"Our week with......"

RSV! Yep, Elijah Brooks contracted RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) from who knows where. He doesn't even go to MMO anywhere. My guess is Wal-mart. Jay, can I please shop at Publix now?? Just kidding.

We have had one sick little boy this week. I noticed 6 days ago, that he was starting to drag alittle bit and was coughing off and on. The cough was nothing to be concerned about at that point though, just sounded like an allergy cough and one that I have heard many times. However, the next day his cough started to sound more like a deep "bark". His energy level was relatively the same, but the cough was becoming more frequent. Monday night, he was up a few times. I thought he was just getting a really yucky head cold. Tuesday, his cough was steady and deep and he was running fever. Tuesday night we got about 2 hours of sleep total, as did he, because of his coughing. His symptoms resembled a head cold, except for the cough. It was unmistakably something more than just a head cold. After the terrible night Tuesday night, we headed for the doctor on Wednesday for his 2nd sick baby visit in 2 years. We have been so blessed. They did a strep culture, which was negative, but the RSV test came back positive. If any of you have dealt with this before, you know there is no "quick fix". There are no antibiotics you can take because it is viral not bacterial. Now if this goes into something bacterial like an ear infection, he could get an antibiotic. But for now, the doctor's instructions are:
1. Keep him comfortable
2. Push fluids like his life depends on it
3. Keep him cool and keep his room cool

So, that's what we are doing. I have actually been fixing him a "treat" to drink, or so he thinks. He has been sipping on lukewarm water mixed with a tsp of honey and a tsp of lemon juice. Fortunately, he is drinking a ton. However, he has not eaten anything in almost 48 hours. He just has no interest in food right now. I offer it all day long, but so far his answer is always "no tank yoo". I am making him fruit smoothies with some wheat germ and spinach leaves thrown in there so he is getting at least some nourishment.

Today is Day 6 of it and he is still running fever and coughing his little head off. His head congestion is out of control, so I am doing lots of saline nasal spray (which he doesn't like, but tolerates). I don't know if it is helping or not, but it can't hurt. I think he tolerates the spray because he knows he gets, "baby nose rub" afterwards! He likes the "all natural" baby rub that I rub underneath his nose. He also likes to have his chest rubbed with "Baby Vicks" rub and take a bath in "Vapor Bath".

I have to brag though (and it's my blog so I can), he has been the most compliant, sweet, tolerant sick child I have seen in a long time. He has not once complained or whined about this, even though I know he feels miserable. I can see it in his weak eyes that he feels terrible, but he truly has not whined once. He gets this trait from his Daddy and NOT from Mommy! The only thing he has said is "bad cough" when he coughs. He is just taking it in stride. We have been doing lots of cuddling and rocking and just spending time together. Since he can't be around other children right now, he and I have been taking drives in the country to look at the cows and horses while listening to his favorite CD's in the car. He is starting to ask for "the drive" now, and I am secretly loving this precious time with him. It has been so therapeutic for both of us to just drive and listen to music. We have no agenda and do not have to be anywhere at any particular time. We have just been driving country roads until I feel like turning around. The weather has been absolutely beautiful too, and we have both just looked out the windows at beautiful land and animals. He doesn't say much on "the drive" except for the occasional, "mommy wuv yoo", and that's all I ever need to hear.

I really am so proud of him for how he has handled this and will be so thankful when he is healthy again.

Here are a few pictures from the week. And yes, they were all taken on the same day. I just didn't feel right about snapping pictures of him at the beginning stages of this. I waited until he was feeling somewhat better - and that was today! Although looking at these pictures, his eyes still look so weak.


Drinking LOTS of smoothies, otherwise known as a "moothe"


Watching LOTS of "shows"


I highly recommend this 3 DVD set of Classical music, art, and dance for children. It is great exposure to all 3 art forms from various genres and wonderful for exposing the ears, eyes, and mind to the different sights and sounds of the arts. Thank you Bebe and E-Daddy! We love them!


And doing LOTS of puzzles and reading of books


And MORE reading.....




And LOTS of this......


and this......


and definitely THIS......