Motherhood isn't for Wimps

I think I read that somewhere recently.  I have always known this to be true, but having a sick child causes one to really dig deep and find that place of strength that only mothers know about. They get in touch with it for the first time during childbirth, and it continues on as the children grow.

Last night, after making a call to the doctor, we were sent to the ER.  Caden has the croup, and I knew that's what it was, but around bedtime, his breathing became labored and shallow.  He seemed unusually irritable, he wouldn't eat, and I started to get concerned.

We arrived there at 8:30 p.m., signed in, and proceeded to wait.  And wait.  And wait.

At 11 p.m., we were finally escorted into an actual room.  We waited another hour before anyone came to see us.

I finally peeked my head out and asked how much longer it would be.  That seemed to jog their memory.

At midnight, we were finally seen by the doctor and told that yes, he did indeed have croup, and after evaluating what she heard in his chest, she sent in a nurse to administer an oral steroid.  

This seemed to have immediate effects.  First, he began to breathe easier.  Then, he proceeded to recite "Ten Little Monkeys" complete with the jumping on the hospital bed.  This continued for the next hour, while awaiting our turn to have chest x-rays.  (The x-ray was fine.)

I called my sister who happened to be in Las Vegas this past weekend, because she's been through this before.  

She laughed when I told her he was acting like a maniac and said that was normal after taking steroids.  She encouraged me to give up trying to make him stop...my efforts would be fruitless. The doctors and nurses got the biggest kick out of him because he was the happiest person there last night.  Of course.  The moment we walk into the ER he perks up.  

I wished I had my camera, but something inside told me it would have been in poor taste to pull it out of my purse and start snapping pictures.

However, today, I'm desperately wishing I'd taken a picture of him lying on his back on the bed in his little clown-covered gown with that huge adorable smile of his.

No.  Motherhood isn't for wimps.  But this mama got broken in last night.  It was, after all, my first visit to the ER with a sick child.  And I must say, aside from the ridiculously long wait, that it went remarkably well.

Today I have another badge on my Motherhood Vest, and I'll wear it proudly.