Get Well Soon, Sweet Girl

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“I’m sorry you’re so sick.” I say, as I hold her close to my chest.
“I’m sorry I’m sick too.” She says, as she runs her little finger up and down my arm.
“I just want you to get better so I can kiss you and tickle you and play hide and seek with you again.”
“You can kiss me on my head. Just not on my mouth. Because you’ll get sick like me.”
So, I place my lips on her head and kiss her over and over again. Her hair smells like strawberries.
She begins to cough and is unable to stop. She buries her face into my chest and she starts to cry.
“It hurts right here when I cough, Mommy.” She says through the tears.
I can feel the lump forming in my throat, the tears welling in my eyes. I begin to cry with her. “I know and I wish I could make it stop hurting. I’m sorry, Chunky Head. I’m so sorry.”
Last night things took a turn for the worse. A fever of 104.7, pain in her chest, her tummy, her head. It was awful to watch, knowing there was very little I could do to make it better. A trip to urgent care was made. “It’s a cold.” the doctor said. “Give her these medications and bring her back if she gets worse.”
Out the door we went.
I did my best to help her.
Tylenol. Water. Baths. Chicken noodle soup. Foot rubs.
And while those things helped ease the pain temporarily, they couldn’t relieve her entirely from her suffering.
I don’t want to see her suffering anymore. I don’t want to hear her weep because the coughing hurts. I don’t want her to wake up in the middle of the night sobbing because “she’s burning hot.”
I just want to hear her laugh and sing and be bossy with her brothers again.
I just want her to be healthy and whole again.
Hopefully, she will be. And hopefully it will be very soon.

34 thoughts on “Get Well Soon, Sweet Girl

  1. Sara Broers

    Hey, I followed you from Twitter! Hope she feels better soon, it’s never any fun when anyone is sick in the house. Keep giving her all that lovin’…….

  2. Maria

    My little girl is sick too, it’s so awful. 🙁 I hope she feels much better very soon!
    Also, totally off topic, but the other day I took some photos of my youngest and when I made them black and white I couldn’t stop seeing your daughter. I think it’s the almost black eyes. I’m odd, ignore me.

  3. Teri

    Y, if she is coughing at nite/nap time put a heavy coating of Vicks vapor rub on the soles of her feet and then just cover with socks. This should help her sleep. I tell people this ALL the time and it really does work.
    Hope she feels better soon.

  4. RachelJ

    I agree with mrs. darling: a fever that high would not normally be associated with a cold. I’ve known several people who had the H1N1 flu and they’ve had the very high fever with severe cough. Hope she gets better soon.

  5. Leeann

    Bless her heart, Y but more than that, bless yours. Watching our little ones feel badly and hurt like that is just awful.
    I am so sorry.
    I hope she wakes up tomorrow feeling TONS better.
    leeann

  6. pgoodness

    poor sweet girl! I hate it when they are sick…nothing worse than the helpless feeling; the inability to fix them. Hope she gets better quick.

  7. Kim

    You don’t get a fever that high with a cold. Watch her breathing and head to the ER at the first sign of trouble. She has classic symptoms of the flu that we have been seeing in the ICU I work at.

  8. Phoenix

    Sending much love and healing thoughts. Poor little thing 🙁 And poor you too – it’s heartbreaking watching your kids be ill, isn’t it? Be sure to take care of yourself too though.

  9. Carolyn

    She’ll get better soon, Y! I will say a little prayer for her though. Chunky Head! I love that.
    My Grandma always used to say, “Ya love ’em even moah when theah sick.” (trying to capture her Baaaastan accent.) She would know–ten kids and 37 grandchildren!
    Feel better, sweet little Gabby!

  10. Heather

    It’s Saturday morning, how is she doing?
    You’ve been doing everything “right” but don’t hesitate to take her in AGAIN if she’s still got that fever, especially with that cough/pain.
    Praying for Gabby and you all.

  11. Cindi

    It’s so awful to have a sick child. You do everything you can, but know that it’s not enough. Fortunately, this is something that she will recover from, and not life-threatening. But that doesn’t make it easier while she’s coughing her guts out.

  12. Nicki

    Keenan has spent most of his childhood sick. (The joys of raising a premie.) He’s almost twelve now, so it’s getting better. I wish for your daughter a speedy recovery.

  13. Kris Herbst

    I agree. No fever that high with a cold. Don’t be afraid to take her to the ER if she gets worse. I’ll keep her in my prayers. Please let us know how she’s doing.

  14. Roxanna

    (((HUGS))) for you and for Miss G. There is no worse feeling as a parent as when your child is sick. I hope she’s better soon!

  15. J

    @Teri – just wanted to let you know that my 2 yr old had an awful cough night before last/yesterday. I read your hint right as my husband was putting her to bed, ran into the room, coated her feet with Vicks Baby Rub and put socks on her. It TOTALLY WORKED. She barely coughed all night and is way better today. She asked for the “medicine” again at naptime.
    @Y, I really really hope she is better. Please update us.

  16. Beverly

    You’re such a sweet mom…and I hope your sweet baby is feeling better today.
    That doctor…he’s making me angry! A high fever is not a cold!

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