Author : Eviefan
Summary : Another joy of being a parent is when your child gets the Croup, so here we go.
Croupy Days
The sun shining through the windows, as well as the annoying ring of the alarm clock woke Evelyn, and Rick to another day. Evie shut it off then snuggled against her husband. Her head was laying against his chest, and she was laying mostly on her stomach. Rick�s arm was around her and he leaned in, kissing the top of her head.
�Oh sometimes I wish I didn�t have a job,� she said, wanting to just stay where she was and snuggle with him.
�You could always take the day off,� he suggested, always ready for her to do so. She rubbed her cheek against his bare chest, and he sighed pulling her a little closer.
�I wish I could, but I need to get things set up for a new exhibit,� she said, then lifted her head, and kissed him, before she got up to get the day going. Her start of the day was to get a shower, which woke her up, and as she went into the bathroom to start the water, Rick got up, and went to his dresser, getting out a pair of boxers, then a pair of jeans, since he didn�t have to be any place special, and put those on, as well as a undershirt and a button-down. Once he was dressed he went out of their room, and down the hall to their son�s room. Alex�s door was cracked open, and the shutters were closed to keep his room dark. Rick smiled as he went over to Alex�s crib, and lowered the bar. Some mornings Alex was ready to get up, and face the days other mornings he wasn�t so inclined, and today was one of those days.
�Hey buddy,� Rick said as he rubbed his sons back. Alex always slept on his stomach all curled up in a little ball, and when he felt his father rub his back, he stretched out but didn�t move to get up. Rick reached over and got his bear.
�Alex come play with me,� he said making a gruff sounding voice for Paddy. He made the bear nuzzle Alex�s cheek, and usually that got a laugh from him, but he turned over on his side facing away from his father and the bear. His lack of response was a clear indication that it was going to be a long day. Often times how Alex woke up in the morning was an indication to how his day would go, and Rick knew it was going to be a long day. He moved to Alex�s dresser, and got out what he would wear that day, which was a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a warm soft blue sweater. Once he set those on his bed, he went into his bathroom and got the bath water running, and got out his Rubber Ducky, and his little plastic ship and set that in the water then went back to his crib.
�Come on Alex up you go,� he said and lifted him out. Alex started to protest as soon as he was lifted out.
�Noooo,� he yelled and kicked at his dad. Rick sighed and lifted him up over his shoulder to evade his kicking legs, and Alex started to cry. Rick carried him into the bath room, and sat down on the wooden stool there and lifted Alex away from him or tried but Alex clung to him.
�Shhh,� he whispered as he rubbed his back. In a moment Alex calmed down,and Rick was able to get him undressed, and into the bath. Now his son played, splashing at his duck, and his ship while Rick soaped up a washcloth and began to rub it over Alex�s back.
�I fishy,� he said, and lay on his belly sticking his face in the water, blowing bubbles. He brought his face out and took a breath and went back under, and Rick shook his head. Eventually he did get Alex washed, and dressed, and when they arrived downstairs Evelyn was finishing her breakfast.
�Mummy hold,� Alex said as he ran to her. Evelyn was running late, however, she always had time for her baby, and lifted him onto her lap kissing his still wet head.
�You be a good boy for daddy today,� she said.
�I go to,� he said, wanting to go with her to the museum.
�I know baby, but you need to stay here and help mummy by taking care of your daddy.� At that Alex let her go. She walked over to Rick, and they shared a brief kiss, then she left going out into the cold morning air. Once she was gone, Rick got Alex into his highchair and cut up some banana for him, then went about making scrambled eggs and toast and fried ham.
It was shortly after breakfast that Alex started to do the things he knew not to do. So far he had been really good, playing quietly with his building blocks, and his little farm animals, while Rick sat at the desk going over bills, which was an unending task. They had more money than they knew what to do with, however, he was careful to keep track of every last penny, and aside from watching Alex that had become his job. When playing with his blocks become boring, Alex looked at his father, then the chess table, which was an endless fascination for him, and a big �no no�, however, he was determined, and since his father was doing other things he took full advantage. He climbed in a chair and waved his hands, which knocked all the pieces to the floor ,then he grabbed a few and ran into the dining room and hid under the table. Rick had almost finished the bills when he heard him, and by the time he looked up Alex was running away. He sighed and got up going after him to the dining room
�Alex you know better,� he said, as he approached the table and knelt down.
�Come on out and help daddy pick those up please,� Rick said patiently.
�No here,� he said.
�Alex those are special to mummy,� Rick said, and they were, that game set had been given to her father by an old friend, and he didn�t want to see the pieces destroyed.
�I have em,� he said hugging them to his chest. Rick decided a different approach and left him. He went back to the chess table and picked up the pieces putting them back in their proper places, and then sat on the sofa waiting for Alex to come out. Once his father had left him, and he wasn�t going to get any attention, Alex got out from under then table and walked through the other entry which went the kitchen. There he put the pieces from the chess board down, and looked around for something to do. He spotted the cookie jar which was almost within his reach, and started to go for that when he was lifted into the air.
�I don�t think so,� Jonathan said.
�I cookie,� he said starting to struggle.
�Why don�t we go see what your daddy is doing, and take these back to the chess board,� he said holding the three pieces Alex had made away with. For once Alex didn�t fight him, and when they got to the Parlor he wanted down.
�Daddy see horses,� he said, walking over to Rick and pulling the paper from his hands. When Alex wanted something there was no waiting around, and Rick decided a walk out to the barn to check on the horses would be good. He stood up and followed Alex to the front entry. From the Hall tree, he got Alex�s coat, and mittens, and put those on him, as well as his boots, and his warm hat with the little muffs that went over his ears. Once Alex was ready, and he was, they headed outside, and found that it was snowing.
�Daddy dat?� Alex said pointing to the snow in general.
�Thats snow, and if it gets deep enough, I will show you how to make a snowman,� Rick said taking hold of his little boys hand. They walked over to the fence which led into the field, and to the barn. There Rick opened the gate, and before he could get it closed, Alex was off and running. Rick shook his head and ran to catch up, lifting Alex in the air and over his head to sit on his shoulders which got a lot of laughter from him. Once they got to the barn, Rick set him down, and Alex coughed a little, a sort of rattling cough, then it passed and he was fully ready to play. Rick got a shovel, and a bucket, and while Alex trumped around in the hay he cleaned out Amunet, and Echidna�s stalls. Alex found Princess, one of the barn cats, and her kittens, and sat down next to them. Princess let him pet her ,and her babies, and Alex was gente like his mummy had taught him. He breathed in, and his chest rattled and he coughed hard, which got his fathers attention.
�Hey buddy are you all right?� Rick asked, as he came over and knelt beside him.
�See babies,� Alex said showing his daddy. Rick heard his chest rattling, and frowned putting his hand to his son�s head, but didn�t feel any warmth. Alex seemed fine, aside from his rattling chest, and Rick decided once he had cleaned out the stalls they would go back inside, and take it easy. While his daddy got back to the stalls, Alex walked outside and watched the snow falling. It was coming down in big fluffy flakes and he held his hand out letting it fall onto his red woolen mittens. It was cold enough outside for him to see his breath, and with the cold his nose ran a little, and he began to cough again. He went back inside, wiping his nose with his mitten, then went to where his father was dumping the muck at the back of the barn.
�Dat icky tuff,� Alex said, and sneezed which made his nose run even more. Rick noticed, and pulled a handkerchief out of the pocket of his leather jacket and wiped his nose.
�All right buddy lets go inside and read some of your Peter Pan,� Rick said. Alex pulled away from him, and ran over to the ladder which led up to the hay loft, and began to climb up. Quickly Rick caught up to him, and climbed up after him making sure he didn�t fall off. When they got to the top, Alex ran to the huge stack of hay and jumped into it which brought up a lot of dust, and aggravated his coughing.
�Come on big guy you need to get inside.� Alex did not want to go, and tried to get away, however his daddy was fast and caught him up in his arms. As Rick lifted him up Alex started to scream, and kick, and his foot caught his father in a very sensitive spot. Rick grunted at the pain that caused, and nearly dropped Alex. He lifted Alex over his shoulder until he could form words then sat down, and held Alex level to his face.
�Don�t you ever kick daddy again,� Rick said sternly. Alex�s bottom lip stuck out, then he began to cry, and Rick sighed rocking him.
�Come on lets go in and get warmed up,� Rick finally said and got them both out of the hay loft. On the way back to the house Alex had his head laying against Rick�s shoulder, and his chest rattled everytime he took in a breath, which alarmed Rick.
When they got inside, Alex wanted down, and once Rick got his outside cloths off of him, he let him go, while he went to the kitchen to get out a bottle of juice for him. Once he had that ready he walked into the parlor and found Alex working one of his wooden puzzles with the big pieces.
�Here buddy,� Rick said. Alex accepted that, and drank a little, then put it down and coughed wiping his nose as it was running again. Rick frowned, and knelt down feeling his head again but it was still cool. Alex looked tired to him more tired than he should at this hour of the moring. Gently he stood and lifted Alex into his arms, and didn�t get a protest from him. He got the bottle and carried him upstairs to his room, which was kept warm by the fire in the fireplace. After getting a clean diaper on him, Rick got out his book of Peter Pan, and settled in the Rocking Chair and while Alex drank from his bottle Rick read to him. He got through most of a page before Alex�s eyes were shut, and the bottle slipped from his hands. Rick caught it, and put it aside, then put the book down, and rocked him still hearing his chest rattle. He decided to wait until after his nap, but if he wasn�t better he would call a doctor. Once Alex was asleep, Rick carried him to his crib, and laid him down, then pulled the safety bar up and left him to sleep while he went to get lunch ready for Evelyn and himself.
When Evelyn arrived home for lunch, Alex had been asleep for nearly two hours. She noticed the quiet as she entered the house, and when she walked into the kitchen Rick was the only one there. Quietly she snuck behind him, and wrapped her arms around his chest.
�Welcome home,� he said turning to her. They shared a long kiss, then he held her against him.
�Where is Alex?� she asked.
�Asleep. He has been acting tired all morning, and he has a runny nose, though I think its just from us going out to the barn,� he said. It was often that the barn triggered a reaction in him like what Rick had experienced, though he had a feeling that it was something more than that.
�If you get lunch ready I�ll get him up,� she said. They shared another kiss, then she went upstairs to his room. As she walked in she heard his little snores, and smiled. She went to his crib, and reached in lifting him out and he opened his eyes looking at her then rested his head against her shoulder. His breathing was fine, so she guessed it was just his trip out to the barn.
�Why don�t we go have lunch with daddy,� she said, as she carried him out of his room. Once they got to the kitchen, he was more awake, though he wouldn�t let her put him in the highchair so she let him sit on her lap Today it was tomato soup, and Alex ate the bites she offered him, as well as a hunk of bread.
�He sounds better,� Rick said relieved.
�I think it was just the dust in the barn,� she said, as he took her bread from her.
�Alex thats mummy�s bread,� she said kissing the top of his head.
�Mine,� he responded, and took a bite of it. Evelyn got another piece of bread, and ate that, then finished her soup. Once they were done she had to return to work. Alex still sat in her lap having his bottle, and when Rick came over he hit his hand
�Alex that wasn�t nice,� she said.
�No daddy.. mummy,� he said still sucking on his bottle.
�Baby mummy has to go to work at the museum, and I bet daddy will help you build a tower,� she tried.
�Go if ooo,� he said turning to face her. Evelyn leaned down, and kissed his forehead. When he wanted her like this, it made going to work very difficult, however she had some things that she could not put off, and for today at least he would have to do without her.
�Goodmorining everyone,� Jonathan said finally up from his night of partying and gambling. When Alex saw him he let his mummy put him down and ran to him laughing as Jonathan tossed him in the air.
�Pay,� Alex said. While Jonathan had him otherwise occupied, Evelyn made her escape back to work at the museum.
For the rest of the day Alex was relatively quiet content for once to play with his toys or let Rick or Jonathan read him a story. Now he laughed as his daddy crawled around the parlor on his hands and knees, while he got a ride on his back just like being on a horse.
�Up daddy up,� Alex said holding on the folds of Rick�s shirt. Rick went a little faster, and Alex laughed more, as they went around the couch. That is how Evelyn found them when she walked into the parlor.
�Mummy horse,� Alex said, and as he looked at her she saw his nose was running.
�I see that baby, but daddy horse needs to stop so mummy can wipe your nose,� she said. Rick put one hand up on Alex anticipating his next move, which was to try and get off and run. His nose had been runny most of the day, and he was to the point where he fought having it wiped.
�Nooo,� he screamed as Evelyn lifted him into her arms. He put his hands over his face not wanting her to touch it, and she sighed carrying him into the kitchen. There she set him on the counter top, and got out a cookie.
�Alex let mummy wipe your nose, and hands and you may have this cookie,� Evie said. That got a positive response and he held still as she cleaned him off, then got a small chocolate chip cookie as a reward. Once he had eaten it she let him down and he ran past his father back into the parlor.
�Did you take him back out to the barn?� she asked as Rick pulled her into his arms.
�No, its been running like that for most of the day, but a runny nose is the only thing I�ve had to deal with,� he said then leaned in and kissed her. She sighed and leaned into his kiss always happy to have him to come home to at the end of a long day. When they parted they held hands and went back in the parlor. Alex was sitting on the floor playing with his train set. It was one with wooden tracks that fit together, and small wooden train pieces that fit on the track that he could pull along.
�It looks as if you two had a quiet day,�she said sitting down on the sofa which was just below a huge window. He settled beside her.
�Very quiet. It�s been nice,� Rick admitted. She sighed and leaned against him and for a while they sat watching their baby play with his trains.
It was Alex�s crying which woke Evelyn first, and she came instantly awake when she realized that he was crying. He had been sleeping throughout the night since he was a month old, and this was not like him.
�Rick Alex is crying,� she said as she nudged his shoulder. He too came instantly awake, and they both got up, and went down the hall to his room. As they approached the heard him coughing, and it was the same kind of caugh Rick had heard in the barn only much worse. When they walked in he was laying on his stomach, and they could hear his chest rattling as he breathed. While Evelyn went to the crib, Rick turned on the small lamp on his dresser.
�It�s all right baby, Mummy�s here now,� Evelyn said, as she lowered the bar to his crib and lifted him out. He felt warm to the touch and that was even more alarming. She cradled him against her, and he coughed more, and very congested sounding cough, and she saw that his face was messy from his runny nose. Rick had noticed that too and came with a warm washcloth and she gently wiped his face with it.
�He has a fever,� she said as she settled in the rockingchair.
�Do you want me to call the doctor?� he asked. She nodded and he left to do that.
�Mummy,� he cried as he coughed more.
�Shhh,� she crooned lifting him against her shoulder. He sniffed, and rested his head there settling down as she started to rock him and sing to him. In a few minutes Rick came with a bottle of juice, relieved that he was calmed down.
�Here baby daddy brought you some juice,� Evie tried.
�No,� he said simply, keeping his head against her shoulder. Rick knelt in front of them, and she took his hand both worried for their little boy. When the doctor arrived Alex was asleep in her arms, though his breathing was still raspy, and congested.
�I�ll need to listen to his heart so he will need his pajamas unzipped,� said Dr. Brown. Evelyn cradled him against her, and he sighed but stayed asleep, and didn�t make a fuss, or peep as the doctor listened to his heart, or when he looked in his nose.
�I would say from the sound�s of things, and his symptoms that Alex has a cold as well as the croup. The cold is what is causing his runny nose, and the congestion in his chest, but the way he is breathing, and from what Rick told me when he was crying, it sounds like the croup, which means he has a cold in his larynx,� he said.
�I�ll call in a prescription which should clear up his caugh, and give him a shot of penicillin. As for the croup, to relieve that it is best to sit in a steamy bathroom, or bundle him up and let him go outside in the cold air. Never combine the two, as he could easily get pnuemonia,� Dr. Brown instructed. He got out a seringe from his bag and a small container and stuck the needle in drawing up the penicillin.
�I�ll need you to take his pajamas off,� he said once he was ready. Evelyn nodded, and stood up going to his bed. Gently she laid him down and removed his pajamas which woke him up.
�Mummy up,� he said as she romoved his diaper. Rick came with a wet cloth and wiped his bottom, then sat down and held Alex over his lap, having done this before when he had gotten his last shot of penicillin when he was 10 months old. Dr. Brown rubbed a cotton ball just below his bottom on his thigh, and Alex struggled not understanding what was happening. When the doctor stuck the needle in, he cried hard, and though it was over quickly the fact that someone had hurt him brought a major fit from him, along with more coughing. He let his daddy hold him as he cried, not feeling good, while Evelyn led the doctor out.
�It�s all over,� Rick said as he rocked, and in a few minutes Alex had calmed down enough for his parents to get his pajamas back on him.
�I don�t want to leave him in here by himself,� Evelyn said softly as she rubbed his back while Rick rocked him.
�Why don�t we put him in bed with us,� he suggested. She nodded, and after getting his Paddy Bear and his Bink, they went back to their room. Evelyn lay in bed first then Rick put Alex in next to her, and he snuggled against her. Once he was settled Rick moved in next to them and for a while they were all able to sleep.
By morning Alex�s cough was a constant, and his voice was very scratchy when he talked. He didn�t feel much like doing anything other than having them hold him, and Evelyn even took the day off from the museum, not willing to go to work when her baby was sick. It was just after breakfast, and he had not wanted to eat anything. Rick had gone to pick up his caugh medicine, and Evelyn was sitting in the parlor with Alex who was playing with his cars. He still had on his fuzzy dark blue pajamas, and under his nose was red from where it had been running so much. She was settled on the couch with her reading glasses on, into a story that she had selected out of the smaller library in back of the house. He coughed and it was a long cough that stole his breath away, though he didn�t seem to worried.
�Alex why don�t we have a sit in the bathroom,� Evelyn said, not liking the sound of his coughing.
�Want pay train,� he said as he pushed it around the track, and used the sleeve of his pajamas to wipe at his nose. She put her book down, and went to where he was playing, settling across from him.
�May I play with you?� she asked. At his nod, she got his blocks, the colorful ones of various shapes and sized and began to build a train station for him. As she did that, he pushed his train around the track.
�Chug chug chug,� he said then he took in a breath, and let out a series of hard coughs, and she decided time for playing was over. Instead of asking, she just lifted him into her arms, and surpisingly enough he didn�t protest to that. She carried him up to the Master bedroom, and into their bathroom, where she turned on the bath water, hot only and then carried him back out.
�Now lets get your Paddy, and Bink, and when were finished in the bathroom we will take a rest,� She said. He coughed more in response, and rubbed his face against her shoulder before resting his cheek there, clearly tired from this terrible cold. Once she got his two bedtime buddies, she laid him on her bed and took his sleeper off of him, then removed her cloths down to her bra and panties. When they walked into the bathroom it was very steamy, and Alex didn�t make a sound as she sat with him in the small wicker chair. He kept his cheek rested against her shoulder, and fell asleep before too long. As she was about to get up, Rick came in and nearly got knocked down by how hot it was in their bathroom. He had the medicine, and Alex�s pajamas, though realized they would need to put a clean diaper on him, so they both went into their room. Evelyn got his diaper changed without so much as a peep, and his breathing was a little softer. Once she had done that she just put him under the covers of the bed and stood watching him sleep.
�I wish he was better,� she said, as Rick eased her against him.
�I know, I do too,� he admitted. They watched him for a while longer, then went downstairs to have some lunch and some quiet time.
Over the next few days things were pretty rough with Alex, and they spent a lot of time either sitting in a steamed bathroom, or bundling him up, and taking him outside to breath in the cold air, both recommendations from the doctor to help him breath easier, and help reduce the swelling of his larynx.
A little more than a week passed, and finally he was doing better. His breathing was getting better, and his runny nose had finally stopped running. His cough wasn�t as bad, and he was back to regular pace, which for him was supper speed. Currently he had escaped his father and was in the back office sitting on his mummy�s desk using her pen to make a tattoo on his arm like his fathers. Thats where Rick found him.
�What are you doing in here?� Rick asked.
�I do arm at one,� Alex said as his father picked him up. He patted his fathers arm, the one with the Tattoo, and Rick realized what he was doing.
�Alex, I don�t think you need a Tattoo like your daddy has,� He said lifting his son onto his shoulder. Alex laughed as Rick bounced him around the room, then carried him out of the study, and upstairs to get a bath before his mum came home. Life had returned to near normal, and near normal was where Rick preferred things to stay.
The End