Walking the day away.

For me, the most counterintuitive part of croup is the instruction to take my child into the cold air. But, I do what the doctor advises. This was much more difficult for Jeremy. He thought we were being irresponsibly stupid. Through our first late evening stroll, I had to reassure him that this was just what Carolyn's respiratory system needed. And, oh, how she needs it! I just returned from a 4.2 mile walk with my baby (I found the mileage from Google Maps). She loves the walks. In fact, this was her second one of the day. Her first walk was much, much shorter, but I learned that she is miserable inside the house. Then, I take her outside--and voila, she is my normal, happy baby. During our long walk today, we stopped in a beauty supply store (just for browsing), we had lunch, and we got some hot chocolate on the way home. She is sleeping--or was, I just heard her howl. I guess the nap I was planning on is no longer on the schedule.

Croup. Who knew?

So, I learned yesterday that croup is still in existence. This was one of those illnesses that I always assumed went the way of smallpox or something. Jeremy tended to use it as his default diagnosis every time Carolyn has ever gotten sick. It turns out a broken clock is right twice a day. Carolyn woke up yesterday (very early, I might add) with a raging fever and one of the nastiest coughs I have ever heard. And...apparently it is croup.

We brought her home and had a horrible night last night and a very wheezy day today. We've gone on multiple walks in the cold air to help with lung inflammation. Today, her pediatrician prescribed her a steroid. So on top of having croup we found the one medicine Carolyn doesn't take willingly. She will take her iron drops straight from the dropper (3 droppers a day!), her Tylenol, her fluoride. She gets excited for all of them. But not oral steroids apparently. We had to pin her down after she got her first taste of this stuff. I thought that some juice between attempts at medicine would calm her down. I think it would too--just not prune juice. Strike two for mama today.

She is asleep now. Please let it be for the whole night.