A Looong Week

Thank goodness for Labor Day weekend. We were really in need of a 3-day weekend after our laborious week of being sick. It all began last Sunday evening with a bit of fussiness -- a different brand of fussiness, that is, from the typical demanding toddler fussiness. No fever though. I hesitantly dropped her off at daycare, and sure enough, got a call 30 minutes later. As it turns out, Leila had an ear infection. That was Monday. By Monday evening, I was feeling fussy in my own way: achey, lightheaded, and short of breath. Tuesday was defined by Leila and I sleeping on the couch most of the day, in between Motrin doses and fluids. By nighttime, something seemed seriously wrong with Leila, so I, fueled by adrenaline, gathered together Leila, Leila's things and my own limp body for a trip to the ER. Oh, it was horrible. We were there for 3 hours, which was more time than I'd hoped for but less than I'd feared. Her fever had spiked to 104 and she was coughing a terrible cough. She then proceeded to puke on the P.A. who ordered a catheter test of her urine, a blood sample, x-rays and nose swab. The nurse then switched us to another room, with a different doctor, who opted only for the x-rays. The x-rays confirmed croup, so the doc gave Leila a dose of steroids to reduce inflammation in her lungs and throat. And we were free to go and begin our challenging road to recovery. Finally, by Saturday, Leila was fully rid of the fever, though her cough still lingers, and she's still working her way through the antibiotics for her ear infection.

Here's some pictures we took before the icky sick week. Below, taking the ol' wagon out for a cruise in the neighborhood. She can really get some speed going.
What's the matter, Leila? Speedbumps get you down?Sitting on her self-designed booster seat of stuffed animals, and pretty proud of herself. Clever girl.
"Goodnight Moon," a Leila favorite.