Day Care and our First Illnesses

Well, Cooper started daycare just after Christina left on 8/23/07. I know that I am so lucky to have kept him out for the first 6 months of his life with the incredible help of Aunt April, Cousin Missy (Mimi), Ms. Daisy, and Christina, all of whom devoted much of their time and summer vacations to help us asking nothing in return. You all were such a vital part of Cooper’s growth, development, health, and overall well-being during these first 6 months. I am so indebted to you all. I knew that the introduction of daycare would be difficult and that Cooper would probably be sick for the first several months. Here we are, just over 1 month into daycare and Cooper has had 2 colds (one big, one small), constant runny and crusty nose (now referred to as daycare nose), an ear infection, and the Croup. The 2 latter of which we are just now getting over. In addition, both Peter and I had a horrible stomach virus and my prayers were answered when Cooper never got it. Last Sunday, I went to bed and could hear Cooper sighing each time he would breathe out in his sleep. I thought it really cute (Cooper is typically a very quiet sleeper) and went on to sleep. Luckily, Peter was still awake and heard him coughing lot on the baby monitor. So, Peter went into check and Cooper was having very restricted breathing. He woke me up and we called the on-call nurse. As we waited for her callback, Cooper was getting worse by the second. He was choking, gagging, coughing horrible (like a barking cough) and his little neck and chest were straining with each breath. We thought that we would be going to the emergency room for sure. The nurse called back and could hear him on the other end of the phone. She knew instantly that he had the Croup and instructed us to go into the bathroom, shut the door, turn on the shower, and get it all steamy. After about 25 minutes of this, Cooper was recovering. We made it through the night, and at the doctor’s office the next morning it was confirmed that not only did he have the Croup, but also an ear infection! Poor baby! And through it all he was still smiling! That is typical Cooper. If he cries we know something is wrong.

Dropping Cooper off at daycare those first days was so hard, and it really confirmed that there is nothing I want more than to stay home with my baby. I never imagined that I would want to be a stay home before, but I really feel like that is what I am meant to do. So, that is my next goal to find a way to do this. Might take a while, but hopefully we will be there before too long. God certainly works in interesting ways, because just as I was coming to this realization, a new possibility opened for us. Disney is considering Peter for a position that would be a major promotion which would potentially take us to London, Munich, or Madrid. While moving away wasn’t in my ideal plan, it very likely would allow me to stay home with Cooper. But home wouldn’t be where I thought it would be. On the other hand, this would undeniably be a great opportunity for Cooper to grow up with a respect for other cultures and almost guarantee that he learns other languages. For now we can only wait, and pray that God sends us where he wants us to go with willing hearts and open minds. I can’t deny that although we have had unthinkable tragedies in our lives, God has really blessed Peter and I tremendously with a perfect little boy and opportunities that I never dreamed to experience the world.