This is the first time we've ever had it.
And with any luck, it will be the last.
Friday, February 06, 2009
croup
At 3 AM the terrible coughing began. I'd never heard anything like it and I was afraid my baby was going to choke and stop breathing. Later in the day, our pediatrician diagnosed croup in three of our four children. He suspects the fourth will come down with it before the weekend.
This is the first time we've ever had it.
And with any luck, it will be the last.
This is the first time we've ever had it.
And with any luck, it will be the last.
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That HONK HONK brings me back to childhood when I had croup or my baby sister. Sitting in a tent or lying under a tent... those were scary times for me. Sorry to hear Henry and the kids are ill.
ReplyDeleteRooth
Oh! Man! Your poor babies.........Poor you and Charlie!
ReplyDeleteLove, Lisa
I am so sorry. Croup is the most miserable sickness. It just sounds so scary - even when they are on the mend. I think that you are a wonderful mother, and I have loved your blog for years. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteOH, croup is terrible. They sound like little seals and you wonder if their poor throats are raw. Along with the steamy bathroom, our doctor recommended taking them out into the cool night air (probably just right where you live) that seemed to work faster than the steam.
ReplyDeleteKeeping good thoughts for you.
Oh I am sorry, I hope they all feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteKathy
My thoughts are with you because I have been there many many times with my daughter. Our battles with croup usually end up with a trip to the hospital in the middle of the night because she has begun to turn blue. I have found that the best way to ease a croup attack is to sit with her in a steamy bathroom until her breathing calms and then expose her to the cool night air (either by taking her outside or just sitting next to an open window). I hope that this will be a one time experience for you guys.
ReplyDeleteKimberly
Just to forwarn you...and please don't be upset...my daughter who is 6 brought this virus home with her from school last week. The pediatrician told me Monday that it was croup. It's now Friday and we are taking her back to the doctor today. She has gotten ALOT worse since Monday. When we were there Monday, the doctor told me that I need to watch her extremely close because around our city, croup is turning into pneumonia REALLY quick. So, I'm hoping that is NOT what Jaelynn has, but even more so that your children do not get any worse. Croup is horrible and it's really bad around here this time of year. I realize that we live 2500 miles away from each other, but I wanted to warn you just in case. I hope they feel better soon and HOPEFULLY the fourth baby won't catch it too! :(
ReplyDeleteIt's awful, isn't it? My youngest had to be rushed to the ER in the middle of the night it got so bad once. So scary.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone is better soon!
So sorry to hear about the croup. Tate is a croup veteran - and you are right to be scared - Derrick and I have had to rush Tate to the ER on no less than 3 occasions (2 last year!). Tucker had it last weekend. Hang in there! It goes as fast as it comes - and of course they seem "fine" during the day . . .
ReplyDeleteJessica
oy, both of ours had it while I was staying with friends during our bathroom remodel (our only bathroom at the time). Such a weird and SCARY sound, that cough. It should pass quickly. And sitting in all of that steam can be good for your pores. ;)
ReplyDeleteI wish you LOTS of peaceful sleep when this is done with.
Our little guy gets it all the time since 5 months. Though it is triggered by a cold or virus it is the airways getting inflammed and the kids have a narrowish airway. Steam never really helps us unless we run a vaporizer at the first sign of the "bark".
ReplyDeleteMost of the time a cold blast of air from driving with the window down will bring the inflammation down (we do this on the way to the hospital and then turn around if he stops). This Christmas we had to make a trip to emerg. when that wasn't working. They take a little face mask with a vasodialator medicine and move over there face (some hold it there and that is an awful 10 minutes) then once it seems to have opened up the airways they give them an oral steroid that will calm the croup for 3-5 days.
Watch for ear infections next. In our house it's runny nose, croup, ear infection. Good news that this is the first time though- that must have been some virus.
I'm so sorry. Sick babies are the worst for a momma's heart. I'll pray that your little ones find comfort and healing quickly!
ReplyDeleteThe cold air worked much more quickly than the steam for my kids. One time I didn't want to go outside so I just opened the freezer door and we just spent some time "looking for the popsicles" together. That worked too!
ReplyDeletePoor family! I hope you get well soon!
Oh yes --- I had one child that was my 'croup kid'. I've been where you were in that sweet picture so many times. Cold night air does help too. The ped. even let me keep a liquid 3-day-dose steriod on hand for her.
ReplyDeleteI hope it is short lived and they are breathing easy soon.
I LOVE that picture.
ReplyDeleteWe are croup veterans here too. We've found a Vick's warm mist humidifier works wonders. It also peels paint off of the shutters, so be careful!
I hope they are all better today. Looks like you set up a great croup steam room. I had not heard about the night air.
ReplyDeleteLove,
MOM
Ask you ped for a neubulizer and some meds they can inhale, like Pulmicort and Albuterol. I am surprised that they didn't offer that up to you or at least some steroids to help the situation. The steroids work extremely fast.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Hope the kiddos are OK!!! I'm off to Costco to get some Lysol... just kidden.... hope Shayna doesn't get it!
ReplyDeleteI guess I was lucky. Only one of my daughters had it one time. Never had to rush her to the ER. As many have said, cool night air and hot steamy rooms help to calm the cough. My ped. said it's the difference in temp that helps the cough stop and helps them breathe easier. A different from the environment they've been sitting/sleeping in. Hope it passes quickly and you don't have to make any late night trips.
ReplyDeleteJody
Oh my gosh! Your picture sitting in the bathroom steam, takes me back 40 years when I sat like that with a sick, sick little guy. I have never forgotten how scared I was that night! My heart goes out to you. Hope they are soon better.
ReplyDeleteOh we've had it this week too. I'm so sorry. I hope they feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteOh and because I just read what Susan said....she is right, I had two with croup on Monday night...now I have one with walking phenomena, one with bronchitis and the baby has a respiratory infection.
ReplyDeleteWe too use cold night air...seems to work better than steam. And I think there are studies about it, but I'm not sure...
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best for the next few nights. Hang in their you poor things.
illness aside, that picture is so beautiful.
ReplyDeletei hope your babies are better soon!
Oh I remember those days! Alexander suffered from croup. That horriffic cough!! Try propping up his pillow as well. It may help a bit. Alexander finally out grew it when he was 7! Long nights but memorable ones...
ReplyDeleteI remember sitting in the shower and then wrapping him up in a warm blanket in the middle of the night. We would make pictures on the mirror in the bathroom and then we would rock outside after the steam bath listening to the sounds of the night most often the noise of a train in the distance.
Glad it's over for me. So sorry it's started for you.
Sweet picture.
Love, Marg.