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Wordful Wednesday- Breathe

By Jessica

Yesterday afternoon we headed out.

We had a nice time visiting Nana followed by a LONG car ride home, because when you are a stay-at-home mom your brain turns to mush and you forget about things like “rush hour.”

Parker was recently diagnosed with asthma.

Yesterday was a particularly bad day.

Don't ask about the rose, no idea why she was carrying it. To add to the asthma drama maybe??

In between his coughs and when-are-we-going-to-get-home meltdowns from all passengers, my little man started gasping for breath.

Ashlyn dug his medication out of my purse as I peeled off the freeway.

After a few puffs of the inhaler he coughed his way back to steady breaths and slowly returned to normal.

Me? Not so much.

Watching him struggle took me right back to this.

Parker at 5 days old, the closest we could get to holding him.

I haven’t exhaled yet.

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24 Comments Filed Under: Musings of Motherhood


Comments

  1. Jayme says

    February 26, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    I LOVE that pilot in training shirt!

    It's amazing what triggers NICU flashbacks, isn't it?

    Reply
  2. Victoria says

    February 25, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    That would be so scary, it's so hard as a mommy to see your kids go through something like that.

    Reply
  3. d, the undomestic ho says

    February 23, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    Aww.. Jessica! I don't know what to say really.. But, I feel for your pain (and Parker's too).. asthma is such a pain in the ass!

    Reply
  4. Crystalball1 says

    February 23, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    ah honey!! I can't imagine that feeling of helplessness and panic all rolled together. How scary!!

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    February 23, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    Oh, that last picture made me hold my breath.

    Reply
  6. Amy says

    February 23, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    Jonathan has asthma, so I'm right there with you. Luckily we've never been stuck in the car – but it sounds like big Sis was on the ball, as well as Mama for even being able to to pull off the freeway. Love Ms. Sassy's pic!

    Reply
  7. Elena @NaynaDub says

    February 23, 2011 at 11:28 am

    Oh my gosh…so scary! I'm glad you had Ashlyn there to help! I can only imagine having something like this happen & being stuck in traffic at the same time. I hope you take a deep breath & exhale today.

    Reply
  8. Amy@Coffeewiththemrs says

    February 23, 2011 at 10:43 am

    Awww…I can't even imagine. I'm glad it turned out alright for you.

    Reply
  9. Stacey says

    February 23, 2011 at 10:38 am

    I've forgotten about rush hour before too! It's awful when you have little ones in the car. I'm so sorry your little guy struggles with Asthma. I can't even imagine.

    Reply
  10. Sugar Mama says

    February 23, 2011 at 10:04 am

    First, your daughter is looking super sassy in that outfit.. cute!

    Secondly, I've never had a child in the hospital, so I can't relate to that but I CAN imagine. And as a mother I'm guessing you'll never forget those moments after their birth when he was fighting for his life. Thank you for sharing this… and as a mother with "older" kids I can tell you we don't ever fully "exhale".

    Reply
  11. Mrs.Mayhem says

    February 23, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Sounds like a scary situation. Good thing you had a helper in the backseat.

    One of my kids has asthma, and those attacks are no fun.

    Reply
  12. Alexandra says

    February 23, 2011 at 9:22 am

    My 3 children were born early, after bedrest from 17 wks on for me, and all were in NICU for breathing.

    All 3 of my babies have asthma.

    Asthma? I wish I could say that asthma and me are old friends, but we're not.

    She hates me and I hate her. She's brought me to my knees in the ER more times than I care to mention, when it comes to my children.

    Next you see her, tell her you and I are going to do some buttkickin' to that old wench.

    Reply
    • jessica says

      February 23, 2011 at 10:01 pm

      No, I am not up for ER visits. The NICU was enough. You and I need to find some happy, easy things in life we have in common.

      Reply
  13. Alexandra says

    February 23, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Do your children have asthma, too????

    THUD.

    Reply
  14. Stacy Uncorked says

    February 23, 2011 at 9:07 am

    I don't think I'd be exhaling any time soon, either. ((HUGZ!!))

    WW: Paleontologist Heaven at Paleopalooza

    Reply
  15. Nicole @MTDLBlog says

    February 23, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Oh man! That would be so scary! I have realized that I am so much more protective of my twins in the way of germs and outings etc….because of their NICU stay. With my first, I was like, whatev, she has to build immunities but the twins and I are hermits….LOL.

    Look at how sweet he looked in the NICU though……so frail and yet so sweet. I look at those days and I'm so thankful to be on the other side of them. It was such a long journey. Your kids are SUPER cute! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Liz says

    February 23, 2011 at 8:31 am

    Oh, how scary! I hope you get his asthma under control and have very, very INfrequent situations like this one!

    Reply
  17. Sarah Halstead says

    February 23, 2011 at 8:30 am

    So sorry about the asthma. Very scary. Love her sunglasses.

    Reply
  18. Leighann says

    February 23, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Omg.
    You are stronger than I am. Good for you for even pulling off the freeway.
    PS. Your children are rockstars!!!

    Reply
  19. Jdaniel4smom says

    February 23, 2011 at 8:25 am

    I don't look for to pollen starting this spring. JDaniel will need to use his inhaler too.

    Reply
  20. Anonymous says

    February 23, 2011 at 7:50 am

    YIKES my 2 oldest had reactive airway disease as children. They would do the same thing as an asthma attack only it was more an allergy attack in overdrive. I had a home neb, a travel neb and inhalers. Thankfully they have both outgrown it.. but I know that fear all too well

    Reply
  21. blueviolet says

    February 23, 2011 at 7:43 am

    I can totally understand how you'd instantly go back in time!

    My son had problems with asthma as a little guy, and they say they may grow out of it. I believe it FINALLY happened for him at the end of elementary/beginning of middle school. Whew! Hoping for earlier than that for you!

    Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    February 23, 2011 at 7:36 am

    sigh. you are such a great mama; and sounds like ashlyn is a pretty awesome big sister, too!

    Reply
    • jessica says

      February 23, 2011 at 2:49 pm

      She is, she did a great job snapping into action. So proud!

      Reply

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