Lesson 8

Everyone has been sick. You got something last week, got over it. Then, I got something this week and gave it to everyone in the house. We've been a pleasant coughing and snorting bunch. We had one of you friends over this weekend, before we all got sick, and you watched his sister play our DS. So now, naturally, you think you should get to play it. You're actually getting the hang of it, it only took you 2 days to be able to place 3rd in MarioKart. It's been great, I've been barely able to function because of my cold (apparently, it took great joy in infecting me.) So you playing a game has been a great way to keep you entertained. You're still passing out at bedtime though, you're not 100% over the cough. If I don't drug you before bed, the congestion starts choking you as soon as you lie down. Which brings me to lesson 35...

In another lesson that will mirror your brother's, it is important to learn how to drug kids when they're sick. I know, you'd think it would be common sense, but not only did I take a couple rounds of sick kids before I figured this out, but a lot of parents I've talked to had never thought about it. Typically, cold/allergy medicine makes your brother tired. Not so tired that he'll sleep, but tired enough to be a pretty big pain until the meds either wear off or he goes to bed for the night. I didn't think there was much I could do about it, but eventually I called the doctor and they recommended giving him a 24 hour medicine instead. That took him down to one dose a day, but he was still hell on wheels after the morning dose. So, I started giving him meds 30 minutes before bedtime. It works perfect, by the time he's ready for bed, the meds have kicked in, and he's tired already so sometimes he'll fall asleep on the couch. Since they're 24 hour, he'll sleep all night and not be cranky the next morning. For meds like Tylenol, make sure you tell someone else when you're giving them, or write it down. There have been a lot of times that I was "sure I'll remember" when I gave you meds, only to forget. You've been teething since you were 2 months old. You're 7 months old now, and you have all your teeth, except your molars and you're starting to get those. So, when you're having non-stop pain, we keep you on the Tylenol on schedule, after a couple of days, we'll stop giving it to you unless you're fussy or it's bedtime. After another night or 2 we stop giving it to you completely. That way you know you're not giving meds when you don't need them, but also enough that just in case it's covered. One last thing, NEVER call medicine candy or juice. Your dad made that mistake with your brother, when he was about 2. He still begs for it.