What a week

So, apparently the nasty cough all the kids had recently is RSV, which can hit the under-2 crowd especially hard. Bon and Rob have been in the hospital with Jerome (16 months) since Monday. He has had a fever and congestion that makes it hard to breathe. All three are exhausted, especially Bonnie who holds him pretty much the entire time. He needs to get his oxygen levels up to a certain level while sleeping (when his breathing is extra labored) before they can go home. I just talked to my sister, and while Jerome's fever has receded they still don't know when he can be released.

That means we've kept a close eye on Karsten. He is a fountain of snot and threw up a large dinner of sweet potatoes all over my boots last night, but maintains a crooked grin through it all. Until I wipe his nose. He hates that.

On a lighter note, the older Sentz kids are staying at different houses and we've had Ransom for a couple days. As usual the cousins are in playing paradise. But after preschool yesterday Gunnar threw up twice and was a blob the rest of the day. This morning he ate a big breakfast, but retreated to his bed and bibi afterwards. Zane, however, was in heaven having Ransom all to himself. No competing for attention or annoying the older boys by inserting himself in the middle of their projects. He excitedly ran down the hall yelling "Let's go, Ransom!! Let's play!!".

They were doing great until Gunnar decided to rouse himself and join the land of the living too. Z was so upset to see his brother up that he screamed and hurled a bag of blocks at his head. I had to work hard to not let him see me laughing while I disciplined him. G and R are actually pretty tolerant of him, but this morning I am trying to help Zane understand that they won't let him join in if he keeps screaming at perceived toy-stealing, or knocks down their block towers. Hard lessons indeed for a 2-year-old.

This is a picture of one of their moments of peaceful collaboration this morning.