Nobody Told Me II

Nobody told me that once your body is used to sleeping again, it agonizingly revolts against multiple night awakenings.  Sure, you anticipate the occasional nightmares and outcries, but croup is another animal.  For the last 4 nights, Harris has been getting up every 1-2 hours with horrible coughing fits and screaming choking spells.  There is nothing I can do but alleviate some of his discomfort and try to sleep in between.  It's heartbreaking as well as maddening.  (Not to mention that Olivia had a nightmare last night and ended up in our bed kicking me in the butt while Neil snored = no sleep for mama)   Nobody told me how much that would suck.  Tonight, the 4th night hit and Harris has managed to stretch to 2-3 hours between coughing intervals.  By now, I'm exhausted and he's exhausted which is a terrible combination.

Nobody told me that while the bathroom filled with steam from the hot shower to help open his airways, it would all be worth it for the 10 minutes my baby boy sat on my lap and let me read him books .  I've never been so happy for 100% humidity in my life.  Big brown eyes, curls getting curlier, and chubby little fingers pointing to the animals in the book.  Heaven.  Afterwards we spent a few minutes in the cool night air, and I got to see his soft profile brighten with excitement as we both saw a night helicopter amongst the finally quiet city.

Sure, nobody told me about all the hardships of child rearing that I'm sure are just beginning, but nobody told me that the 5% of fleeting yet sumptuous moments wedged in there make it all worth it.   You just have to be smart enough to grab them and hold on.  And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. 

FINALLY!!!!!!!

He may have said it when he was 6 months old, but he's been holding out on me and loving it since then.  (FYI - all the growling, screaming and food giblits are totally normal)