So a few days ago the kid started to get this really nasty cough, runny nose, and just overall uncomfort. I just didn’t know what to do,  this cough just broke my heart every time she did it.  She sounded like a barking seal.  And the coughing just wouldn’t stop.  For a while I was convinced that she had whooping cough of something, so I took her in to see the doctor. It only took the doc about five seconds to diagnose my little girl.  She said that she had croup.  I had never even herd of it but apparently it’s fairly common among kids 11mths to three years, she said.

Its kind of like having asthma, but its a viral sickness in the windpipe or larynx.  It can make their voice sound weird, affect their appetite, make it difficult to breathe right, have a super nasty sounding cough, a low fever, runny nose, and worst of all for us parents… a really, really rough time sleeping.  Croup gets really bad at night.  the kid will just toss and turn all over the place, and cough constantly.  Its really upsetting as a parent to see you kid so uncomfortable.

Symptoms of Croup in Kids

• harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound called a stridor
• a brassy, barking seal like cough
• a hoarse cry
• difficulty breathing
• low-grade fever
• rattling sounds while exhaling
• scattered crackles in the chest
• runny nose

There are a few things that you can do make it better for them.

These are the best techniques for dealing with croup that have helped my kid…

• If they are coughing lots and having some breathing trouble, try to get them into a steamy shower for as long as you can.  The steam is key. (I don’t know why, the doctor told me…works great)
• Have a humidifier running 24hrs a day in their bedroom.
• If you can get a hold of some age appropriate cough syrup, that will ease their cough.

What the experts say to do

• Administer mist therapy which involves sitting in a steam-filled bathroom, with the window open and the door closed. Turn on the hot water in the shower or tub and let the room fill up with steam. Sit with the child in the room, with the water still running, for 10 minutes.
• Bundle the child up in warm clothes and take them outside in the cool night air for 10-15 minutes.
• Use a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier in the child’s room
• Give the child plenty of clear fluids such as apple juice, water or popsicles to suck on
• Treat the fever with acetaminophen (Tylenol or Tempra)
• Avoid smoke or smoke-filled rooms.

The humidifier really helps… I think.  At least she seems to sleep way better with it on.  So I would have to say that if you kid gets croup, or is coughing lots, get a humidifier.

There are some homeopathic remedies that lots of people swear by like Aconite or Spongia.  I don’t know what this stuff is… but people say it really works.

Natural Cures http://www.hpathy.com/diseases/croup-symptoms-treatment-cure.asp

Good Croup Information  http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/commoninfections/a/croup.htm

By the way… If your you think your something is really bad… call your doctor or take them to the ER.

Empty Kids Room... a scary one... not ours.

I remember, with the first kid, everything baby was all new and exciting and stuff.  We were always talking to the baby bump, giving him lots of music and stuff to listen to, and I think the baby really loved the Tony Robbins stuff, Kidding.  You know what I mean.  Everything was all fresh and new, and you wanted to do everything right.  I mean, even the food I cooked for my wife was way healthier.

I dont know, I guess I feel like this kid might be getting the shaft.  Theres no music everynight, no special book readings to the bump.  All that is going to stop, I mean start, tonight.  I need the give this kid some specail time.  Marley really seems to love music and books, and I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that we did all that cool stuff when she was still in the belly.

But now is the time act.  The baby is coming two months.  But we think it could be sooner, and we have done nothing to get ready.  With the first one… by know, we already had all the baby stuff, nursery completed, names picked out, stroller and car seats handled.  This time… nothing.

Is it the same for everyone else?

A few posts ago I was dealing with some serious temper tantrums.  I got some info online on some ways to deal with them.  They seemed to work great.  When the kid freaks out for no reason or for something stupid… ignoring her has seemed to work great.  Then explaining to her that the screaming and yelling was not OK, seemed to calm her down.  I think that she might even be learning from it.

Ignoring a temper tantrum at home is hard to do, even harder on the road or at a store or something.  So when she gets really mad at home, and its for some stupid reason, I just ignore her… don’t even make eye contact, or its all over for me.  If the screaming is just too much for me to handle,  I will put her in her room and shut the door.  After a few minutes, usually she calms  down.  Then I go right in, and have a nice little talk about what happened, and get a nice hug and kiss.

On the road is another story.  If I’m in the car, no problem.  She is trapped, and I have a loud radio.  But when where at a restaurant or in the store… I just have to leave… I’m still working on that one.

There are tons of pedifiles out there.  Make sure that for your little ones stay safe.  There is a new app for the iPhone that will help keep your kids safe… or at least make you super parinoid and want to move.

The app is called “Stay Safe” and it $1.99 and you should get it.  It will locate your location and show you where all the registerd sex offenders live and work in your area.  It will even give you their picutes.  There are some really cool features on it too.  Let’s say you see some creepy dude with the obvious “pedo-smile.”  You know the look and smirk that I am talking about.

Here is a link the the best page in the universe, it will show you how to spot a pedophile

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=spot_the_pedo

Here is the link to the app. http://staysafe.handstorm.com/pressrelease.html

Have a safe Halloween… got to get the costumes ready