All of my best blogging intentions have gone out of the window recently, as I've had the most exhausting week. On Monday, I spent the morning in work for some training, and when I got home with Giles I noticed that he had a really bad cough. He had been suffering with a cold the previous week, but this seemed to be worse than just the sniffles. By Wednesday, he was wheezing and refusing feeds, so we took him to the out of hours GP, who examined him and told us to take him straight to A&E, where he was diagnosed with bronchiolitis.
Bronchiolitis is a viral infection in which the bronchioles in the lungs swell, become full of mucus and can be very painful. As it's a virus, there is no treatment for it. It's something that lots of babies develop and it usually only causes mild symptoms. However, Giles has got a particularly bad case of it, meaning he needed nebulizer treatment to clear his lungs, as he was having to work hard to breathe. We had to return to the hospital for more treatment on Thursday, and he was almost admitted. Thankfully he is doing a bit better now - he still sounds like a chain smoker when he breathes, but he is drinking his milk again and I'm not checking his breathing every five seconds.
As you can imagine, everything else has gone out of the window this week. I'm getting about two hours sleep a night, and spending the rest of the night rocking Giles, as it's so hard for him to get comfortable enough to sleep. Being a parent is a worrying business at the best of times, but it's worse when your child is ill. Hopefully he has turned a corner now and will make steady progress this week. The doctor expects it will take several weeks to clear completely, but we should be out of the worst of it soon. His first tooth is also pushing through, which only adds to his overall discomfort levels!
One thing we have managed to do is decorate the Christmas tree. Every year we buy a new bauble, and this year we purchased a personalised Christmas tree decoration for Giles' first Christmas. I love the tree being up and the lights twinkling away.
How was your week?
Oh no, poor Giles! I hope he continues to improve this week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'm really glad he is over the worst of it now.
DeleteOn no, the poor dear! Being sick as an adult sucks, I can only imagine how uncomfortable it is for a baby and how worrying for a parent -- I will admit, I dread the day my baby who isn't even born yet first gets sick -- I know I will be a nervous wreck for sure. I do hope he's out of the worst of it as soon as possible & hang in there mama!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's horrible that you can't explain to him what is going on, and that the only way he can communicate is by crying. I'm doing good, just absolutely exhausted!
DeleteOh wow. I followed your updates via Twitter and I has so sad to lear little Giles was ill. I'm glad he's doing better and I'm sure he'll be fully recovered for his first Christmas. What will Santa bring him?
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to sleep some more time, Sam. I worry that you'll get sick as well. Oh, if I lived in England I would love to go round and give you an extra hand.
I'm glad he is going to be well for his first Christmas :) I'm sure Santa is going to spoil him, but he would honestly be happy with some wrapping paper to scrunch up and chew!
DeleteThanks so much for the thoughtful message Elena, I love that I have met people as lovely as you through blogging:)
Sorry about Giles, and that is an adorable ornament.
ReplyDeleteI love the ornament, we got it personalised at a Christmas market near us.
DeleteIt's so scary when your baby is ill. I'm glad to hear he's past the worst of it and hope things get brighter as the days go by.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary, being a parent is a stressful business sometimes! He has been really happy this morning and sounding a lot better :)
DeletePoor baby Giles! And poor you! My sister had really bad asthma when we were kids, and she was always having to do the nebulizer treatment. It's no fun for anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe doctors kept asking me if there is a family history of asthma (there isn't), which had me worried. Hopefully it won't come to anything.
DeletePoor little Giles! I'm glad to hear he is improving. Having a sick little one is very stressful, so I understand how your blogging plans went out the window.
ReplyDeleteYour tree looks very pretty :-)
It has been stressful, I've just been doing my best to spoil him in any way I can :)
DeleteHow scary for you! I'm glad to hear Giles is doing better - I hope you have a better week.
ReplyDeleteThank you, he is better again this morning so definitely on the mend.
DeleteThat sounds so worrying, but I'm pleased to hear Giles is doing better. I'll keep my fingers crossed that he makes a full recovery very soon. I hope you also get some rest!
ReplyDeleteHe is doing better, but it's lingering. I would love some rest - can't wait for the weekend so that Tom can take over the night shifts!
DeleteOh Sam, that stinks. Becca Grace had bronchiolitis back in January and we ended up staying in the hospital for a few days. It's so hard when they are that sick because there is so little you can do.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is back to 100% soon and that you catch up on your rest!
It must have been hard staying in the hospital, I'm glad we managed to avoid that.
DeleteI'm sorry you've had a tough week :( Hope Giles is feeling better and you all get some more rest before the holidays.
ReplyDeleteHe is feeling a bit better, but no one is getting much sleep still. Fingers crossed he will be 100% better in time to enjoy his first Christmas.
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