The past week has been filled with nights of little sleep; I've been up for hours most nights with Maddie or Riley or both, consoling them as they cough and cough and cough. The Mads has been the worst-hit by far, to the point that I finally took her to our pediatrician's drop-in hours this morning just to make sure that yes, it really is just a cold and no, there really isn't anything to do but ride it out. And so we do. The doctor on duty did advise giving Maddie some Benadryl before bed to dry her nose out a bit and prevent the nasal drip that is likely the cause of much of the coughing. We gave it a try tonight. Fingers are crossed. Last night I shot out of bed at 11:00, ripped awake by the sound of Maddie gagging on post-nasal drip, so I'm really hoping the Benadryl helps out. She was so scared, poor baby.
We've tried honey and Vicks on the feet, we run a humidifier on Full Tilt in the twins' room at night, and yesterday I even resorted to letting Maddie have a lollipop in the middle of the night figuring it was the closest thing I had to a cough drop. I'm not sure that any of the folk remedies are helping, but at least the delighted look on Maddie's face as I gave her straight honey one night and a lollipop the next made the hours of wakefulness somewhat more tolerable.
I've entered into that zone of exhaustion that takes me back to the newborn days (or should I say: daze). This makes being a proofreader/boss of proofreaders a tough row to hoe during the day. Thank goodness for coffee. That's what I have to say about that. I've found, though, that while my sleepiness might make work a rough go, it makes the evenings with the kids almost easier. I'm too tired to keep up my sometimes ridiculous standards. I let my guard down and relax. We had a great night tonight. I fed them "picnic dinner," a catch-as-catch-can affair that's on the menu at least once a week at our house: cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, crunchy green beans. After dinner I let them have a cookie for dessert (new parenting philosophy: Why The Hell Not?) and we watched a Dora video (see new parenting philosophy). After the video, Maddie and I took a shower together while Riley watched, then I let Maddie cavort around naked while I pulled Riley in the tub and washed him under the running faucet (he is anti-shower). Then is was milk, pjs, stories, and bed.
Maddie and Riley are both sleeping peacefully for now. Maddie did cough up a storm right after she got in bed, but drifted off fairly quickly, and Riley chatted for nearly 30 minutes, such a sweet thing to listen to, before he succumbed. Laundry is humming in the basement. I'm about to pour myself some wine and read my book club book, Michael Chabon's excellent Mysteries of Pittsburgh, for an hour before Grey's comes on.
I don't want to feel this woozy exhaustion all the time, but for tonight, it is what it is. Time for a date with my couch.
Moi
- Snickollet
- I'm a mother and a widow, and a whole lot of other things. Here, though, I tend to write about parenting, grief, and their intersection.
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25 comments:
Oh my, the benadryl was my friend when my two were little and had bad colds. A tough call to determine (admit to myself) that it really was time to stop giving it to them at bedtime ... I hope Maddie gets some sleep - and you will, too.
... leslie
I hope the benadryl works. It does help a lot with sleep. Hope you can get some rest tonight. Isn't it amazing what we can handle when we have to?
Benadryl is great. Around here, we find that milk is the enemy when our kids have colds. It seems to cause more mucus production and exacerbate the problem.
I agree with anon. When I was a kid my mum wouldn't let me have milk when I was sick, as it tended to make me more mucousy.
Not a criticism! Just a rememberance.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the Benadryl lets all of you get some sleep, and that the sleep helps with the cold getting better!
You need to read the book Momfidence by Paula Spencer. It will help you be easier on yourself.
I know, when is there time to read, right? But seriously, check this one out. :)
Yes, Benadryl will help. I am trying really hard to just "let it go". I like your picnic idea, that might be us tomorrow night. You are an awesome mom! Have a nice night.
Is the book really excellent? I haven't started it. Oh boy I'm gonna have to do a marathon read this weekend.
And I thought Grey's wasn't on tonight?
No Grey's in the Boston market tonight - Patriots are on! But it's being aired starting at 1:05 am (yes, I am a geek with a DVR).
I went through the same coughing issues with my youngest, and she was finally diagnosed with asthma. She used a nebulizer for about 2 months, and now nearly 2 years later she is maintaining on Singulair. I know you just saw the doc this morning, but it's something to think about, if the coughing is really so pervasive. Good luck - I hope you get some sleep!
Going back to the newborn days is never good. But I love your "Why the Hell Not?" philosophy. I've been subscribing to it lately, myself.
Hope Maddie starts feeling better and you all start getting a little more rest.
I'd also recommend having her sleep on an incline as much as possible to help with the drainage. Hope that helps...
When my youngest had the nasal drip they told us to cut back on the milk, apparently it makes the snot thicker. I dont know for sure, but I believed them.
Adding a couple new principles of parenthood are so refreshing!
I'm glad you could relax into a calm evening! Here's hoping everyone gets a better night's sleep tonight!
Sorry the kids have been sick, but I do think you have a great attitude. Our ped always suggests plain corn syrup over honey to thin mucus. Not to be confused with high-fructose corn syrup, which is a totally different thing. It really works well for my gaggy guy--hope you don't mind the unsolicited assvice. We do the lollipop thing too--and the occasional DVD when they're sick.
In addition to the Benadryl (which The Boy is on every night as a preventative for his eczema (never fear - doctor-prescribed)), we also use a waterless Vicks vaporizer. It comes with refillable little Vicks-saturated pads that fit into a little warmer with a neato green nightlight to boot. Seems to help around here, but good luck!
I dunno if it is Mr. Coffee or what, but a much more relaxed, happy, peaceful person has replaced the harried, stressed, angry person.. and for you I am glad, and for the kiddos I am glad. As for the sick BOO :( My grandma would tell you to tie a fried onion poultice around her neck (please don't!!! ICK) but I say, snuggles help the best.. I am 23 but I find sometimes if I am sick and someone comes in with a pat pat and a sip of water/cough syrup etc in the middle of the night makes ME feel better. I dunno if she would go for it or not but you might try getting her a back rest (I saw a cute Dora one with a matching fleece snugli blanket at walmart or target the other day!)and getting her in a sort of upright sleeping position, I have suffered from chronic sinus, post nasal drip, coughing etc for years and laying flat or even just on a pillow is not much help. Or before bed... turn the shower on super hot and get the room all steamy let her breath it in.. and it should relax the airway.
'Why The Hell Not?'
Good for you for finally getting it! ;) Nothing wrong with a cookie after dinner (a healthy dinner at that) or watching a movie together. I am sure on the average day your kids get tons of stimulation, relaxing together a good thing.
Benedryl. Kids are 11 now and doc still recommends it for colds, she believes it dries things up and the kids less likely to get ear infections. Not to mention it helps them sleep ;)
Ooh BENADRYL. Brilliant! We're sick around here, too, and the nights have been rotten.
I call it the Path of Least Resistance Parenting but I applaud your What the Hell attitude and hope you decide to carry a bit of it into the future.
Glad you had a good night.
With my daughter it usually halps to put the headside of the crib on two thick books.
Also, Benadryl is sold as a sleep aid as well...what a coincidence! :-)
Try Zyrtec. I find it lasts longer than Benadryl and also makes them sleepy.
I went through this last winter. I never felt so alone as when the kids were sick.
I like the Path of Least Resistance Parenting as a term for it. Noa had cake for breakfast.
Oooh do I feel guilty knowing how hard the twins got hit with this thing. Sorry.
Cut the dairy until she's better!
oh, i hope they sleep well for you! my boyfriend's gram makes me drink chicken broth thats been boiled with half an onion and TONS of cayenne pepper. it works! but obviously the kiddos wouldn't be able to handle the heat. good luck tonight! i hope its a restful weekend as well!
Oh, no, I hope my DVR caught Grey's at its later time! Damn Patriots.
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