Another day, another sickness

Well, another 2 doctor's visits later and we have a diagnosis. Tyler has bronchio-litis. It is brought on by RSV, which can be a very serious respiratory illness for babies, especially preemies and infants under 6 months of age. After Tyler's Labor Day pediatrician visit, we saw a little improvement in his cold. So since he had been fever-free, he went back to daycare last Wednesday. By 10:00 that morning, I had received a call saying that Tyler had thrown up a lot of mucus, and did I want to come get him? Well, I did get him, and made yet another appointment with the doctor. We saw a different doc in the practice this time, and she again said that his lungs and ears were clear, so we were good there. But since he wasn't improving, she ran some blood work and discovered that we were indeed dealing with a viral infection. She informed me that unfortunately, we would need to let it ride out, but that if he wasn't better in a few days to let them know.

He did well this past weekend, but his sleeping and coughing progressively got worse at night. Then as I pick him up at daycare yesterday, I'm told that another baby has just been diagnosed with croup. Great. Just great. So I call the doc......AGAIN. She listens to him breathe and cough over the phone, and says that it is NOT croup. She mentioned bronchiolitis and asked that I make a sick appointment for the next morning. So I did.

Fast forward to the appointment, and they give Tyler a nebulizer treatment. For those that haven't had to give their infant one of these, it is no fun. Since he didn't want to sit there with the mask on and play, I had to hold him in my arma very tightly and almost force the mask to his face. He screamed, flailed, kicked, writhed, and wiggled for the whole 10 minutes. After it was over, doc came back in and listened to his chest again. She could tell a small difference, but said that we would need to continue these treatments at home. Since using the nebulizer went over like a fart in church, the doc offered another option. We are going to use a regular albuterol inhaler (like an asthmatic patient would use) and attach it to a small mask. We will hold the mask to his face, and give 2 puffs of medicine, and allow him to breathe for 20 breaths. Then it's over. And it is the equivalent of 10 minutes on the machine. So I took that route. I'll give him his first treatment this afternoon, then another tonight. From that point on, it is as needed only. And it should clear him up.....soon.

All through this though, our little man has been quite the trooper. He never indicates that he is feeling bad. He plays, he laughs, he smiles, he has fun. And he's gotten his appetite back and is enjoying his solid food again (especially peas, believe it or not!!). I know that the cough is just more bothersome to him than anything else. But we have been so proud of him and how well he has handled everything - the late nights, the MANY doctor's visits, and now the treatments. We have ourselves an amazing son,and I am so proud to be his Mommy.