Trial By Fire.

Elliott's sick.
He has RSV.

From kidshealth.org:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children. RSV causes infection of the lungs and breathing passages. In adults, it may only produce symptoms of a common cold, such as a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, mild headache, cough, fever, and a general feeling of being ill. But RSV infections can lead to other more serious illnesses in premature babies and kids with diseases that affect the lungs, heart, or immune system.

RSV is highly contagious, and can be spread through droplets containing the virus when a person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also live on surfaces such as countertops or doorknobs, and on hands and clothing. RSV can be easily spread when a person touches an object or surface contaminated with the virus. The infection can spread rapidly through schools and child-care centers. Infants often get it when older kids carry the virus home from school and pass it to them. Almost all kids are infected with RSV at least once by the time they are 2 years old.

So Elliott has a fever, super snotty nose, a barky cough deep in his chest, runny/crusty eyes and is generally not feeling well. He was coughing a bit last week, he got a runny/crusty eye on Friday afternoon and by Friday evening I thought he had his first cold. It progressed into a fountain of snot and a much more severe cough and fever on Sunday. All of the fluids running through his head also gave him an ear infection.

The six-week old at Elliott's daycare, Eric, has RSV and is actually in the hospital. Elliott's case is definitely not that bad. Eric's mother works at a daycare with 3 and 4 year olds, so it's no secret how they both got it. Considering that anything and everything goes into Elliott's mouth right now, it was bound to happen.

Thank goodness for Aunt LaRissa coming to help take care of Elliott. She is skilled with a ball syringe, good at cuddling and makes him smile... pretty much all he wants right now.

It is so odd to see my typically bouncy baby boy lethargic and zoned out. He still has lots of smiles, which is downright heartbreaking considering how sick he must feel.

Last night was rough. He was up many times full-on wailing and the 2am snot evacuation made all three of us cry.

I'm tired and would rather be cuddling Punky, but there is so much work to do here and I have very little sick leave. Elliott goes back to see Dr. Hoop again this afternoon. In the meantime, motrin for his fever, antibiotics for his ear infection, frequent saline drops/suction and cuddling from Aunt LaRissa and Mommy (when possible).