So. DS is 4 months old and has come down with RSV. Coughing till he gags up his bottle of formula he just drank, leaking tears, snot and drool constantly, occasional fever etc. Poor baby is SO good natured he's still trying to smile through all the sickness and tears at whoever he sees. Not sure how he got it - he's only been to Dr appts with me lately, no daycare or anything. The Dr told us Wednesday that it wasn't safe to take him to Joplin to visit both families for Christmas. My Grandpa was having a MASSIVE Christmas with all the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids at one time from across the country. First time for this....and we have to cancel. My family is very understanding, although they will miss us, they're more worried about DS than anything. In-laws....not so much.
MIL makes it sound like we are faking the illness to keep DS away from the family at Christmas. Multiple family members told DH to just "Take DS to the hospital make them give him medicine to fix it, then bring him down." Um no, there are NO medicines safe for him at this age, he just has to recover on his own unless he needs fluids or oxygen or suction. We would be exposing several other little ones to it as well, including one who is already sick AND has asthma. NOT a good baby to get RSV. MIL doesn't care, she'll just hold DS and he won't be a problem. Forget that he's contagious, very tired and more cranky than normal, plus he hates riding in his carseat when he's healthy, never mind when he doesn't feel good!!!
DH is backing me that we aren't going down, altho he does keep saying maybe he'll be ok by Christmas. But I just....don't understand someone who cares more about showing off their grandkid, than the child's actual health!!! I think this is just a rant, I don't like bashing the in-laws to people IRL for worry it would get back to them. Needless to say, I am quite glad I don't have to see MIL for awhile.
So we are doing Christmas at home - a first for us as Christmas eve and Day are command performances with the in-laws. I need to find something to cook to make it special but with DH and I both sick with something and DS sick, I'm not really up for a grocery store run anytime soon...
You're doing the right thing Marie. When it comes to your baby the best thing is to hear what other people have to say and then do what you think is best.
I sometimes feel sorry for the paternal in-laws when a baby comes into the family. I think there is an added layer of insecurity when it's not your daughter's baby. Not in my experience but the Dad's parents can sometimes be very unrealistic in their quest for 'fairness' when it comes to baby time.
I hope you all do feel better soon even if you don't travel.
Thank you all. We took him back to the Dr this afternoon and his oxygen levels had dropped. They did a breathing treatment and suction and they went back up. The Dr said he's definitely sicker, and we might have to come back and do it again in the morning. Definitely not allowed to travel, right now we're just praying he doesn't spend Christmas in the hospital...
This must be so hard on your whole family. I'm sending best wishes for your poor little baby for being so sick and for you for being so worried about him. I hope all of you feel much better in a few days.
Thanks, he is a real sweetie! His oxygen was low last night but it was better this morning. They did another suction treatment and said that hopefully, things will improve. Cold symptoms may last for several weeks, but at least the wheezing will hopefully be gone in a short while. Thanks for all the good wishes, I appreciate them! I gave DH benadryl since he didn't sleep hardly at all last night and he's snoozing on the couch. Hopefully he'll feel better when he wakes up as well!
DS is improving. Still coughing, but he hasn't coughed up a bottle in 2 days now - yay! He's also being more playful and more awake so that's reassuring. DH is still miserable and swearing his head is going to explode from sinus pressure. I tried to con him into trying one of my flaming hot chicken wings last night, promising instant relief but he wouldn't buy it. He doesn't tolerate spices well, much less hot things!
Even if The baby were alot better tomorrow I would still stay home.
I would not be predisposed to try and please any family members in the future that still tied guilting me knowing my child was sick.
And really, even if no one was sick you have the right to stay at your own home and have your own traditions for Christmas. Maybe this year can be the start to some new traditions.
Yeah, MIL just called and was saying that if we felt like driving down in the morning feel free because everyone else is sick... Wow. What an incentive!! I just had to shake my head in disgust. Adults and kids, running fevers and sick, and of COURSE we want to drag our sick selves 3 hours down there and back in one day. Nope nope nope. I bought a turkey roast and stuff for sides and we will be JUST FINE!
Well we had a lovely Christmas at home. Lots of movie watching and snoozing by the "boys". I made turkey roast, mashed potatoes (new one for me) and an apple pie. DH was happy and was able to skype with his family for awhile while I finished lunch. I know we'll get pressure to head down asap to "make up" for Christmas but since DS had several episodes of wheezing etc yesterday, I'm very happy we stayed home!
Thanks for the well wishes and thoughts. Its nice to see the small daily improvements in the pipsqueak and DH is able to breathe most of the time again
Marie, just the three of you was a nice way to spend your baby's first Christmas. Maybe one of you can arrange to have just the tiniest of sniffles next year, so that staying home will be your holiday tradition. I'm glad you all were feeling better
Ha - living - amen!! MIL is coming up New Years Day so I am trying to make plans to spend the day with my sister. We'll go somewhere nice to eat that I don't want to take a baby to, go shopping or something. The less time I spend with MIL at the moment, the better. Still very annoyed over all the guilt-tripping selfish demands that we come down. So I'll have some good sister time
Just catching off after being gone too long from this board...
Marie, I remember oh-too-well the 'joys' of having a sick baby at Christmastime. DS is 33 and now experiencing those same joys. As a doting and besotted Nana, I would just like to say your MIL is a total idiot.
Hope all 3 of you are feeling better and that you thoroughly enjoy your time with your sister!
-- Edited by kinalikamom on Saturday 29th of December 2012 08:19:33 AM
He doesn't tolerate spices well, much less hot things!
