The Cold

It finally happened. The Boss caught his first cold. It isn't surprising considering the germ buffet the Sisters bring home from school. We had turned our house into a bubble dosing every living thing with hand sanitizer, but when the weather changed, the Queen graced our bubble with her cold. I fell victim first and the little man quickly followed. Despite the nose suctioning, steamy showers, tons of TLC and lively puppet shows by the Monkey, the Boss got worse. After a quick trip to the doctor, the cold turned out to be an ear infection and RSV.

According to about.com "RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a virus that causes cold-like symptoms in most people but can cause serious illness in infants." Because the symptoms are very similar to a cold, it can be hard for parents to know that their child has it. I can vouch for that. Both my girls had RSV when they were infants, and I still can't recognize it. The symptoms are runny nose, coughing, wheezing, listlessness, apnea, retractions (pulling in) of the chest wall, rapid breathing, and coughing. It was the coughing that prompted to take The Boss into his pediatrician. After a day or so with a stuffy nose, he started coughing to the point that he couldn't catch his breath also he was sleeping more. My kids don't sleep...ever. Other than that he was still happy and never ran a fever. My advice, when in doubt always check with your doctor.

Treatment for us has always been breathing treatments with a nebulizer three times a day. The Boss hates his breathing treatments. But despite his loud protests, the treatments have done wonders. Modern medicine is amazing! Plus, his little mask looks like a dragon. Isn't that manly! We are glad he is feeling better and look forward to when his treatments are done. Maybe he won't get sick ever again? Yeah, but I can hope.

Notes From the Boss

My mom is making it sound nice, but I know the truth. RSV is a really small virus. What kind of virus? A dragon virus! Yep, it is the virus that turns little boys into dragons. Of course I hate my stupid breathing treatments because it is a dragon's breath and that kills the very small dragon virus. Mom says it will help me breath better, but what about the dragon virus. That's right. My dream of being a little dragon is being squashed. Just think of it, flying through the air and breathing fire. I could have a marshmallow roast while flying around the world. That would be so cool. I know, I know who could ever love a dragon. But, the monkey read the book Who Wants a Dragon to me, and the mommy still loves her dragon. So, the way I see it I'm good.