Here's the story

I'm not even sure what to title this post, so I'm just gonna get right into it.  Here's the story...

So, my last post was about Claire's tube surgery on Thursday.  That all went perfectly!  She did great and was super brave and feeling better almost instantly.  She was done and home by 4:00 so we decided to pack up the car and leave for Milwaukee (which we had originally planned to do that morning) for my Grandpa's memorial service.  We got there around midnight.

On Friday we hung out with family, which was super fun.  My cousins and aunts and uncles are so spread out (all over the world!) so it was great to all be together and get a chance to catch up.  All four of us were pretty miserable with bad coughs and congestion but nothing seemed too serious at that point.  

The memorials service was scheduled for 11 am on Saturday.  Right when we all woke up, I knew something was wrong with Emma. After waking up, she cried for about an hour straight before finally falling asleep again.  I took her temp and it was 101.2 so I knew something wasn't right.  I figured her cold had probably turned into an ear infection.  We decided we would go to the service for my grandpa and if she was still fussy, maybe take her to an urgent care.  During the service (which was great.. more on that later), was when I really started to get scared.  She was totally lethargic, couldn't stay awake, couldn't keep her eyes open, and wouldn't smile or even make eye contact with me.  My parents and cousins took Claire with them to the luncheon we were supposed to go to after the funeral and Justin and I left to take Emma to urgent care.  

By the time we got there, her fever was up to 102.8.  They gave her Tylenol and after an hour, it still hadn't come down.  They did a chest x-ray and determined that she had pneumonia.  She continued to be very lethargic the whole time we were there.  I had to wake her up to nurse her and she hardly would nurse at all.  The doctor wrote a prescription for an antibiotic and was going to send us on our way.  They wanted to check her oxygen levels just to be sure.  Her levels were dropping and they became concerned.  They did a breathing treatment, hoping that would help, which it didn't.  At that point, they decided we'd need to go to the Children's Hospital in Milwaukee to be admitted for further testing.  So, after about 3 hours, they sent us to the hospital.

At this point, we called my parents and asked them to figure out how to break into our hotel room and pack a bag of our stuff, since we'd be staying with Emma at the hospital.  We got to the hospital and proceeded to have the worst experience I've ever had at a medical facility (except for the time when I had my ectopic pregnancy and they made me wait in the ER waiting room for over an hour while I was in the most excruciating pain...but that's another story for another day...).  They put us in this teeny tiny room and said the doctor would be with us shortly.  TWO HOURS LATER, the doctor finally came in and did her exam.  She said that she didn't agree with the urgent care place and didn't think Emma has pneumonia (even though she didn't see the chest xray).  Emma's oxygen levels continued to be low, she continued to be lethargic, and her fever still wasn't coming down.  But, this doctor decided that Emma had a virus and there was nothing they could do, so after 5 hours there, they sent us home.  By that time, my parents had just arrived at the hospital with our packed bags and dinner, since we hadn't eaten in 12 and 1/2 hours.  After many frustrated tears, we talked with my parents and the doctor again and, even though I knew Emma had something serious going on, we agreed to take her home.

We got to the hotel and crashed.  It had been the longest day ever.  Sunday morning we packed up our stuff, had breakfast with some family, and then headed on our way home.  Emma seemed to be doing better and her fever was gone.  On the way home, we decided to stop for ice cream and to feed Emma.  As soon as we got into the restaurant, I knew she was feeling bad again.  She was burning up, refused to nurse, and couldn't stop crying.  We got in the car and I immediately called and talked to the pediatrician from our office who was on call.  She agreed that Emma had some alarming signs and said it sounded like RSV to her.  She was surprised when I told her that the ER we were at the day before didn't test for RSV.  Anyway, she said to try nursing her and getting her fever below 100 and if we weren't able to, to bring her to the ER when we got home.  

She wasn't very interested in nursing when we got home and her fever was 100.1 so we decided to make another trip to the ER.  My friend Bridget came right over to stay with Claire while we were gone.  This ER experience was SO. MUCH. BETTER. than the one we had the day before.  They immediately recognized that she was a sick little girl and started doing tests right away.  They did another chest xray, bloodwork, several breathing treatments, and an RSV test.  By this time, Emma's fever was up to 103 and she was struggling for each breath.  She was groaning and grunting and was just the saddest sight.  They determined that she had a double ear infection, RSV, and bacterial pneumonia and said she'd need to be admitted for further observation because they were concerned about her breathing.  All I could think of was how I knew all along that something was seriously wrong and I felt so disgusted with those other ER doctors.  How could they send a 6 month old baby home in this condition?!  

Justin went home to stay with Claire and I stayed with Emma at the hospital.  They did several breathing treatments through out the night and today, gave her oral steroids for her cough, and gave her two antibiotic shots for the pneumonia and ear infections.  She was doing MUCH better today and was able to breathe much easier.  Her pediatrician came to evaluate her and decided she was doing well enough to come back home.  We got home around 4 and Justin took Claire to my parents' house so we can have some time to rest without her here tonight and tomorrow.  Emma is on an antibiotic and we're taking her in tomorrow morning to see how she's doing.  

So that's one surgery, one urgent care trip, two ER visits, and one hospital admission in a matter of four days.  WOW!!!  I hope the worst is behind us.  I'm so thankful for the intuition God gives mothers.  I just could feel in my gut that something wasn't right.  So, although it may have seemed crazy to go to the ER two days in a row, I'm glad God impressed it upon my heart that we needed to take her.  Emma was well taken care of and I'm thankful for such great healthcare and for doctors that truly care about their patients.  And, have I mentioned that we have the best friends and family a girl could ask for?!  I can't tell you how many concerned texts, phone calls, and messages we got over the last few days.  We have meals coming from several different friends, offers to take care of Claire, and tons of people praying for our girls.  All I can say is I'm overwhelmed by how much people care.  Thank you for loving us enough to help us out.       



Emma in her hospital crib.



Claire visiting her baby sissy at the hospital.

As I was just writing the caption for the last picture, I remembered the cutest thing.  Claire and Justin came to pick us up when Emma was discharged today.  They got there before things were completely done, so they were there when the nurse came in to give Emma her antibiotic shot.  The nurse was getting things ready and talking about how sorry she was that she had to give her this shot.  Emma started to whimper when the nurse started cleaning off Emma's leg for the shot and Claire yells, "Be brave, Emma!"  She also wanted to hold Emma as soon as she got there to see her.  She's such a caring and compassionate big sister. 

Anyway, there's the story!  Let's just say that I'm beyond exhausted and heading straight to bed after publishing this post.  :)