Up until Tuesday, I would have said both of our children were blessed with a strong immune system. In Elijah's first year of life he experienced one illness that required antibiotics and after he turned two had an episode of croup. But other than that, not a big deal. Allison was just about 9 months old and outside a cold or two, she hadn't been sick.
Last Monday Elijah woke up with a runny nose and some minor congestion. I didn't think anything of it and we went on with our lives. On Wednesday BJ said he was feeling like he was coming down with something as well. By Thursday or Friday Allison was starting to show signs of a runny nose too. We took it easy over the weekend and I continued to go about our life. By Sunday night, the mild cold started to show its ugly side. I made a parent/teacher call to keep Allison home becauseshe just looked horrible. Even though her temp was not over 100, I knew that wouldn't last long.
I spent the day Monday giving her fever reducing meds and after the 4 hours went by would see if her temperature would start to rise. It would, and would be up around 99.8 so I would give more medicine. By 2:00 in the afternoon I made the decision that she wasn't going to be fever free long enough to go to school the next day either. I called BJ and told him that he should plan to take at least a half day for Tuesday so I could make it to several meetings. Ironically enough, Allison also had her 9 month well visit Tuesday in the late afternoon so I figured anything wrong with her could wait to see the doctor until then, but just on the safe side I would call and see if we could move it to earlier in the day. That way we would have something to do. They were able to get us in by 9:15 and that would put me at ease to have her ears looked at and an overall exam. I didn't think they would push back her shots, but if they did, it would be fine I would just go back next week. Monday we went to bed with our baby medicated and ready to get up every few hours to remediate.
By 2 or 3 in the morning Alli was up with a cry of pure misery. That sick baby cry that was only would calm when being held. We took turns having her sleep on our chest each getting an hour or so before we would switch. Around 3:30 I remember making a comment to BJ that she is breathing so fast, she can't take a deep breath. Tuesday I got ready for work and took the boy with me. I told BJ I would have my phone on me and to let me know if the doc put her on antibiotics. I went into my 8:00 meeting and at around 10:00 I texted BJ because I still hadn't heard from him. By 10:15 I still hadn't heard from him but just thought he was busy with the talking, and shots and all that stuff. I wasn't worried, and I was in my second meeting. At 10:40 BJ let me know Allison he RSV and they were through a breathing treatment. At this point I figured she was home, on our couch. I didn't hear otherwise so I just figured they sent them home with a stop at the pharmacy to pick up some meds. I also started losing focus in my meeting and looking up RSV. Nothing to scary, especially since I thought they were at home. Minutes later, I am told she is on her second treatment and get a picture of her with her mask on. At 11:00 I am done with my meeting and go check on all my kids. I stop and talk with my supervisor and teachers. I head upstairs to pack up, give Elijah's car seat to the person bringing him home and tie up some loose ends.
At about 11:30 I look down at my phone and see the text "I need you. She is being admitted to the hospital." At this point my heart stops. My baby is at home, why is she going to the hospital? What hospital? What is going on?
I try to call BJ but he doesn't answer. I grab my bag and my keys and head to Elijah's class. I tell him to go home with the neighbor and I am going to the hospital to be with Alli. I try BJ again and still can't get a hold of him. I am digging through my car looking for my hands free still trying to get a hold of BJ. I finally do and a huge weight comes off my shoulders for about a second. I start throwing questions at BJ. Where is she going, why is she going, what's going on? And that huge weight that was on my shoulders comes back 10 times bigger when he can't form a sentence, and when he does is, "I'll send you a text."
As I'm driving I get the info I was looking for, they are worried about her oxygen levels and want to monitor her overnight. Then I get a confusing text that makes me believe she was transferred by ambulance. It wasn't until this point that I realize they never left the doctor office. I call him back and need to know who has my baby. Once BJ reassures me he has her I am able to breathe easier. I run home grab some things and head to the hospital. On the way there I call Bj's mom and tell her what's going on, and that BJ might need to talk to her.
The whole way to the hospital I'm fine, I fly into the parking garage and into the valet parking. I still didn't know where in the massive building my baby was. I walk in and the first thing I see was the information desk. I walk up to it and low and behold the first person I see behind the desk is a member of our church and all I have to say is "BJ and the baby are here, somewhere but I don't know where" she looks through her system and can't find them but sends me to the ER. I finally find them at registration and we get sent to a room.
This is what we got.
We went into "contamination" mode. We had to wear a smock any time we are in the room, the baby couldn't leave, and some of the staff would wear face masks. Every two hours they would come in and give her a breathtaking treatment which required her to be fully restrained by me while the therapist held the mask on her face while she screamed. At 3 we decided I would stay the night with her and BJ left to get Elijah and stuff for me for the night. The baby torture continued every two hours until she slept. Then they kept doing the treatments through the night. I bairly left the room because it felt weird to leave your 9 month old baby unattended in a weird place. As she slept her oxygen levels would drop low, setting off the alarm, but never needing oxygen. By 1:00 I was able to sleep through the alarm, but not well.
Wednesday the doctor came back and indicated we would probably be staying another night. I knew I would stay with her all that day, but wanted to sleep. At 7:00 we hear she is going home and we have the crash course in how to give the treatments at home. At 8:00 BJ leaves to grab the meds before the pharmacy closes and at 8:30 I get sent home with baby. From that moment on we had to give her treatments every 4 hours, most were fine, except the 3 am one.
Thursday was more treatments and I went back to work. Friday I stayed home and took Allison to her follow up.
She was then dropped to every 5-6 hour treatments and to come back Monday to see how she is doing and possibly give her those nine month shots we didn't get one Tuesday. We are starting to sleep better, but still up multiple times through the night. Tonight will be our first night at 6 hours so wish us luck.
