RSV

It's been awhile. Oh I have alot of material to post and catch up on. I have some videos too. However, since someone in our family has been sick since Thanksgiving, it has been a tough couple of months. All of us have been on antibiotics... twice. Three times for Daddy. But it all came to head yesterday when Lu spent the day in the ER. She had just been at the doctor last week and diagnosed with her second ear infection in two months. She was prescribed another round of antibiotics. But instead of getting better Lu just got worse and worse. On Monday she had a coughing fit so bad she threw-up all over her jumperoo. Monday night and Tuesday night were horrible. Lucy would just scream and scream in pain which would evolve into coughing fits where she couldn't catch her breath. She would try to nurse and couldn't because of the massive amounts of snot.  For the past 2 months I don't think I have had more than 5 hrs total sleep per night. Usually in 1-2hr increments. To say that I am sleep deprived would be an understatement. In fact in the past week, I haven't had more than 3 hrs of sleep the entire night b/c of how sick and miserable Lucy is/was. Thank God we have a plug-in swing that can sit Lucy up and she sleep somewhat comfortably for a little.

Anyway, this nasty wet cough and congestion had descended on Lucy over the weekend and I was struggling to survive the day so I could survive the night. Oh Nora, don't think you were an angel during any of this. You were/are sick too and haven't exactly been a joy to parent either. But at least you are sleeping where Lucy is not. But for good reason that I didn't realize. Thank God for Marta who said to me yesterday morning, "I really think you should call your pediatrician. Lucy is struggling to breath."

Now before you give me the worst parent of the year award, her signals of breathing issues were slight and she was already sick and on antibiotics. I had taken to her to the doctor less than a week before. But. RSV has a way of coming on quickly and causing havoc on an infant body. I didn't know this. Nora you were always so healthy. I never had to deal with this level of illness before.

So yesterday, we dropped you off at Ms. Pattis and Lucy and I went to the doctor where they immediately gave us a nebulizer machine and a breathing treatment. But it didn't work like it should have. Her little lungs still tugging and wheezing. Lucy's airway was swollen and irritated. Our pediatrician sent us to the ER for further tests and a chest x-ray. 6 hours later were discharged with a diagnosis of RSV. Thank goodness we were not admitted. Apparently babies with severe RSV get admitted frequently for treatment. Praise the Lord for awesome family and friends. Trish met Lucy and I in the ER triage and sat with us and held Lucy so I could run to the bathroom. Marta brought me lunch and made sure all of the nurses and doctors did their job well. Since I was not planning to go to the ER from the pediatrician, I was lucky to have a few diapers and change of clothes with me. The hospital gave us a lovely Linus blanket for Lucy since I didn't even have her blankie with us! Oiy!

Her little lungs were working too hard probably all weekend and I was just holding her over a humidifier thinking I was just a bad mom for not being able to make her feel better and make her more comfortable. Oh did I mention the really high fever? The refusal of food? The constant crankiness / clinginess?  It was bad. It is bad.

Now Lucy has to have a nebulizer treatment every 4 hours around the clock. So although Lucy's mood, eating, and cough is getting much much better today, my sleep deprivation is not. But it's a small price to pay.

AND! AND! I forgot to mention our miracle swing that was giving me 3-5hrs of sleep a night decided that its motor was going to piff on Monday morning. So I had little to no sleep Monday night into Wednesday before Daddy found a used swing on craigslist to replace our broken one. As if a critical virus isn't enough with us to deal with... the universe had to take the one thing that gave us some relief. But we lived through it. I am here today with one replacement swing, one nebulizer machine, a large supply of albuterol, Tylenol and Motrin and the largest bulb syringe for all that snot. And one sick little girl who seems to be (please please please) on the mend.

Last night, Daddy got home and hugged me knowing what a trial the entire ordeal was. I mentioned to him in all the craziness I had forgotten to tell him that we might have to buy Lucy's nebulizer at cost. Her pediatrician could not guarantee that it would be covered by our health insurance but in desperation to get Lucy better, I accepted financial responsibility regardless of medical coverage. So I told your father, "We might have to shell out 80 bucks for her machine." And he responded: "I think 80 dollars is worth it so our daughter can breath."

Touche Daddy. Touche.

Did I mention our lovely Sony camera broke again?!? Same issue. SIGH. This makes the THIRD time. It's in Texas being repaired as we speak. And I wouldn't have had that camera with me anyways, in a pinch my iphone camera had to suffice...


Getting her first breathing treatment in the pediatrician's office



Good photo of the Linus blanket!



Feeling better after some baby gatorade!



Big room and big bed for a little girl.

What a crazy ride these last few weeks have been. I can barely function most days, let alone blog. I pray we've turned a corner and we can return to our regular scheduled programming.