When it rains, it pours: The common cold, the stomach bug, & a broken hand for good measure

Well, Grace this blog was just about the common cold. Your first real cold.
But then it decided to pour on the Burnett household. There was the cold. We'll get to that. There was the stomach bug. And for good measure, there was Daddy's broken hand. We are having a rough couple of weeks.

First- the common cold. Yes, it was just a cold. But when you are a first time mom and you have to watch your five month old precious little baby sniffle and cough her way through it... your heart breaks.

To me, the common cold was not so common.
It's was days of her having to sleep sitting up which cannot be comfortable after awhile.
It's was days of a runny and congested nose that is raw and red and that she does not want me to wipe anymore.
It was days of having to stick a syringe ball into her nose while she looks up at you with those eyes of "Mommy - No!" "Not again."
It's was days of no sleep for Mom, as she woke herself up every couple hours trying to breath easier. (Side note- The exhaustion is almost worse than the very beginning because I'm back at work and there's no recovery time.)

And just because it was a cold, did not stop us from doing the first time parent thing and calling the doctor twice & visiting once, even though we know what they will say. "It just has to run its course. She'll be fine." (The picture attached is of Mommy & Baby smiling just after getting the all clear on the lungs and ears!) It didn't stop me from trying to sanitize every toy and surface she plays on or with. She does shove everything into her mouth, you know. It didn't stop me from becoming a hand washing dictator demanding that my poor husband scrub his paws all the time. And yes, I also fully realize this is just the beginning. She will no doubt be encountering every possible germ while playing with other little ones, going to school or just existing in this big wide world. It still doesn't change the experience of the first one.

The good news, Grace was on the mend, after nearly two weeks.
The bad news, this was all my fault! I gave it to her. I also infected my dear husband. Talk about mommy guilt in high gear. It's a struggle with that burning need to "fix it" but not being able to. I think this feeling with be a recurring theme. Fix it, I couldn't, but make her feel better along the way... my mission! I hope that I accomplished it. The mommy guilt will never go away, it just switches issues. I'll just do my best to make it my issue and not hers :)

Then the news got worse. Grace got the stomach bug. I'll spare you the details. But if I thought the cold was rough... the stomach bug broke my heart even more. But she's recovered from that, too!

And then the news got worse. Daddy played his heart out in a charity softball tournament with some Bruins players and made a diving catch... and snapped two bones in his hand. Now, he's on the bench, sort of. He's doing the best he can with one hand. Diapering with one hand. Feeding with one hand. Holding her with one hand. And this also means Mommy had to kick it into super Mommy gear. I haven't been this tired since Grace was born. But, you do what you have to do. And you remember, that no matter how dim it seems now, we are still blessed. We have amazing family, friends and neighbors who continually display what community is all about. The offers to help and the help have been heartwarming. Thank you all.

So with that, I'm wishing for brighter, easier days and I'm wishing you and your families good health!