Tuesday, May 27, 2008

In Sickness

The bambino awoke coughing this morning at 5:15am. When a drink of water didn't stop the coughs from coming, he seemed confused and upset. Spencer kept asking, teary-eyed, for help to make them go away, as if the coughs would disappear momentarily with the appearance of his mommy and daddy. It's heartbreaking as a parent not to be able to magically make the situation all better, to be a healing, omnipotent presence in your child's life. The reality was that all we could offer was comfort now that cold medication has been declared off limits for the very young. It probably would not have done much any way; we avoid it even for ourselves.

All day long Spencer has been lethargic, slightly feverish, crying periodically whenever he coughs which is only every half hour or so. There's such a difference in mood when he's not feeling well. He just wants to be close to me and have his back rubbed. We all want our mothers when we're sick.

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