A sick little man...

"Croup is a condition that causes an inflammation of the upper airways — the voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). It often leads to a barking cough or hoarseness, especially when a child cries.
Most cases of croup are caused by viruses. Those involved are usually parainfluenza virus (which accounts for most cases), adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Croup is most common — and symptoms are most severe — in children 6 months to 3 years old, but can affect older kids, too.
Most cases of viral croup are mild and can be treated at home, though rarely it can be severe and even life-threatening. Some children are more prone to developing croup when they get a viral upper respiratory infection."

And when 'they' say BARK, that's exactly what it sounds like!

It all started with a morning of whining. Me, being an amateur 'mommma' thought he was just playing me(as he usually does) when we head for daycare.

All morning long, I had my phone in my hand, expecting 'the call'--telling me that Tanner needed to come home. And...at about noon, there was 'the call'.

"He has a slight temperature, come get him, please..., " said the voice on the other end of the phone. Nanna went to get the little darling--she said he was a bit whiney and that the medicine brought his temp down, but that he was playing fine. By the time I made it to get him at Nanna's house, (I thought, as I walked down the hall that they must've gotten a new dog) I heard it....the most painful cough I've ever heard...followed by a wheezing gut wrenching cry.

My heart screamed.

That night was filled with many MANY tears, trips to the steamy bathroom to see if I could help his 'bark'....to no avail. I even tried the 'ol 'stick his head in the freezer' thing...nope..didn't work either.
My night was sleepless. Somewhere after 2am, I slipped away into a delirious cat nap, only to awake to the burning flesh of the little person that wheezed next to me. I jumped up like someone had electricuted me, ran and got more 'fever reducers' and juice, stripped off all his clothes (by then, he was WIDE AWAKE, laughing at me--of all things)doing everything I could to help the little guy out. Eventually, his fever did come down...only to scare me to death after his nap when he seemed to be struggling to breathe. That was it! DOCTOR TIME! Yep, the kind Doctor confirmed it, Croup. We took the round of steroids--which eased the gross barking, only to lead to an Upper respiratory infection and bilateral ear infections...YAy! (side note here...so cute..but kinda gross...Yesterday morning, Tanner woke up with the ickiest snot plasterd all over his face and in his hair ---instant hair gel!!---his eyes were matted shut....I picked him up out of bed and he said in his most pitiful voice, "Momma, Eyesssssss!" He couldn't open his eyes due to the muck! )So, yesterday we hit the 'ol doctor again for some antibiotics. He woke up this morning, nearly his normal jovial self.

I know all parents and children go through the sleepless nights, aching hearts because their kids are sick...This was just my first REAL bout with it. The complete and utter love for my little man...the helplessness I felt ---the sweet hand that touched my face as I prayed over him...priceless....