Sick kids. We've had 'em

By KAY KRHIN

Last update: October 31, 2009 - 2:14 PM

Sick kids. We've had 'em. I was recently home for a long four-day weekend to nurture the house of sleeve-coughers. There were a variety of ailments that evolved into another grab bag of illnesses. Fortunately, no H1N1 -- but just about everything else.

Let's see, there's been a mysterious rash, the croup, the crud, sniffles, fevers, bronchitis, headaches, general malaise, random expectorating, a sore throat, some big molars breaking through, then throw in a nasty ear infection for good measure.

I feel awful that they feel lousy, but I still feel a kind of guilty pleasure when they are sick. They slow down. They sleep in a little longer. They snuggle more.

Vivian wanted to be held a LOT. Fine by me! It's been a long time since she'd let me. It's so sad when the kids stop falling asleep on you. They get all long and mobile and just want to go, go, go!

One night as I was putting her to bed, she stopped me.

"Rock, rock." She pointed to the rocking chair, wanting to be rocked to sleep. I gladly complied.

"Song," she said, pointing to the music box.

"What? You want me to sing to you?"

"Yes," she said, definitively.

I pressed my palm against her forehead. "Oh, honey, you really must be sick."

KAY KRHIN

More at startribune.com/cribsheet

Recent Family + Relationships stories

Don't be duped by common myths about flu - October 31, 2009

Don't be duped by common myths about flu - If there's one thing that spreads faster than the flu, it's unfounded rumors. We asked Dr. Dean Blumberg, pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, to debunk a few common myths about the H1N1 vaccine. More

Reader query: Celebrating the season - October 31, 2009