Lung Infections ...

It's been a grey-clouds-touching-the-ground kind of day here in Antwerpen - both literally and figuratively.

Little Miss Three caught the latest flu last weekend and we thought it was a simple case of her ongoing introduction to Northern Hemisphere germs ... the same flu all our friends were talking of; the same flu that had reached epidemic proportions here in Belgium.

We kept her warm and inside but not too warm as she was struggling with fever sometimes. On Wednesday she seemed to be better in the morning so we decided not to take her to the doctor's before Thursday's public holiday. Thursday, she hadn't improved.

Friday morning we left her mum in bed coughing with flu and headed off to the doctors only to discover, much to our horror, that she has a lung infection. It was borderline as to whether she needed IV antibiotics in hospital or could go for a big dose of antibiotics at home. The doctor went for the second choice as little Miss Three was surprisingly perky when she had painkiller in her. Reassuringly enough, she's not listless and lethargic.

In fact, it turns out that our little Antipodean is quite tough and two doses of antibiotics already have her leaping about the room, acting out scenes from 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' movie she's watching.

We're delighted, encouraging her back into her bed on the couch but delighted all the same.