A case of Croup

Corrine came down with croup this week. I knew what it was only from hearing from other parents what it is like. I have never had a kid with croup before this, and I must say it is terrifying. We tried to put her down on Thursday night, and she started coughing this horrible sounding cough. She had done it a little the night before, but nothing like this. She couldn't go to sleep and seemed to have trouble breathing. I got on the computer, did some research, and diagnosed her with croup. I called our pediatrician at 11:00pm to ask him what I should do. I spent all night up with her, taking her outside to breath the cold air to reduce swelling of her throat. I mean literally all night, I don't think I slept at all. Her little lungs sucked in with every breath and she was wheezing. I was worried, but her doctor to me to count her breaths, if she got to 60 a minute to call him back or take her to the emergency room. I spent all night counting her breaths, and she only got up to about 43. I can't imagine what 60 looks like. It was so sad, seeing her work to breath like that. The next day, she went in for a dose of steroids to help with the next night. (croup is only bad at night, when your bodies natural level of steroids goes down, allowing for the swelling of the throat). She did much better the second night. I am so grateful we live in modern times with doctors and medicenes. I know this infection can be very dangerous in young infants like Corrine, and I am so very grateful hers wasn't that bad. I felt blessed to have her before, and this experience has only increased my gratitude to be her mother.