Croup vs Asthma

My poor little Matthew.  For the past few days, I just thought he had croup.  He has had a really hard time breathing and had the yucky croup cough.  Several times in the night, I almost took him to the ER - but it never got quite that bad.  Then today, after having to sleep most of last night on the couch with him with the window open (and let me tell you it has gotten cold here - I had to turn the heater on last night) - I took him to the doctor.  At first this morning, I thought he was better but he started going downhill around 11 and fast.  When we finally got to the doctor, he was having as really hard time - while waiting for the doctor I almost went out and found the doctor a couple of times because he could barely breath.  When she came in, I told her what had been going on and she checked him out.  The first thing she said was that he had an ear infection.  What!  Not Matthew!  He is the only one that doesn't have ear problems (the rest have all had tubes).  Then she listened to his breathing.  She said it didn't really sound like croup (or look like croup from how he was breathing) but that it sounded like asthma - it was coming from his lungs and it was on the exhale and not inhale (croup is problems with the inhale and asthma the exhale).  So, they had him do a breathing treatment of albuterol (seen in the picture - luckily I had my cell phone).  After the treatment, when the doctor came and listened to him again, she said it really sounded like asthma now but she could hear some in his throat (croup like).  So, they gave him decadron (sp?) covered up by Hershey's syrup to help with the swelling in his throat (and lungs).  We are also going to start treating him for a croup like asthma (there is a name for it but I can't remember - it is croup that sounds like asthma) since he has been in 4 times already this year for croup - not normal.  We are going to give him Flovent every day through an inhaler and have albuterol for the flare ups.  We are going to see how he does with this through the winter and then re-evaluate.  Anyway, long story short - went in for croup, came out with an ear infection, asthma and 4 prescriptions.  I just hope this all helps the poor little guy - he is so miserable (but still - there are much much worse things).