Contagion

Well, it took almost fourteen months, but this week you caught your first cold.  I've worried a few times before that you were getting sick, but this time it completely snuck up on us.  You went to bed a bit late after Sunday night dinner last week, and woke up crying at 10:30.  You cried off and on for a lot of the night.  When I sent your dad in to get you in the morning, I could hear how stuffed up you were even from across the hall.

Even though you weren't feeling well, your dad and I couldn't believe what a little trooper you were.  You played with your ball and hockey stick all day, and just needed a bit of extra cuddling.

Then day two of the cold set in.  It was so sad to see you -- all you wanted to do all day was snuggle in my arms on the couch.  We watched tv and didn't even make it outside (which probably would have helped you, but I just couldn't figure out how to get us both ready when you felt so miserable).  You napped a bunch of times (some of them in your crib, some sprawled across me).  Those naps in my arms reminded me of what the first many months of your life were like -- when you refused to sleep anywhere but in someone's arms, on someone's chest, or nestled next to someone in bed.  I was so sad for you.  I just wanted to be able to make you feel better, or the very least explain to you that this was just a cold and you would be back to normal soon.

For the next few days, you hardly ate anything at all.  You played a bit, but mostly moped around and asked to be held and carried a lot.

By today, you seemed to be starting to feel better (minus one cough-until-you-throw-up incident this evening, which (though you might not know this about me) is one of my fears in life.  We both survived, with minimal swearing on my part.)   Hopefully you will be back to normal tomorrow or the next day.  You're such a happy guy that it breaks my heart to watch you feel sick.  I know as you grow up there will other bugs you catch, but this first one feels like a hurdle we had to get over.  And we're just about there.  I don't look forward to other germs that find you, but when they do, just know I'll be there to cuddle you on the couch until you feel better.  Unless you think you're going to throw up.  In that case, you should probably go see dad.