Baby S Update: Homeward Bound
Posted by: Devyl GyrlAs those of you who follow me on social sites (Plurk and Twitter and Brightkite) know that on Monday, Baby S was released from Shands hospital in Gainesville. She was still on antibiotics, but C & B were told all was going well.
So, Monday night they get home and Baby S is giggly and happy … and then surly and fussy. C & B got no sleep - Baby S needed to be held all night. Wanted to be suckling all night. Was inconsolable. Tuesday, they took her to the pediatrician’s office (already planned, she had a bump on her forehead that has been a concern for a few weeks now). While there, Baby S’s fever spikes to nearly 101. Pediatrician calls the doctor from Shands, who says if the fever gets to 101, they must get her into the hospital. Baby’s fever goes down, pediatrician releases them with orders to check the temp at least once an hour, more if they can.
Baby S’s fever spikes again … oncologist tells them get to hospital NOW. C heads that way from home, I head down to my home, see my tween, then drive out to hospital to meet C. We spend the night doing our best to console her and entertain her without agitating her. I manage to get Baby S to snuggle with me about 1:30 am and sleep, so C passes out hard. I keep Baby S with me, snuggled up, until 5:30 when the nurse comes in for rounds. Then I get a couple of hours sleep … until I realize I need to either call out or leave for work.
I decide to touch base with my coworker, who said no problem, he can handle the office. I called my boss and let him know we’re at the hospital and I’d like to say. He also says no problem (I work for such awesome people!).
So, Baby S endures an ultrasound (a bit painful, considering she just had surgery) and head xrays, as well as several blood draws and at least 8 doctors coming in to poke and prod and see what they can see. Nothing. Nothing appears to be wrong, but her counts are WAY off kilter, so they know there is a problem.
We decide to change her bandage on her port, because Baby S has managed to pull some of the paper tape away (she’s allergic to the tape they’re supposed to use, so we just have to keep her super dry). Once the bandage is off, we realize she has a red ring around her port. Then, C tells us about how the nurse at Shands had bandaged it last, and how she had turned the leads upwards to keep them away from the incision, and that the leads had caught on something and pulled the port partway out. Looking at the port site, we can see instantly that THIS is where the infection resides, or at least where it started.
The site gets cleaned super well, and re-bandaged. Several doctors come in and check it out, agree this is the problem, and start her on MORE antibiotics. One of the antibiotics is 1-hour IV drip, 4 times a day. The two others are half-hour, three times a day EACH. It was a hard day, and I am glad I took off work to stay put. (Yes, Mr. financial manager, I *know* I cannot afford it … but this is how *I* do things. I may never be rich, but I will always have the people I love close to me, period!)
All in all, it wasn’t a long hospital stay. Baby S was released earlier this evening, and now we are all at C & B’s house, resting and hoping for an uneventful and peaceful evening!
Billy made my favorite dish (chicken curry), and we sat down and watched a little tv. It has been pleasant. I miss Tween, but I will be going home to pick up Tween tomorrow after work. Then, we’re both coming here for the night. We’ll go back home for my nephew’s football game, then back here after spending some time with my friend A & her boys.
This whole post is devoid of emotion and sort of glossed over. I am sorry for that … I am just emotionally spent. The ups and downs of the last two days were insane. I left work expecting to come to C & B’s house
and relax, and ended up rushing to town to see my child, then rushing to the hospital an hour away to be with C & Baby S. I would do it all over again … but I hope we do not have to anytime soon!
Much love to all of you who have been so wonderful along the way. The prayers, thoughts, and wishes are wonderful - please please please keep them coming!
xoxo
October 24th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Hey sweetie! Hang in there. I’ll try to IM you some today if I can. We are pulling Boy outta school early today to go running around with him. His Daddy wants a lil extra time with him this visit.
We have a Halloween carnival tonight and ANOTHER one tomorrow night which I am in charge of! Gonna be a busy few but if we miss on IM you can always call me. Love you!
Tessa
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October 24th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I’m glad the little sweet pea is home. You need to do what you need to do, money is not important. I would rather have good friends and family around me than piles of money in the bank anytime! I am glad to count you as a friend - even if only virtually!
You’re the best!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
October 24th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
What troopers you all are! No wonder Baby S is doing so well. Clearly C and B are dynamite and you really are a pillar for them. WOW.
I’m so glad she’s having some good days.
On a limb with Claudia’s last blog post..Hmmm….
October 24th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
In the grand scheme of things this sounds relatively minor, I hope. I know that any sort of infection is never good news, but I hope you understand what I mean. More prayers headed your way.
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October 27th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Becster - yes, once we KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG it was relatively minor. The problem was, when we didn’t know what was wrong, it was very scary because she had been on antibiotics (the strongest available to her) for five days. When those were not working, and she STILL got sick, it was scary. She’s been through a lot in her five months of life: two bouts of cancer (two different kinds, not fighting the same one twice), three surgeries, and chemotherapy. She’s been in the hospital more than out. I’m not trying to make a big deal out of nothing here - it was a VERY big deal.
Yes, we are grateful it came to the point where it was not something to worry about … but when we were going through it, it was nothing to be blase about.