Well, as some of you know, a lot has happened since the last post I put up. But here's the update for those of you who haven't heard.
Okay, so on Friday afternoon, Andrea didn't seem to be doing too badly, considering Rod had to bring her home from daycare at lunch time. This whole weekend, she had a runny nose and a cough, and the occasional bit of fever, but it didn't seem like anything too bad.
On Monday, she was okay at school, but within an hour of getting her home, she had a fever and was miserable all night long. Tuesday, same thing. Okay at school, and within an hour or so of getting home, she had a high fever and was miserable all night long. On Tuesday night, she vomited in her bed, too (a big, stinky mess).
Wednesday morning, she was coughing a lot, and coughed so much she kept making herself vomit. So, I kept her home from school, and stayed home with her. She spent most of the morning sleeping on me, on the couch. In the early afternoon, I had my re-re-scheduled OB appointment (didn't want to miss it again), so Rod took us; and Andrea seemed fine there. But after we got home, she went downhill again.
So, after Rod got home from work on Wednesday night, we took her to the walk-in clinic. She was coughing, feverish, and lethargic. She was working really hard to breathe again. They measured her oxygen levels there, and her saturation was borderline/low. She also had a high fever. They did another chest x-ray, and the doctor there said he suspected pneumonia. She also had some redness in her ears. Because she was labouring so hard to breathe, had such a high fever, and generally looked brutal, he called the hospital and got a direct admission for us (we got to bypass the ER wait, thank God!). He also decided to send us for an ambulance ride to the hospital, because he wanted her on supplemental oxygen, as her saturation was questionable.
Anyhow, it was past 8:00 p.m. by the time we got to the hospital, and Andrea was just exhausted. But, as per usual, she was so good about everything. They put us into a private room (woohoo!) in the paediatric ward pretty much right away, and Andrea was put on the supplemental oxygen (tubes that run over the ears, and under the nose). Then, came a series of doctors/nurses/paperwork etc., which meant Andrea would drift off to sleep, only to be woken up about 10 minutes later for some new, unpleasant thing: getting her vitals checked; getting a Ventolin mask; going down for an x-ray; seeing the doctor; getting hooked up to a pulse/oxygen saturation monitor; more Ventolin treatments; antibiotics; Tylenol; and so on.
Rod and I decided (although it broke my heart) that I should go home and sleep, and he would stay the night with her. I went back in the morning and spent the day with her, and he went to work.
The doctor (who didn't get into see Andrea until 11:30 p.m., because the ER was full of sick babies--thank God we got a direct admit!) said she has pneumonia, and also ears full of a fluid infection. He said that the virus she had last week, and this pneumonia, were two different things. He guesses her immune system was already weakened by the virus, so she was more susceptible to getting the pneumonia.
Anyway, all night and most of the day today were pretty much the same for Andrea. She would sleep for 5 minutes, wake up because of coughing (or be woken up by medical staff for various interventions) and scream for awhile, then drift off into a restless sleep. Talk about everyone being exhausted--especially poor Andrea!
The good news is, that her fever slowed down today, as the day progressed. She is not eating, but she is drinking some milk, so that's good. They were also able to take her off the supplemental oxygen tubes this afternoon, and that made her much more comfortable. She still has the pulse/oxygen monitor taped to her toe, but that doesn't seem to bother her. She also got an hour or two of GOOD sleep today (only a few wake-up cries). Later this afternoon, after that good sleep, she actually woke up and SMILED at me. I tell you, that was the best feeling ever, seeing that. She was also goofing around a bit tonight with Daddy, when he came to stay with her after work. Of course, that only lasted about an hour. She got worn out really fast, and was sleeping soundly when I left there at about 9:00 p.m. tonight.
We HOPE that she'll be released from hospital tomorrow, seeing as she improved this evening. She's still got a really bad cough, and is not eating/drinking much, but her oxygen saturation is better, and her little personality seemed to be returning to normal tonight.
Sigh.
Okay, Mommy needs to go get some rest now. Here's some pics I snapped of my poor baby when I went up to be with her this morning. I've got to say, I am so proud of her. As per usual, she's been so good, considering everything she's going through. The doctors and nurses think she's a sweetheart (which she is!). :))
Okay, so on Friday afternoon, Andrea didn't seem to be doing too badly, considering Rod had to bring her home from daycare at lunch time. This whole weekend, she had a runny nose and a cough, and the occasional bit of fever, but it didn't seem like anything too bad.
On Monday, she was okay at school, but within an hour of getting her home, she had a fever and was miserable all night long. Tuesday, same thing. Okay at school, and within an hour or so of getting home, she had a high fever and was miserable all night long. On Tuesday night, she vomited in her bed, too (a big, stinky mess).
Wednesday morning, she was coughing a lot, and coughed so much she kept making herself vomit. So, I kept her home from school, and stayed home with her. She spent most of the morning sleeping on me, on the couch. In the early afternoon, I had my re-re-scheduled OB appointment (didn't want to miss it again), so Rod took us; and Andrea seemed fine there. But after we got home, she went downhill again.
So, after Rod got home from work on Wednesday night, we took her to the walk-in clinic. She was coughing, feverish, and lethargic. She was working really hard to breathe again. They measured her oxygen levels there, and her saturation was borderline/low. She also had a high fever. They did another chest x-ray, and the doctor there said he suspected pneumonia. She also had some redness in her ears. Because she was labouring so hard to breathe, had such a high fever, and generally looked brutal, he called the hospital and got a direct admission for us (we got to bypass the ER wait, thank God!). He also decided to send us for an ambulance ride to the hospital, because he wanted her on supplemental oxygen, as her saturation was questionable.
Anyhow, it was past 8:00 p.m. by the time we got to the hospital, and Andrea was just exhausted. But, as per usual, she was so good about everything. They put us into a private room (woohoo!) in the paediatric ward pretty much right away, and Andrea was put on the supplemental oxygen (tubes that run over the ears, and under the nose). Then, came a series of doctors/nurses/paperwork etc., which meant Andrea would drift off to sleep, only to be woken up about 10 minutes later for some new, unpleasant thing: getting her vitals checked; getting a Ventolin mask; going down for an x-ray; seeing the doctor; getting hooked up to a pulse/oxygen saturation monitor; more Ventolin treatments; antibiotics; Tylenol; and so on.
Rod and I decided (although it broke my heart) that I should go home and sleep, and he would stay the night with her. I went back in the morning and spent the day with her, and he went to work.
The doctor (who didn't get into see Andrea until 11:30 p.m., because the ER was full of sick babies--thank God we got a direct admit!) said she has pneumonia, and also ears full of a fluid infection. He said that the virus she had last week, and this pneumonia, were two different things. He guesses her immune system was already weakened by the virus, so she was more susceptible to getting the pneumonia.
Anyway, all night and most of the day today were pretty much the same for Andrea. She would sleep for 5 minutes, wake up because of coughing (or be woken up by medical staff for various interventions) and scream for awhile, then drift off into a restless sleep. Talk about everyone being exhausted--especially poor Andrea!
The good news is, that her fever slowed down today, as the day progressed. She is not eating, but she is drinking some milk, so that's good. They were also able to take her off the supplemental oxygen tubes this afternoon, and that made her much more comfortable. She still has the pulse/oxygen monitor taped to her toe, but that doesn't seem to bother her. She also got an hour or two of GOOD sleep today (only a few wake-up cries). Later this afternoon, after that good sleep, she actually woke up and SMILED at me. I tell you, that was the best feeling ever, seeing that. She was also goofing around a bit tonight with Daddy, when he came to stay with her after work. Of course, that only lasted about an hour. She got worn out really fast, and was sleeping soundly when I left there at about 9:00 p.m. tonight.
We HOPE that she'll be released from hospital tomorrow, seeing as she improved this evening. She's still got a really bad cough, and is not eating/drinking much, but her oxygen saturation is better, and her little personality seemed to be returning to normal tonight.
Sigh.
Okay, Mommy needs to go get some rest now. Here's some pics I snapped of my poor baby when I went up to be with her this morning. I've got to say, I am so proud of her. As per usual, she's been so good, considering everything she's going through. The doctors and nurses think she's a sweetheart (which she is!). :))
4 comments:
Oh Julie and Rod...I'm so sorry little Andrea has been doing so poorly :( We'll be praying and thinking about her. I really hope she'll be back to herself soon. Having a sick little one is so hard on you guys too. I hope you guys have a better week next week.
Lots of love and well wishes.
Susan, Matt and Maeve
Wahhh. Looking at those pictures makes me want to cry. I don't mind being in the hospital, but I CAN'T STAND when babies or children are in there. It's the absolute worst.
I hope she gets better quickly!
Thinking of you guys.
~Donna
My poor babies! (Andrea AND Mommy and Daddy ) Just makes my heart hurt. Wish I was there.
All my love and prayers are winging their way to you.
Grandma Marty
So glad all is getting better. She looks so sad, but still adorable. Hang in there. She'll be back to her old self soon. Luv Aunt Angie
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