Changing Seasons

Sam came home from school today with a nasty cold. I think he might have come down with it last night, but I can't figure out how. It was a nice day yesterday, but we spent the day indoors- and he showed no sign of anything being wrong. But last night was another story.

Sam's developed this habit of clearing his throat- sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. I haven't been able to figure out what the reason is for it, whether it's stress or whatever. While it's usually only occasionally, there are times when it gets frequent enough, and then I'll sometimes ask him if he needs some water. He almost always says no, but it kind of cues him in to be conscious of it- and I hope in a subtle way. I'm not looking to get on his case or make him feel bad. I just don't want it to become a habit for him.

Last night when he went to bed, there was a lot of clearing of the throat.I finally got up and asked him if he needed a glass of water and, unlike usual, he said yes. He followed me into the hall and drank it down and then climbed back in his bed. I covered him up and he quieted back down, but it took a while.

This morning, before I left for work, I stood in his doorway to say goodbye. Usually he stirs and rolls out of bed and stumbles wearily over to me and then gives me a hug before I leave for work. This morning, nothing. He was still asleep. I should have figured something was up, but I chalked it up to him being up so late the night before.

Today, when he called me to let me know he was home from school, his voice was tired and croaky. On the way home, I stopped and got some medicine, just in case. Sam and I had made some chicken soup several weeks ago, and since I have the awful habit of cooking about ten times more than I need of anything, most of it ended up in the freezer. Tonight, it was his dinner.

I was just saying the other day, how much I love the fall- with the pleasant days and the cool, comfortable nights. I had forgotten about the colds.

When the kids were small and the new school year had just begun, at least one of them would come home from school with a cold they picked up from someone else- and it would spread through the house. I can't say that's what happened here- since he came down with it on a Sunday night. But where ever it came from, I guess on the bright side, there are fewer of us for the cold to spread to- not that it helps Sam any. At least we have plenty of chicken soup.