Landy, Landy, Landy...Where to begin? The past few weeks, your health has definitely been a challenge for us. It started on January 10 - the battle of the ear infection. You started on Mucinex Cough that night (and have been on it ever since). After that we've gone from ear infection in the left ear, to a double ear infection, back to a single infection. We got a referral to the ENT, and go next week (the day before your first birthday) to discuss tubes.
Then about 2-3 weeks ago you started having serious mucus problems. You were coughing a lot, not eating/drinking, and throwing up (and even choking on it...it was very scary) large amounts of mucus. You've been on eye drops, nasal spray, and a few different antibiotics. Fever has come and gone.
The day after trip number 4 (in the same week) to the doctor, Mommy took you back because you were no better. Surprisingly, your ears were perfect on this visit, but you were very dehydrated. You'd thrown up 6-7x that morning, and hadn't had a wet diaper since about 2:00 the day before. Daddy was at work (this was a Friday), but Dr. M sent us straight to the hospital. We were admitted for fluids, and it took about 40 minutes to find a vein and get you hooked up to an I.V. It took four rounds of fluids to begin to get hydrated. After you began to have wet diapers, a slew of other symptoms began showing up. What we thought would be about a day in the hospital turned into 2 nights/3 days (including your first Valentines Day). Your bloodwork simply showed something viral. We battled fever, 101-103. At one point your breathing became so shallow and rapid, you were put on oxygen. The next morning you were taken off of the oxygen and given a breathing treatment. You continued to improve, and we were sent home late on Sunday.
Even after we went home, you continued to run fever off and on and your breathing was still a problem. Wednesday you had a follow up with Dr. Y. Daddy took you to this, but when Mommy get a text message at work saying you were going back to the hospital for tests, she immediately left (crying). You had x-rays of the chest and neck done, and more bloodwork, then we went home to wait for the doctor to call back with test results. She called about 5:30. It was pneumonia. They actually call this "silent pneumonia" because every time the doctor (and three different doctors took a listen!) listened, your lungs sounded clear. Your x-rays showed the right lung with fluid in it.
We were told to keep you away from people/the public (more so for your own health than anyone else's). You were given 10 days of a very strong oral antibiotic, and keep you on Mucinex (6+ weeks to-date). You've done well for the most part. Your spirit and sparkle has definitely returned. Your appetite is doing much better, though not quite 100% yet. Fever and one little vomit episode have been our only set-backs since we've come home.
There's only 11 weeks until school gets out for summer, so we are praying you'll remain healthy for these next few weeks. I stated earlier, but next week we go for a consultation concerning tubes, and are also going to be talking about having your adenoids removed. We're hoping that takes care of a lot of your health issues, though we were told that the pneumonia was not related to your ears at all.
It has been a long and exhausting (physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and even a bit spiritually) month. Overall, we do realize this is a minor health issue. It certainly gave me even more empathy for those who have family members with chronic/long-term illnesses. Overall, you're doing a lot better. We've made it through the past weeks by the grace of God and the kindness of others. Everything from friends checking on us, praying for us, bringing us food, to family members shuffling Eli, taking their own time off of work to watch Landon so we could work, to our co-workers picking up our slack the past week. All of this reminded me that God gives us grace for today. Always.
Landy, we're hoping and praying this is the end of your sickness. We've got a birthday to celebrate next week! : )
Look at this pitiful boy!
Breaking Mommy's heart
Look at that baby! I can't even handle it. I loved all the snuggles but hated my baby being so pitiful!
Feeling cheerier.
This was the closest we could get Eli to Landon, and it didn't last long. He definitely did NOT like seeing his brother hooked up to all those tubes and IVs.
Learning to adapt to one working hand.
Wagon rides around the Children's floor.
Busting out and going home!
Nana Puddin' lovin' after Landon was discharged. (Ginny and Aunt Jan also helped out, I just forgot to get pictures...oops!)
