The Toxic Household

The entire family is now sick with parainfluenza (which apparently has 4 strains, 2 subtypes, and considerable amount of snot associated with it). Even though we're all feeling cruddy (quite literally), I do think we're on the mend. In the realm of TMI, all of our noses are non-stop dripping faucets right now. I like to think that this means that the virus is clearing.

Hallie is barking a whole lot less, is coughing not at all unless she's in the supine position and swallowing the aforementioned snot (this post is not for the faint of heart) and, most importantly, wants to play. She is working hard on her fine-motor skills by grasping the mask on her albuterol spacer and pushing it away as forcefully as possible. (We take heart in this struggle of wills: While Hallie doesn't seem terribly interested in pushing her chest up off the floor when she's in tummy time position, this is clearly not related to any lack of capacity to push, just a lack of desire.)

And for the most important milestone of all: I finally succumbed and did something I swore I would never do--I sucked out Hallie's nostrils with a nasal aspirator. I must say that I have had a lot more fun in my life, what with her struggling against me and all, but if it helps her feel better, I'll do anything. I guess that that's the ultimate definition of motherhood.

Anyway, hopefully all of this croup related crud will be a thing of the past by Monday. I'm beginning to miss the concept 'coffee' (which I hate when I'm sick; at all other points in life, I am addicted to the stuff)!