Happy 17 monthday!

Here's where you were:
That's right. In a hospital with bacterial pneumonia and an ear infection on top if it. And don't forget the teething too. Needless to say, because of your need for comfort and not crying because that doesn't help your breathing, you asked for your nukkie and it was hard for us to say no.

Sandy called me at 2:40 saying you couldn't stop coughing and you were breathing hard. I got to her house at 3:30 and immediately knew I had to take you to see a doctor. I called the clinic as soon as we left Sandy's and we got an appointment. After a few nose swabs (for influenza and RSV--both came back negative), a chest x-ray (your lungs were a little "streaky") and a nebulizer treatment, the PA said that you should be admitted to the hospital to keep tabs on your breathing and oxygen levels. It was a long night filled with medicines and nebulizers and pulse-ox checks and respiratory checks and worries and snuggles. You didn't get to sleep until past 8:00, but you slept very well because you had an oxygen mask on to help you breathe and relax. I slept in bed with you because the "crib" they brought in your room was more like a circus animal cage.

The next morning, you were feeling a lot better and you soon became bored of being in the hospital. So we looked for ways to entertain you.

They had a wagon there that you pushed around,
they gave you crayons and paper that entertained you for about 3 minutes,
you stood on the heat register to look out the windows at the construction going on,
you pulled a few Kleenex out of a box before I took it away from you,
you pushed wheelchairs,
you rode in wheelchairs,
Grandma F. came to visit, and Sandy brought you some blocks. We brought your truck from home, hoping that would keep you busy.
While you were napping on Saturday after zonking out after a neb treatment and I was sitting next to you in the bed, I thought of this picture from 17 months ago to the day:
So we took another one:
We mostly walked up and down the hallway. Actually, we walked. You wanted to be carried. At 7:00 on Saturday, we were finally told we could leave. We got home at 8:00 with a nebulizer, prednisone (a steroid for your lungs), and an antibiotic in hand.

You're feeling even better today. We have given you only 2 neb treatments today. You're not struggling to breathe any more, but it makes Mommy feel better hearing wet coughs over raspy ones.

On another note...thank GOD we only live 3 blocks away from the hospital. We were able to go home as often as we wanted to get or do something really quick. And also, I thank God for DQ too. Waaaay better than hospital food. Mostly, thank God we only had to spend one night, and while it was scary, we were taken good care of and Colin is back to his rambunctious self.