Dead Air

Sorry about the dead air! The few weeks since last post have been fairly eventful. Julianna and I went down to Atlanta to visit my friend Katy and her family for a few days and then the day after we got back Julianna came down with a HORRIBLE stomach flu or something. She had really bad stomach pain and threw up all Monday evening and night but was better on Tuesday, Wednesday, and most of Thursday. Thursday night I got a call from Ryan saying that Julianna was back in pain and throwing up again. I went down and got her - I just couldn't stand to be away from my baby when she was so sick. Anyway, she threw up all night again, so Friday morning Ryan and I took her to her doctor's office. The P.A. we saw gave us an anti nausea med for her that seemed to work that afternoon but by that evening we found ourselves in ER because she was yet again in some pretty bad pain, and we suspected, dehydrated after not being able to keep anything down for days. Well, they sent us home after a butcher mangled her arm and hand trying to take blood and a couple of x-rays. They didn't even give her IV fluids. Let's just say we were less than satisfied with our care. Anyway, Ryan and I took her back to her pediatricians' office on Saturday morning as she still couldn't eat or drink and was TERRIBLY lethargic. Her doctor took one look at her and admitted straight away to the Children's Hospital. She was so dehydrated that her blood glucose levels were in the low 40's (less than half of what they should have been) and she had NO urine output until past midnight after having IV fluids all afternoon and evening! She was SO sick! It was beyond heartbreaking. Even after hydration, Julianna's abdominal pain continued and intensified over the next couple of days. She was in so much pain that one night she screamed and writhed in pain for 3 hours and through 2 doses of morphine straight into her iv. It was really almost more than either Ryan or I could take. She continued to need 8 more doses of morphine over the next 24 hours. Really, it was bad. Anyway, they ran test after test (ultrasound, CAT scan, x-rays, urine analysis, and more blood tests than I can count) and never figured out what was causing the pain. She did have a couple of enlarged lymph nodes in her stomach, but they really didn't think they would be causing this kind of pain for so long. Anyway, on our fourth day at the hospital, she really just turned the corner and was discharged. That was last Tuesday. Since then she has a bit of tummy pain and some diarrhea, but has steadily gotten better. Actually she has been doing really well the past couple of days and is eating like a horse! And most of the time I would be exaggerating if I said she ate like a mouse! I took her to her pediatricians' office on Tuesday for a follow up and she had already gained back all the weight she had lost over the previous couple of weeks! Anyway, we still don't know what was causing all of the pain and vomiting but she's pretty much made a full recovery, so we'll take it! Through it all, Julianna was no less than incredible. She was afraid and sick and in pain, but was still a champ. She didn't move a muscle and didn't have to be at all sedated for her CAT scan (and also drank every drop of that contrast despite the fact that it tasted beyond horrible). And, I'm sure they tell all the parents this, but we were repeatedly told by doctors, nurses, and technicians what a special, amazing little girl we have. We agree! And you're not going to believe this, but I didn't take one picture. I didn't have my camera because I didn't know we were going to be admitted directly from the dr's office. Maybe it's a good thing I don't have any - those were pretty dark days for us all. She just looked so tiny in that hospital bed with those tubes and machines. I really just cannot imagine how people with children with prolonged illnesses do it. I really thought I might lose it after 4 days. It is nearly impossible to sleep or eat or bathe while your child is in the hospital, especially if she is in pain and you feel like you can hardly leave her side to go to the bathroom. Nightmare.

Anyway, I do have a couple of cute little Julianna stories from the past couple of days and some pics to post.

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Yesterday I had a rare headache.

Julianna: Mama, do you want to play cards (Go Fish) with me?
Me: I'm sorry but I can't. I have a pretty bad headache.
Julianna: Do your hands hurt?
Me: No...
Julianna: Then we can play cards! Come on.

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I was checking my email and Julianna was supposed to be "playing quietly" since she has given up naps. I heard the water running, which is never a good thing with a 3 year old. I left my room and she met me in the hall.

Me: Are you making a mess?
Julianna: (in her most innocent voice) No, I'm not making a mess.
Me: Good.
Julianna: But...Punkin did knock over a big bowl of water.

I go to check out the damage. Huge mixing bowl of water dumped on the carpet in the den.

Me: (completely exasperated) OOOHHHH Julianna....
Julianna: No Mama, you mean OOOOHHHH Punkin.....

Hard not to laugh! That kid is a mess!

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Atlanta Pics:

There was a dusting of snow while we were there, but for these Southern kids, it was super exciting! Snow Angels!


My sweet Hannah.


Brrrr!


"Warm (NOT HOT) Chocolate and smarshmellows"


Julianna and Ansley playing some game Jules was crazy about.


Rub-a-dub-dub three girls in a tub (Turn them out - knaves all three!).





First time bowling! J LOVED it, but when did it get so darn expensive? I thought bowling was a poor man's sport!



Julianna's arm after leaving the ER. I count at least 8 sticks, and as you can tell, she never even hit a vein. Moved to her hand next. It was awful. They were MUCH better at getting the veins in the Children's hospital. As a matter of fact, they actually had dedicated IV teams. Too bad J was already traumatized by this experience. I do know that it can be hard to get a vein on a dehydrated child, but come on....


Just cute. Feeling better...


My fave.


Snow White.