Living at the Hospital

All day Wednesday Vivie was struggling to breathe normally, puked a half-dozen times because she couldn't catch a breath in between coughs and had pretty severe retractions. Curt came home from a two-day business trip that night so I took Vivie into the Dr. to be assessed.

So far it has turned into a 2 night escapade at Rady Children's Hospital instead! (with more nights to come---she's not consistently improving). Our pediatrician treated her Wednesday night and she persisted with deep retractions, very labored breathing, and low oxygenation. So, with all these things stacked up against her, the Dr. called 9-1-1 from the office to have Vivie transported by ambulance to Childrens' Hospital downtown so she could receive the proper care during the 45 minute ride. I've never followed my child in an ambulance before...that was a first.

Her chronic lung disease is just now showing off in a way we'd rather it didn't. She tested negative for RSV which is great, but the head Dr. seems to think the tech just didn't get a good swab because her symptoms are certainly worse than her roommate's who does have RSV. So either way, they treat the symptoms and she's been exposed (lovely) and is just hanging out on oxygen...still satting in the high 80's/low 90's, receiving breathing treatments and steriods every couple of hours as well as a deep lung suction.

I had my two-day, two-night fill of that hospital room so Curt and I are now playing tag so I can have a real bed tonight and take a breather---with 5 other kids. Who knew? It's easier and makes me less crazy to hang out with the 5 kids at home than with 1 couped up in a germ-infested hospital room for that long of a stretch. And it's less-stressful for Curt to sit in a hospital room where Izzie isn't needy for her daddy every 5 seconds and where he's able to get his paper work done, prepare his Gospel Doctrine lesson, etc. So we make a good tag-team.

It's still difficult for me to leave Vivie's side, but I hadn't seen my other kiddos since Wednesday evening and they need to know they still have a mom. I keep having to remind Curt that it's been much, much worse before with Vivie's health and to be grateful it's not a problem that would require surgery. And I'm a capable mom not on bedrest this time! It's still difficult to live the logistics of all of it though.

Dear Vivie is handling it....well, like a fighter. She's receiving oooh's and ahhh's from all the nurses & Doc's who think she's the cutest thing they've ever seen. She certainly looks like she's as healthy as a horse in these photos with her 'hospital issue' wardrobe, but when you listen to and watch her breathe you know there's issues. She sure lets us know when she's uncomfortable or doesn't like being restrained for her deep-suction and I think she holds grudges with the RT's (respiratory therapists) who do all the fun stuff on her. She was not able to tolerate the oral steroids---has thrown up several times. I want those nurses who repeatedly tried to administer them to her to taste the steroid for themselves and see why they leave Vivie's room with puke adorning their front-sides.! I tasted it....and I still feel like puking!

When they see this kind of severe respiratory illness in a x-micro-preemie they keep them hospitalized until they've been off of oxygen for 8 consistent hours, satting in the high 90's. She's far from that right now and we've been told a 5-6 day stay is not out of the ordinary for these cases. JOYS. One of us has to be by her side at all times--It's not like the NICU where she lived for her first 100 days. These nurses are not as attentive and have 3x the amount of patients. The parents do much of the 'nursing' and care so I'm thankful it's the weekend so Curt is free to help, but come Monday we'll probably have to call on some help with the little ones at home.

So I need to log off this time-sucker I call the computer and pay attention to the kids that just walked in the door. I'll post updates as she improves. For now, please keep her in your prayers. Now for sure I'll be ready for a weekend retreat without kids in the very near future--anyone else game? I think I deserve it....dang it! (smiles)