One Child Home

There is a little ache in my heart and an odd feeling around home that something is just not right. There has been an unusual quietness and just a little less sunshine the past two days.

But let's go back a week or so - Lucas had a persistent fever for five days, and when it was clear it was just not going to go away with ibuprofen we took him to the hospital to get checked out. Due to some travel plans that couldn't be cancelled, we found ourselves packing up in the middle of the night (Elena sleeping and Lucas wailing) to make a one hour drive back to our town and the hospital that is close by. 

The time stamp on our queue slip was 1:00am on the dot. Thankfully Lucas had settled down and he and Elena were content to watch TV and munch on snacks while we waited to see the doctor. After examinations by three doctors, urine and blood tests and an x-ray over the span of 8 hours with two trips back home to try and rest a bit Lucas was diagnosed with an infection and prescribed antibiotics. It was a little scary as one doctor threw around words like "meningitis" and "lumbar puncture" and the sleep-deprived mind is certainly prone to wander towards worry in the early hours of the morning so we were relieved when the blood tests came back positive for a simple infection. 

Unsure of how Lucas would react to the antibiotics and being told to monitor him for continuing fever, my mother-in-law graciously offered to keep Elena at her place for a few nights so Lucas could recuperate at home. So I packed up a bag of clothes and sent her off with her aunt and uncle to be taken to Grandma's house. 

This is where we find ourselves now. Lucas is doing very well on the antibiotics, and has been fever free since his last dose of ibuprofen at the hospital. We are keeping it pretty low-key around here. But it is such a different experience having only one child at home - mostly, it is just so easy to only care for one. Most days with the two of them the majority of my time is observing them together and preventing them from hitting/slapping/pushing/fighting etc. So to have only one is a breeze! It also helps that Lucas is not a fussy sick boy and while tired, is clearly on the mend. This morning Lucas was able to help me make pancakes for breakfast, something that is just not possible with another toddler lurking around (the small size of our kitchen is also a factor). Lucas has enjoyed playing in peace and having mommy around to snuggle and cuddle with him. But there is this little ache, and I find myself wondering just what Elena is up to.

So while it has been nice to spend one-on-one time with Lucas and catch up on a little rest, tomorrow morning as soon as Lucas is up and fed and medicated for the day we'll be heading in to pick up my little angel, and our lives will return to that hectic, crazy, loud, busy, challenging, tiring, happy place - and I wouldn't change it for the world. 

Love you two kiddos!