On the Mend...

I've been an absent blogger for the past week or two, but I promise I've had a good reason. Well, I at least had a reasonable excuse. Last Wednesday Katie was admitted to the hospital. Many of you have heard the news, but not the details. I'll do a recap in list form (in chronological order if I can).

• Katie had been running a low grade fever for a couple days so on Tuesday we took her to the pediatrician's office to be sure she was okay. After some blood work, and ear check, and a strep test - the pediatrician said it was a virus.


• Tuesday afternoon Katie's fever spiked up to 103.7! We called the pediatrician and she said to monitor her for the night and if she didn't improve, bring her in for a chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia.


• Tuesday night was terrible!


• Wednesday morning we went to the ER at 6 AM to get the chest x-ray.


• Chest Xray showed swollen lymph nodes around Katie's heart and lungs, meanwhile her fever spikes to 104.6 in the ER.


• Decision is made to admit herDoctors inform us that the swollen lymph nodes could mean one of a few things: a virus, TB, cancer, or auto-immune disease.


• 4 sets of blood work are run, 2 IV attempts (broke my heart each time she got pricked!!!)


• Tuberculosis Test was administered - the swollen lymph nodes are a common sign of TB in young children.


• Fever was terrible for the first 2 days in the hospital then finally started getting a little better on Friday.


• Friday they repeated the chest X-ray and did not see the inflamation in the lymph nodes (absolutely an answered prayer!).


• Saturday - Katie's officially fever free and we get to come home!!!!

What I learned:

• Hospital meals are rather bland!


• St. Mary's pediatric nurses and doctors are great! I would send anyone I know there (though I hope you never need to go!).


• Seeing your child as sick as Katie was last week is BEYOND scary!


• Katie's vocabulary now includes the words hospital, doctor, nurse, and IV.


• Alternating Tylenol and Motrin doesn't always work to control a child's fever.


• Hospital chairs that convert into beds are not made for 2....not even 1.5. I had to share my bed with Katie for 2 nights because it was the only way she would sleep.


• I love my daughter more than anything in the world. I knew that beforehand, but its worth reiterating.

We had so much help from our families (Nana, Papa, Abu, Popa, Aunt Sally, Aunt Kat, Uncle Rob, Cousin Claire, and Uncle Jake.....our minister Mario and church friend Jill). Everyone helped in different ways.....some brought us food, some brought us company, some brought us reading material and snacks, some brought prayer, some made get well cards, some watered our flowers, some brought comic relief, and some gave medical advice. I'm really not sure what we would have done without you all! Thanks again for your help and support.

A quick update: We've had two sets of blood work done this week since coming home. The second set of blood work was finally back to normal. So, our little bug is finally getting back to her old self.

I've included a few pictures from the hospital. FYI - I didn't take many photos the first few days - for obvious reasons! But once she started to perk up, I figured I should commemorate Katie's 2nd stay at St. Marys (the first was when she was born).