Nurse Houghton


Back on the beat, this time trying to help James get through the most hideous chesty cough which is apparantly known as 'bronchiolitis'. After two days of drinking virtually nothing the Dr sent us to Basinstoke Hospital to be looked at. At 5pm I couldn't get hold of Eddie so Godfather Richard stepped into the breach and belted off to Little Sods to collect Will while I headed off to Charlie's Day Unit (yet again).

The upshot of it all isn't brilliantly helpful. Because it's a virus James just has to get through it, but the issue is around his fluid intake as he's hardly been taking any milk. They were on the verge of sticking a tube down his nose and force-feeding him but fortunately he decided that sounded much worse than taking voluntary action and managed to get down a whopping 70 mls and was allowed home.

Now all we can do is wait, keep his room humid (wet towel in position on radiator) and stuff saline down his nose before each feed to help him breathe. It's far from ideal and as always I feel utterly helpless - par for the course in this household or at least that's how it feels sometimes.

Honestly, you have one child and think you've learned as much as you can about illnesses and then a new one comes along and knocks you off your feet. Impetigo, Chicken Pox and God knows what else await us in the future. Bring it on I say - but can we just crack this one first before some other hideous lurgy hits.....?!

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