The Nap

This week I had a really "bad mom" moment.

You know - that moment when you'd really like to crawl in a hole because you missed something big that you should've caught? And you missed it because you have a child who gets 80% of your energy and mental capacity and the other ones are generally okay with what's left over?

It's crappy and I hate to admit it, but I screwed up.

Gavin has been suffering from allergies and asthma for the last 6 weeks. He's had asthma most of his life but it hasn't reared it's ugly head in a long time. And it seems like he has a runny nose most of the time. It's just something that's a part of him. He's a great sniffer/snorter.

The last couple of weeks of swim have been torture. He's been coughing and crying and telling me he's not a good swimmer and he hates it and he'll never be any good at it. This is the same kid that used to be smiling when he'd come up for a breath. He's been so, so emotional and i just told him to tough it out and stop freaking out.

*sigh*

I should've listened to him. I mean, I was AWARE he was having difficulties, but I wasn't listening and I wasn't asking the right questions. I didn't HEAR him. 

So, I took him to the allergist/asthma clinic, not expecting to hear a whole lot of earth-shattering news. I walked out with 6 new prescriptions and the knowledge that his lung capacity was at 60% and that he is significantly allergic to several things and severely allergic to at least one environmental allergen every season. And yes, he'll (happily) be getting shots.

I'm so grateful for modern medicine.

I'm so grateful he accepted my apology, forgave me, loves me and is willing to do what is needed to get him better.

We got him started on some prednisone, a control medication for his asthma and gave him one whopper of a breathing treatment. It was like the sparkle was being breathed right back in his eyes. He didn't cough all afternoon and i think last night was the first cough-free night i can remember in weeks.

After his second dose of prednisone this morning, he REALLY wanted to participate in his team's mini-triathlon. He brought his inhaler along and i saw him use it a couple of times. But he didn't quit or even complain. i am super proud of him.

And then, when we finished the tri, he wanted so badly to go to Seven Peaks waterpark. I could tell he was tired... heck, i was tired - but i relented and let him invite one of his swim buddies to come with us.

Before we left for the waterpark, his allergies and asthma were starting to act up again. thankfully, i've now got an arsenal of tools at my disposal and the permission to use them at will. I gave him a decongestant, had him puff his inhaler and all was well. He calmed down and started breathing freely again. Thank goodness for oxygen. It does wonders for the body, the mind and the soul.

While at the waterpark, i noticed that Gav and his friend were spending an awful lot of time in the wave pool. I watched them for a few minutes, totally chillin' in their tube and riding the waves. About a half hour passed and i realized they hadn't come out to tell me where they were off to next. i checked the wave pool again and Gavin had not moved his position one bit. i waded into the water and asked his friend if he'd been like this for a while... he just looked at me and said,

 "i didn't want to leave him - i was afraid he'd fall out of the tube."

I giggled, wiped the drool from my child's face and gave him a couple of good shakes. He blinked awake, totally disoriented and told me he had been TRYING to take a nap but people kept splashing him. I told him i thought it was a pretty successful attempt.

I started pulling the tube out of the waves and when he finally came to and looking a little sheepish, asked me how long he'd been out. I looked at his friend and he said they'd been in there for an hour.

He must've been exhausted.

His body had enough.

The waves, the water, the sun and the decongestant were the perfect formula to get my on-the-go kid to finally take a break and get the rest he needed.

Who knew?