RSV

We had two trips to the ER and two hospital stays due to RSV - Respiratory syncytial virus.

Thursday 2/4 Ryan and Kendal took MT Nana to the airport. Itty bitty was kind of fussy all day and by the evening she was breathing really hard. As soon as Ryan walked in the door from the airport I left for the ER.

In the ER, the doctors hooked up Natalie to an oxygen sensor and her numbers were pretty good. Then took an x-ray and an RSV swab test. We ended up about 4 hours in the ER. And about 1 in the morning they admitted Natalie to the hospital. She had a breathing treatment and some supplemental oxygen. I ended up watching her monitors for hours and falling asleep for a few hours.

Friday morning we went home. The doctors told us that it probably would get worse. So we went home and rode the roller coaster of getting better a bit and then getting worse. We tried to suction out the snot from her nose and feed her from a syringe (since she wouldn't nurse).

Saturday we called the doctors and they said to come in. But, we decided she got better enough to stay home.

Sunday we woke up, showered and went to the ER. I think at one point there were over 8 people in the room. There was no pneumonia and one nurse said that we were on the way to pneumonia if we waited any longer. Natalie was dehydrated and needed an IV. She was very lethargic due to the dehydration as well. She was also put on supplemental oxygen again. And then we were admitted to the hospital again. At this point, we just wanted her to be better. It is so hard to see your child sick.

Monday... another day in the hospital.
Tuesday... another day in the hospital. But, taken off of IV in early afternoon. Then that night she was taken off of oxygen.

Wednesday... we went home. We had our smiling baby again.

Hospital Baby

This is the face that they let leave the hospital this morning. It was a much happier face than what entered the ER last night. This face looked a lot healthier and even had a smile.

Yesterday, was a long day...

Best Dream Ever

Sometimes I remember my dreams. Sometimes I remember bits and pieces. In the middle of this dream, I realized I was dreaming. And told myself to just roll with it.

I was in the car with the hubby when Ron and Don announced a contest to win a million dollars. And hubby said to call in... just to do it. I did and we won.

And then I didn't really 'believe' it. I wanted to have the money in hand before I believed it. We got the money and this was when I realized it was a dream. I told my husband that I wanted a third child and that we were going to go to Monaco. Monaco is one of our dream trips. And we paid off all our debt.

A girl can dream...

back to work

I am officially back to work after 15 weeks off with my little girl. And the return to work this time is rough. My Mom is here to help take care of both girls, but my little spit fire will not take a bottle.

So, I failed to head the warnings from the wonderful hubby that we should give itty bitty more bottles. I thought I was doing the right thing for her and I by establishing an on-demand breastfeeding scenario. So, I basically had given itty bitty 2 bottles in three months.

Which leads us to the screaming, face scratching, hair pulling, bottle strike for 11 hours on my work days. We have tried different people, different bottles, different nipples, sippy cups, swaddling, distraction and most techniques we could think of. I have called the lactation consultant and tried her ideas to no avail.

So, each work day is a dreaded, stressful day for all members of the household.

cloth diapers

last night ryan put natalie in a paper diaper because her cloth ones were not completely dry and guess what... it leaked. :S reason #2 I love cloth diapers... less leaks.

Christmas

Natalie, Kendal and Willem on Christmas day. Natalie and Willem are about 3 weeks apart in age. (photo by Uncle Geoff)

reason #323

I was emptying out the diaper pail for garbage day for the toddlers night time pull ups. and there was no garbage bag. I was so peeved because the diapers were not rolled up into tidy little balls and there was nice big open pee diapers in there. And the smell of a week's worth of pee diapers... gah. not pretty. which made me think... i love cloth diapers.

reason #323 i love cloth diapers - no emptying of garbage pail for trash day