what would be wrong with THAT picture?! Furthermore, while mom is recovering in her hospi-tel her family will be taken care of. “How” you may ask? A maid also comes with this wonderful package. We don’t want the dads to have it too easy or become complacent, right ladies? The maid will only need to perform 4 tasks where needed: do the laundry, grocery shop, cook meals, keep house clean. Now, I have been looking at this plan and can’t see a flaw this time? Any other ladies reading this see a problem? Have a way to improve it? Do tell!
February is just around the corner. Be kind.
And full of health.
Please.
Categories: Heather
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2 Responses to “January was not so kind”
Yuck! Icky bronchial ickiness! I hope you all get feeling much better soon! Good for you for pushing about Sophia’s RSV. Nobody knows your child like you do!! I hope she doesn’t have asthma, that’s no fun in the long run.
I just need to add another note about Sophia’s sickness. At one point her fever hit 106 even… at least by one reading. Otherwise it was up to as high as high 104s. Yes we were very worried. Heather’s post doesn’t really convey the worry that was in our house at the time. Sleepless nights as I coudln’t go more than an hour of sleeping without checking on her temperature, breathing, and sitting aghast at how hard her poor little heart was pounding. She was well taken care of, but we were at our limits with how much we could do to help her recover.
One very said sad effect of Sophia being sick is the suggestions and interpretations by the large number of nurses in our extended family. My mother is one of those nurses. She has worked in various NICUs over the course of the last 25 years or more. In some ways she relates things via her experience or sometimes is only telling a story about her experiences with a particular illness. I have inherited some of her traits. Sometimes I don’t fully express an idea or a thought, or appear distracted while telling a story. I get that from her.
One particularly worrisome night she made an off the cuff remark to my dad that “None of the children she has seen that are admitted to the hospital with RSV have survived…” Now Poppi thought his precious granddaughter (who he loves dearly… possibly too much) was going to die. I don’t think he slept at all. Thanksfully my sister (Bekah) resolved this by clarifying the mistake. Any child admitted to the NICU with RSV is in dire straits. If you’re above 18 months old it typically isn’t that bad, usually manifesting like a typical cold or respiratory flu. Poppi was relieved, Nana has promised to be more careful with her anecdotes, and Sophia will be able to read this one day and give Poppi a hug for having worried him so.
Care to comment?