The long (long, long) weekend...and why I'm thankful.

The weather was outstanding.
Sun, sun and more sun.

The company was marvellous.

The view delightful.

Unfortunately the camera battery died early
and the charger was at home.
Such is life.

Then, Ben got sick.
Snot on Saturday.
A bit of a cough on Sunday.
A poor night's sleep.
Then Monday, sick as a dog.
cough, snot, and fever
lots and lots of all 3
oh, and puke.  so very special.

Home we go late afternoon.
Sleeps like the dead for the whole 2 and a half hour drive.
Wet and feverish on arrival.

Call the principal-might be away Tuesday
our first grade farm trip day
yikes

Then?
68 breaths per minute (tachypnea)
google says that's bad...real bad
off to the hospital we go at about 8

Something called tracheal tugging
I call it gasping
Something called strider
I call it gasping
Something called blue lips (cyanosis)
I call it, well, sort of normal for Ben, perhaps a bit bluer than normal
Something called scare the hell out of mama....
well, yeah, I call it scared the hell out of mama

Give that boy a breathing treatment
and it kinda works for the breathing
but completely sends him SPINNING!  Like high.

Another treatment, some specialists,
an xray, more specialists,
a third treatment,
SPINNING the whole time...

I can spend the night
or agree to drive 30 or so kms for the meds
I drive.

Home by 2 or so with some puffers
to sleep
cause there was no way he was doing anything but dancing in that ER.

And here we are today.
Nearly a week after Thanksgiving...feeling thankful.
So very thankful for my son
our health
and easy access to excellent healthcare.
My extended family and friends
and their health.
Our lovely home.
Our lovely cottage.
My wonderful job
and lovely class
and terrific sick leave benefits.

A long week for sure...
Brings out the gratitude in me.

And to answer Catherine,
Bronchiolitis is swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchioles), usually due to a viral infection.