Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Next Year, We're Skipping January!

As we have struggled with the loss of our 20 month old, we are also struggling with c-dificile and shigella, both of which attack the digestive areas. They have almost identical symtoms and together make a very mean bug. We have all had some sort of issue or another with one or both of them and were hoping that it would finally come to an end. It started with Nora on the 8th with the throwing up, it included Olivia, Grammy, Papa, Tori (who's little body couldn't handle them with the steroids), myself, and even Sean a little. Well, this last Thursday, Isabelle came down with it and was behaving just the way Toria did. We were so scared. Sean had already left for work, so I called my brother-in-law Sean to come give her a blessing and I called the Dr. He said to take her to the ER. So Sean carried her downstairs and then out to the van. He followed me to the ER and carried her in and then headed off to take Spencer to school and to go to work.

We got there around 9:00am and finally around 2:30pm they sent us up to the peds floor. They said that because of family history, they wanted to hospitalize her and get her started on antibiotics through her IV. It took a whole bag of fluid just to get her to pee, so she had been pretty dehydrated. They gave us Saturday as the day she would probably be leaving. She was constantly up going to the bathroom, but was pretty worn out on Thursday. By Friday she was so much better and was up by 4:30am and ready to start the day. Daddy stayed with her Friday night, but not before he went down to the ER with me so that I could get tests done, since my Dr. wanted me to. I spent 2-21/2 hours down there to confirm that I was not dehydrated and get a stool sample. They sent me home with the promise of test results soon...

Saturday, we found out that Belle had to be in the hospital until her antibiotics were complete - on Tuesday! We were really discouraged, since she was feeling so much better, but she was still running to the bathroom a lot. Sean again stayed with her Saturday night and I headed over around 1pm on Sunday. We spent some time together and then we had to see Daddy off to be home for the kids. Belle had not been getting very good sleep and fell asleep around 7pm. Aunt Sara and Daddy came up to visit, but she was so out of it that when I tried to wake her up to tell her she had guests, she just said "I don't care." and turned over and went back to sleep. We got a kick out of that! She slept through the night and didn't wake up until 12 hours later. Her nurse was so wonderful that night and tried so hard not to disturb her. By Monday she was bouncing off the walls! We kept bringing her things to do, but when you are stuck in one room...

My Dr. called and said that the test results showed that I had both bacterias and that I would be referred to the Center for Disease Control. I don't know how much more I can handle of this mess. Belle's Dr. also told me that she wouldn't be leaving until Wednesday! Sean and I were very unhappy and I ended up calling Dr. Brooks office. His receptionist called me back and let me know that it would be Tuesday. Mom brought the little girls up and I took them home so that the three of us could get a nap. Between the Health Department wanting to know every detail so that they might find a common connection between our cases and others that have shown up, and all the different doctors offices calling, there wasn't much napping for me. When Daddy and Caleb both got home, we all headed over there and Daddy even stopped and picked up some pizza on the way. It was a big celebration for our last night there.

She got the all clear to go and we were out by about 12:30pm on Tuesday. It was such a relief! During this time, Sean and I have spent so little time together. We are still trying to deal with the lose of our Tori and to not have each other to lean on has been so difficult. Being able to focus on the here and now with Belle has helped me, but as I am home while Sean takes a shift, I feel it so heavy again. I can only imagine how this has been for him. Yesterday, Mom went to pick up the girls from school and our sweet health person had to tell us that the girls couldn't come back to school until their stool had been tested. The health department had called them, but hadn't bothered to call us! I was so upset. And after many stool samples at the hospital, we got a call that Belle has to give another today...When will it be enough? Oh, and my niece, Saucy, went to the ER with similar symptoms last night. At least they let her come home after hours of tests...

I am tired. Emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally. I have seen a great many blessing these past few weeks and I hang on to them for dear life. We have felt the love, support and prayers of those near and far and we thank you so very much. With Sean working days now, things have been a little easier. I was planning on going back to work today or tomorrow, but I guess I have to wait till next week when I also have the all clear. My employers have been so wonderful and understanding and I am grateful for that. If this stuff would just leave us alone now...Next year, we are skipping January.

8 comments:

Amy Hall said...

Amy,
Hang in there! You are stronger than you think. I am so sorry that the knocks keep coming. You are surrounded by Angels and prayers galore! Please let me know if there is anything at all that I can do from afar.
Love,
Amy

Nola said...

Meg said to give you a big hug, but I haven't seen you. Just know you are in our prayers daily. We will get through this and there will be light!!
Tie that knot and hang on. When everyone is over being contagious, we'll have a big party and find a way to give you and Sean a break.
You are loved!

Jodi said...

Love you and pray for you constantly!!!

Anonymous said...

Very sad. Very, very sad.

Kirsten Uhler said...

You must have been thrilled to be done with the hospital! I'm sorry you're going through such a tough time. It's important to have the support of family and friends now, and I wish I could give you all big hugs! I love you!

kristengus said...

Oh, Amy. You are very strong and I know tha tif anyone can handle trials, it's YOU! Please let us know if we can take the kids to play or anything else! Give big hugs to each other from us.

Christy said...

You have all been through soooo much this year already! My heart aches so much for you and I wish we could be there with you more. I assume that life eventually has to cut you a break, right? I'll keep praying that it does anyway. I haven't been able to bring myself to do more pages for the scrapbook yet but I PROMISE you that I am going to. Love you guys more than i could ever tell you. Talk to you again soon!

Jude said...

Oh, Amy, I had no idea. I know you are always running around and running around, you are so much stronger than I ever will be. I am thinking of you.

xo