RSV

Well it has happened. It's been one of my worst fears since having the kids. Ever since they were born, I've become a fanatic about hand-washing, sanitizing everything, and keeping germs at bay. If I see a cashier coughing, I will get out of line and go to another. I try not to touch public door handles with my bare hands. I won't let sick people come to our house. I avoid people that appear to be sick at all costs. I don't even like to take my kids out in public during the winter months. Having a sick child is miserable. Having three sick children is torturous. And despite our best efforts, the kids have caught RSV. Just saying that sends shivers up my spine. When your children are newborns in the NICU, the nurses and doctors put the fear of God in you about your babies catching RSV. RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages. It can be very serious for infants, especially those born prematurely.
The kids have all had a cold for 2 weeks now. When it seemed to be getting worse this week, not better, I took Chase to the pediatrician because he was showing the worst symptoms. I was told it was just a cold, there's nothing they can do for a cold, and to bring him back in if he didn't show any signs of improvement over the next several days. Thanksgiving morning we woke up and Reece and Kate seemed to be getting sick all over again. Watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, a constant flow of snot running out of their noses. Imagine my worry when Kate started wheezing and her breathing became rattled. So we took them all in to see the doctor today and was horrified when the doctor told us that Kate definitely has RSV and the boys most likely have it too, even though they aren't showing the same symptoms as their sister. I think our doctor could see the fear in my eyes because she assured me that it's okay and it's not that serious right now. She also said that since it's a virus, there's nothing we can give them to make it go away, we just have to wait it out. Worst case scenario, it could last another 3 weeks. ANOTHER 3 WEEKS! That's over a month of sickness!
I have to admit that I am pretty rattled. It's scary when your little babies have a respiratory virus. We put them to bed an hour ago and I have already checked on little Kate 3 times, just to hear her breathing. We were told that if their breathing becomes labored, we need to take them to the hospital. I pray that doesn't happen; we've had enough hospital time to last us a lifetime.