Rest

As the world has exploded with color and fragrance, so has the air filled with environmental allergens.  This is something you would never think about unless, like Little Raindrop, it brings about a mysterious asthmatic cough that keeps you up at night and keeps you from breathing deeply during the day.  Today at Kilometer Kids she had to sit out for the second half of practice because she could not stop coughing.  As soon as she started to run, she started to cough.

It is so hard as a parent to sit by and watch the effects of the beautiful Spring on your daughter and feel so powerless to ease them.  And I know her issues are very mild compared to other children who are frequently hospitalized, etc.  But it is still so mysterious.

This afternoon I walked into Raindrop's room and found her sound asleep on her bed.  This is very unusual as she doesn't nap anymore, so I figured her body really needed the rest.  When I came in to wake her up around 4:30, she wouldn't budge.  I stroked her cheeks, whispered her name, rubbed her arms, and nothing happened.  I mean she was in a deep sleep.!  We didn't really have to leave until just after 5:00, so I decided to let her sleep another 30 minutes.  But when I came back in the second time it was the same thing.  I had to gently pull her off the bed, rub her legs and pull her socks on, and carry her into the kitchen where her smoothie was waiting for her.  But the entire time she was napping, I didn't hear her cough even once.  Her body was clearly craving much needed rest.

On a completely different note, since I've been pregnant I've probably been sleeping 12-14 hours a day.  Some nights I fall asleep around 8:00 and don't wake up until after 7:00, and I still can't make it through the day without an afternoon nap.  I wonder if our bodies are actually capable of storing up all the rest of early pregnancy to help with the sleepless nights of late pregnancy and the baby stage.  Well, that being said, it's already after 9:00, and I can hardly keep my eyes open...