The latest BabyCenter update was promising :

Congratulations – your little one is now 3!  Many of your child’s basic movements have become second nature. He/she no longer needs to focus energy on walking, standing, running, or jumping…

More fun is in store for you now that she’s no longer a baby: She’s probably holding her own in conversations and running and jumping like an athlete, and will soon write her full name.

The reality, however, was quite different.  For the past 10 days, Pumpkin was unwell.  At first, it was the flu, accompanied by a bad cough.  At about the same time, the wife was expected to leave for China for a week.  After five days of paracetamol, Pumpkin was just beginning to recover, when the flu turned into a chest infection!

Since last Monday or so, the condition kept getting worse.  The persistent cough was simply wearing her out, and the chest infection refused to go away.  She was quite weak with exhaustion, and would not even eat any thing.  Pumpkin soon lost all her enthusiasm and energy.  We had to start a course of antibiotics.

I took some time off from work, and started operating from home.  Taking care of her, in the absence of her mother and in these circumstances, was quite a task.  Even more so, since my mom and the house maid also fell ill at around the same time.  But, that was nothing, compared to the sheer… agony of watching her in that condition.

Pumpkin had always been a spirited child.  Boundless energy was her trademark.  Only a few days ago, she had competed – and won – in her playschool’s Annual Sports Day races… The whole world recognized her for her joyful nature and enthusiasm.  And, here she lay in bed – almost motionless – coughing violently every few minutes… not eating a morsel or moving an inch…  It was almost as if Pumpkin had forgotten how to smile.  And, as much as I’ve learned from the experience, I wish no parent need ever go through such a time, if it can be helped. 

Recovery was very very gradual, at the beginning.  A multitude of medicines to ingest every few hours, and very little intake of food!  Luckily, she was drinking enough water.  Several visits to the clinic happened in the course of a week, and she started showing some signs of progress…

In any case, we decided to postpone her birthday party from the 4th to the 18th of Feb.  Her birthday was on the 2nd of Feb, but she would not even be in a position to respond to good wishes on the 2nd.  So, we actually told all our friends and relatives that we’re going to tell her, her birthday is on the 4th.  By then, she would be better – we were sure of it.

The last 2 days have been nothing short of remarkable, in terms of her recovery.  Her physical activity is getting back to normal, and she has begun eating and talking again… Today, we finally celebrated her birthday at home.  Nothing fancy.  Just a few presents and singing the birthday song.  Mama’s baked a cake for her, which we plan to cut later this evening…  It seems like life is  s-l-o-w-l-y  getting back to normal.

Most importantly, my little child – Pumpkin – has learned how to smile again!