The last time...

The last time dude was diagnosed as ill enough for antibiotics he looked like this.

Not so ill looking, eh?
Probably because in hind site he wasn't ill at all.
There was never any fever.
Millions of dong spent in error I'm guessing to diagnose a bronchial infection where in fact there was a sniffly nose combined with aspirated formula.
He was rattling the first time I met him.
Happy, cooing to his nanny and very clearly making a loud and easily felt rattle as he took each and every breath.

Now I know better.
Now I know he can be well at 5 and sick as a dog at 6.
Now I know his head does not get hot when he has a fever...
his trunk steams like a mid summer day in HCMC.
And he is listless.
And collapses in my arms, snoring,
despite the fact his favourite people are in the room.
And though he responds to tylenol (dye free grape)
at the 3.5 hour mark his fever and it's related symptoms are back with avengence.
I know my boy wants to be held,
and have his back rubbed, and then patted, and then rubbed, and then...

I know that like the last time giving meds continues to be risky business
and looks like this...

I know that when he feels "yucky mama"
he wants to read books and sing songs all day long
and all night long as well.
This calms him.
And when he is sick he really really wants to sleep with mama.

Last night, like tonight, he went to sleep in his own bed.
Tonight I expect he will stay there.
He is on the mend with no fever now for a few days.
But the snuggles? cuddles? books? songs? back rubs?
(and whining when mama is more than 8 inches away?)
Not gone...
Which is mostly okay.