Croup: The Univited Guest

Over the weekend, a seal moved into my house, uninvited. His barks are so loud and hollow you find yourself making that pained, pitiful facial expression and saying a quiet “damn” under your breath whenever you hear them. The rattles from his little chest as he breathes worries you at night as the unrelenting barks become more frequent. Just this once, I tell myself, it is all right for my little seal to crawl into bed with mommy so she can be sure you continue to take in the air your little body needs…so when you wake from the nasty barking, I can stroke your hair and tell you it’s going to be okay.

I do some Internet searching on my Mr. Lips condition today and see the following items listed as signs of “When to Call the Doctor”.

• Your child starts drooling or has trouble swallowing.
• Your child's lips and skin are bluish or turn dark.
• Your child's breathing doesn't sound better after mist treatment.
• Your child is cranky or is constantly uncomfortable.
• Your child's breathing becomes more difficult.
• Your child seems to feel worse.
• You are worried.

Call me crazy, but bullet #2…are they kidding? If my son’s lips and/or skin turn blue I’m not sure I will call the doctor’s office and sit in queue with the rest of the mommies wanting appointments. Shouldn’t there be another section called, “If You Are a Moron and Don’t Know When to Call 911, Here Are Some Signs”.