Caring for Children with Croup

Probably one of the childhood illnesses I dislike the most is croup. I think it's because it's worse at night which means no one gets good rest and that's exactly what the body needs. Currently all three of our boys have a great case of it and since it's a viral infection, one must be patient and wait it out. Anyhow - since we've been through this many times before I thought I'd share some tips that I've learned from my pediatricians and by trial and error.

Fluids -The important thing for any illness is to keep hydrated. Each of my guys have a different colored sippy cup  which helps keep each person's germs to themselves. Keep them filled with something they will drink (but not something sugary) - juice diluted with water, Gatorade, etc. Keep plenty of Popsicles on hand (Eddy's has a fruit pop that has no added sugar - expensive but good!)

Fever - Though bothersome - fevers were designed to kill germs. A low grade fever is actually good and should not be stopped. My person rule of thumb is - no medication until 102.0. I have one child who hallucinates and another who has seizures above this and so that's my point for meds. If their fever is above 101.5 before bedtime I also give them something to help them through the night (usually Advil or Motrin since it lasts longer). If it's really a bugger of a fever and stays high for a long time (over 24 hours) then I alternate Tylenol and Motrin.

Rest - Here's where it gets difficult! Croupy kids need rest! But they start feeling better and then want to be up jumping and playing and the next thing you know, they crash. It's pretty crucial they stay still. Mr. Potato Head, puzzles, books from the library, Lego's, lacing activities, Melissa and Doug have nifty magnetic dress-up sets that are nice quiet toys.

Books on tape are fantastic! Check your local library. Stories (Patch the Pirate, Adventure's in Odessey, Your Story Hour) that are teaching while keeping them quiet are a double blessing. 

DVD's are also an option if you allow this. We're not big DVD people at all. Watching a DVD is a special occasion, not a normal occurrence. But when they are sick there are some that we let them watch. Pictures Proverbs is what they're watching right now. Its the book of Proverbs with a new picture for each verse. If you're children only watch DVD's occasionally and don't need a lot of action then these are great! And they pick up on the Scripture so quickly. Another one our guys like is the Visual Bible Matthew and Acts.(The John DVD is not very good) The man who plays Jesus is fantastic. (Just a warning - in the second DVD on Matthew, both Jesus and his disciples are shown shirtless in two scenes). The words are taken directly from the NIV - nothing deleted or added. My boys also enjoy the IMAX Deep Sea DVD. Another set we let them watch are the Moody Science DVDS, we have some of the DVD's from Showforth which are very good. And there are some good children's DVD's at Answers in Genesis also. Some of them you can watch here.  There are other handheld games and things that I know are out there but our guys don't have. The idea is - keep them playing quietly - no running around.

Breathing Treatments - There are all kinds of theories on this one but this is what I've found works best for us. Two or three times a day, I put the bathroom shower on fully hot and shut us in there for about 20 minutes. I take the liquid Vick's and mist it on the walls of the shower.

We slather their chests with Vicks (or for the smaller ones - Johnson and Johnson makes a milder version) and also put it on their feet and put socks on them. Then while the steam is working, they lay face down on my lap and with cupped hands I "thump" on their chest. As Allan puts it, "She steams us then thumps us!" This helps loosen the mucus and makes it easier for them to cough it out. Some people then rush the children out into the cooler air. I do this if it's really bad but not on a regular basis. I usually only do the steam during the day - because you usually get sleep deprived with croup - it's best to limit night care to the very minimum. I've found care throughout the day minimizes nighttime care.

At night, I sit the boys up on pillows to sleep. This helps them to not feel like they are suffocating. Night is always worse because the hormone that suppresses coughing is at it's lowest point. If they absolutely can't breathe, the we bundle up (put something on their head) and go outside and sit for awhile (if you live in a colder climate). Yesterday Stephen and I were rocking on the front porch at 4:00am listening to the trains (I'm amazed at the number of trains running in Cincinnati at 4:00 in the morning!)

Mommy Care -  this may be the most important part. Sick children need their mommy. This week a friend stopped by and one look at me said, "Are you drinking enough?" (My eyes were a little sunken) I was so busy filling sippy cups, cleaning up bathroom messes, and doing breathing treatments that I'd hardly had a chance to eat and drink myself. Here are some tips I've tried to follow:

• Make sure I take my vitamins (an extra vitamin C wouldn't hurt). 
• Drink plenty of fluids myself
• Because I'm going to be doing night duty - sleep when my children sleep. I try to keep them quiet and naptime at a regular time. If they're not expending a lot of extra energy then they usually will take short naps and a regular nap. Sleep during their regular nap. 
• Keep my schedule clear. Cancel appointments that can be rescheduled. Do the bare minimum with household chores. This allows me to care for their needs without feeling pushed and stressed.

Sometimes I wonder if God didn't design sickness to be a way of slowing us down and helping us to rest. I choose to view it as God's gift to me. It's extra time for snuggling and hugging and back-rubs and good stories that doesn't happen in concentrated form when we're well. 

The above was written on Wednesday. Last night everyone slept all night! Yeaaahhhhh! Now except for  the residual coughs and low-grade fevers I think we're through the worst of it. It actually was a blessings this week! I needed the slower pace and the release of pressure from my "to-do" list. I just took care of my family this week! And, if you're going to be up with one croupy child - might as well be three, if you're going to be making chicken noodle and corn soup for one..might as well be all! I celebrated this morning by going and getting everyone a Salted Carmel Mocha at Starbucks for Sweetest Day! Another 48 hours and we should no longer be housebound! 

Disclaimer: This is what I've learned after talking to my doctors and what I've found helps my children. It in no way takes the place of a proper diagnosis of an illness for your child. My children were seen by a doctor this time too (I wanted to make sure we weren't dealing with pneumonia) just to make sure it wasn't something more serious. 

New Deuteronomy 6 Blog

One of the young men in our Sunday School class has put together a blog specifically geared to giving practical ways of implementing Deuteronomy 6 in our homes. Check it out at http://trainthemdiligently.blogspot.com

Book Recommendation

While Philip was at Wesley Biblical Seminary giving the Chamberlain Holiness lectures, he was given a book written by Matt Friedeman called Discipleship in the Home - Teaching Children, Changing Lives. We've done a lot of reading in the past nine years on raising/training/disciplining children but this book has been a cut above the rest. You can find methods, formulas, and directions to support any child-rearing philosophy out there but so few deal with the bottom line - rearing godly children who love and serve God and have a passion for the Kingdom. This can only be done as parents disciple their children.


"Families are in crisis. If there is hope for our future, it will be because millions of Christian parents rise up and teach their children God's plan for their lives and thereby change the world for His glory. There is no current need more critical than this. Simply put, in everything you do, teach your children about God. It is the responsibility of the family to disciple their children. The Great Commission starts in our homes!"

Most of us with young children have in mind what we want our children to be by the time they leave our homes (or we should). But setting the goals and implementing the plans to accomplish those goals can be overwhelming. Friedeman gives very practical advice for streamlining the process and makes passing on our Christian values and theology "do-able." There is huge amount of helpful information packed into just 7 chapters. The rest of the book is spent in the Appendix with a thorough explanation of how the Friedeman's implemented in their own home, the foundational information contained in the book.

This is a MUST READ for couples who plan on having children or those who have young children.

Resources

1. For those who are training small children: (found by Lizzy Stetler) The lectures done by Ted Tripp based on his book Shepherding a Child's Heart can be found here. This is for those who have or have not read his book. The book is somewhat difficult to read but the lectures are outstanding. This has been a wonderful reminder of the importance of dealing with the issues of the heart that are the source of behavior. My husband also posted this on his blog in an easier format to access.

2. (also taken from Lizzy Stetler's blog)Also for those who are working so hard to train your children this is a must read!

I'm working on a list that I can post of other resources that we have found helpful in the training of our children for those who have asked (and keep asking!). This will be a list that I can keep adding to as we grow with our children. And if you find that we've missed a helpful resource let us know.

Not that you asked...

Preface: This post is for future mothers, new mothers, or mothers of newborns.

This blog has been a "picture" blog for many reasons. I like my extended family to see what is happening with the boys, how they are growing, the funny things they do and say. You see, my mother has 7 siblings and at one time they were in 7 different states (they are now in AZ, OK, FL, and PA). My father has one sister but visits with any of my extended family are very few and far between. The intention of this blog was to help them "connect" with our part in the family tree...if they care to.

On purpose I don't blog (on this blog) about personal study, spiritual growth, or philosophies of childrearing. The purpose of this blog has never been debate or discussion. (although I have an opinion on just about everything!) That will not change. Someday I may allow my On Purpose Parenting blog (This blog is an apologetic for our family's philosophy of life and living) to become public but at this point it is for my boys' future reference only. The reasons on which I based this decision are not important. This is in no way a reflection on those who read this blog and who have wonderful debates and discussion on their blogs...please keep it up! I'm probably one of the ones following your threads.

Now for the main point:
The reason for this post is to give information that some have no idea is available. I will not discuss the rationale nor qualifiers that usually accompany this kind of information. You are free do use or discard the information as you see fit.

When I had Allan I was totally unprepared for what was about to happen in our lives. To put it very plainly, life turned upside down, my days (and nights) were out of control, and the exhaustion defies description. Put in a healthy dose of PPD (post-partum depression) and you can imagine what our lives were like. We had talked extensively about our childrearing philosophy and when and how the training of our children would begin. What we didn't realize is how much of that training begins on day one.

It became very clear we needed some answers and so we went to reliable sources (those who had children and their lives were not out of control). One dear friend (who now has 6 children and a very well-ordered, peaceful, happy home) who we talked to said, "oh yes, you need to read On Becoming Babywise by Garry Ezzo." Having never heard of the book we checked it out of the local public library and at that point our lives changed again...for the better. Within three days our lives were drastically different. For those of you who think I'm exaggerating let me assure you...I'm not! What amazed me was that every parent wasn't required to read this. We're not talking Christian v. non-Christian. What we're talking about a common sense approach to having a happy, healthy infant and a well-rested mother who actually is able to care for her little one(s). (Another book that dovetails with this one is My First 300 Babies by Glady Hendrix.)

Again, I'm giving as little information as possible although I could write volumes. If you find yourself at whit's end, Read the book. For those who's babies "have their nights and days mixed up", read the book. If you're thinking this "being a mother" thing is not for you, Read the book. If you want to be prepared when your little one makes his grand entrance, Read the book. For those who think I was just really "lucky" to have children who were sleeping (on average) through the night (10pm - 6am) by the time they were 5 weeks old... READ THE BOOK! ....take it :o) or leave it :o)

Reflections of Christmas

As a Christian parent, it has been very important to me that my children develop a biblical view of life and all of its component parts. This includes celebrations and events. What is the celebration for, what is the proper way to view the celebration, how do we participate in this celebration in a way that will bring glory to God?

Christmas has always been a special time but as a child there was a focus on the "getting" part more than the giving. I would be hard pressed to name many gifts that I received over the years (a desk that my Grandpa Slagenweit refinished for me, a stereo, a shelf from an old boyfriend) but I remember with fondness the many times we'd go Christmas caroling at our church and then later as a family, the many plates of cookies that my mother gave out, and all of the gifts that I've given to individuals. Giving is always more fulfilling than receiving and more memorable.

As we entered this Christmas season we worked diligently to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. In family devotions we focused on the "comings" of Christ (as I mentioned in a previous post). We lit the candles on the coffee table centerpiece as a visual reminder (and boys have this attraction to flames!) As we decorated we talked about the symbolism of the nativity set, the star on the tree, the lights, etc. All of this was building to the day that we celebrate Jesus' birth. But we forgot one thing...or perhaps we didn't forget...it just didn't seem as important as what we'd been talking about and focusing on....presents.

Allan had no idea that Christmas involved getting presents until a faculty member at GBS asked him what he wanted for Christmas. After a slight hesitation he mentioned that he had already received a firetruck and a book. It dawned on me that "wanting" wasn't crossing his radar. I was very thankful that in all of our talk of Christmas and building anticipation it centered around celebrating the coming of Jesus. But it also made me sad because I knew by the time this Christmas season had ended that question or the question, "What did you get for Christmas" would be the main focus.

When we woke up Christmas morning Allan was so excited...today was the day we would celebrate Jesus' birthday! So we rushed around getting ready to go to Pop-pop and Gramme's house. I cooked breakfast, we gathered our things and went to KY. There we read the Christmas story and opened gifts, ate our Christmas feast and visited with friends and family and had a wonderful time. I brought the boys home in the evening so they could get to bed in good time and before turning out the light I sat down to talk with Allan. We talked about the day and his attitudes and behavior and then he asked me something that made me want to cry. "Mommy, was this the day to celebrate Jesus?" "Yes," I said, "today is the day we celebrate when Jesus was born." His little forehead wrinkled and he asked, "Did we celebrate Jesus?".....

With a lump in my throat I analyzed our day. Did we? Did we really celebrate Jesus? Was the reading of the story of his birth, the very heartfelt prayer before dinner enough? Though he didn't audibly speak the words I could tell that my son was not convinced that we had done what the day deserved. I wanted to push the rewind button on the day and start over. I wanted once again to wake up and hear him say, "Wake up, it's Christmas! Today is the day to celebrate Jesus!" I would have done things differently. We wouldn't have rushed anywhere. I'd like to think that we'd have stopped right there in our PJ's while still in bed and had a family hug while we prayed and thanked God for sending His Son. Slowed down and taken the time to tell the story again and marvel at God's plan. Some people may think that children wouldn't appreciate the miracle of what we're celebrating but I disagree. (I will not go into any child-rearing philosophies at this point)

So we're not done "celebrating Jesus" yet in our home. I made a lot of preparations for celebrating the day but was woefully unprepared for celebrating Jesus. It's taken some additional planning and time but we're going to do it right this time. So, "Joy to the World, the Lord has Come!" We'll see you in the new year.

PS. Normally these reflections are reserved for my journal ... but perhaps all of us need to see our celebrations through a child's eyes. Merry Christmas dear friends...have a wonderful, Christ-honoring, new year.