Apprehension

3 weeks after they were able to bring their baby boy home, Ethan’s allergies hit with a vengeance.  He’d woken up half a dozen times before midnight to sneeze, and finally Tim had offered to take baby duty solo so he could take Benadryl.  When Ethan walked into the living room, fresh from the shower the following morning, Tim was finishing burping Andrew, post bottle.   

He turned to Ethan.  “Here.  Take him while I shower.”  He held out their son. 

Ethan shook his head.  “Just lay him down.”  He sniffled, bringing his elbow up and burying a strong sneeze into it.  “HatChoo!” 

“He just got up.  And he just ate.” 

“Can’t you hold him a bit longer?” 

Tim frowned.   It wasn’t like Ethan to be hesitant to be hands on with their son.   If anything, Tim had to tell him to stop fussing with the baby.   “I’d really like a shower.”  He held Andrew out towards Ethan. 

Ethan didn’t move to take him, just looked apprehensive. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“I’m sneezing right now.” 

“And?  You’ve taken care of him while you’ve had your morning sneeze routine before.” 

Ethan frowned.  “Not like this.  I’ve been up half an hour and sneezed at least a dozen times.  I’ll drop him.” 

“You’re not going to drop him.” 

“HatShoo!”  The force of the sneeze pulled Ethan forward. “Just let this slow down first.” 

Tim sighed, but placed the baby in the bouncer.  “If he starts crying…” 

“I’ll take care of him.”  Ethan promised, blowing his nose. 

He sat there watching his son, bouncing the seat gently with his foot.  As always, when he looked at his son, he wondered about him.  Rubbing his itchy eyes, he sincerely hoped their child wouldn’t get Tim’s allergies and asthma and have to go through this.  He reached for a tissue as Andrew started crying.   He tried bouncing the rocker with his foot again as he blew his nose with little success at calming him.    

Biting his lip, he got up and picked up the baby, sitting back down on the couch with him.   “Shhhh.”  He whispered, soothingly, gently rocking him.  Bracing him against his leg, he turned his head towards his shoulder, clinging to his son.  “AhShoo!” 

Relieved to see his son was still safely in his lap, he continued rocking him and trying to soothe him.  3 minutes and another sneeze later, Andrew was still crying.   Ethan gave a deep sniffle and had a thought.   Maybe, a diaper change was needed; the kid had just finished breakfast.  His nose was just stuffed up enough that he’d have trouble noticing.   He squeezed the diaper, noticing it felt bulkier than a dry one.    

‘Great,’ he thought. ‘Now I have to figure out how to get him to the nursery without sneezing and dropping him.’ 

He sat on the couch, cursing his usual morning sneezing fit, his allergies for making it worse, Tim for having to shower right then, while still trying to soothe the small boy. 

“HatChoo!”  ‘Ok,” was the next thought.  ‘I’ve got time to get him to the bedroom before I sneeze again.” 

Pressing the baby to his chest, he made his way to the baby’s room and laid him on the changing table.   One hand on the baby’s stomach, he pulled out wipes and a fresh diaper, then the tissue from his pocket for a quick one handed blow.   “Sorry for the delay bud, but don’t need my nose running while I do this.” 

His son’s response was more wails. 

Hand still on the baby, he began to undo the diaper, then brought his head to his shoulder for another “HatShoo!”     

“Sorry, kid.”  He said as he began working on the diaper change.  “Your dads have allergies.   Hope you don’t get them.”   As the fresh diaper was placed, the bawling stopped.   “Ok, gotta wait a minute.  Don’t want to sneeze while I’m walking with you.”  He gently tickled Andrew’s foot watching the baby’s face crinkle in a smile, then a yawn.  “Sleepy after all that breakfast, huh?  We’ll get you a nap in just a…AtShoo!”  Another one handed blow, and he picked up his son. 

Back on the couch, he again held the baby across his lap.   “We’ll try this.   But if I keep you awake, then it’s back in the bouncer.” He gently rocked Andrew as he yawned again, and his eyes closed. 

Tim appeared from the bedroom minutes later, and Ethan looked up, holding a finger to his lips.  “He’s sleeping.” He said softly.    

“You didn’t drop him.”  Tim took a seat in his recliner. 

“HahShoo!”  Ethan again buried his nose in his shoulder, then looked down at his son, who shifted, but didn’t wake. 

“Or wake him.”  Tim grinned.  “Worried for nothing.” 

“Oh yeah,” Ethan grinned.  “Wait until your allergies kick in.”