Bad News

Yesterday Alison was diagnosed with RSV and I rode with her in the ambulance (at regular speed) to Primary Children's Hospital. She is on oxygen and they are suctioning her nose and mouth every few hours as needed. She doesn't have an IV yet, but if she is dehydrated, they will give her liquids through an IV.

Early Sunday morning she started to get sick with a bad cough, sneezing and congestion. Molly has a bad cold and gave it to me, so I wasn't totally surprised that she finally got it (although not happy about it of course). I knew that with such a little baby they can't do much for a cold except a humidifier, saline drops, suctioning the nose and keeping the baby upright, so that's what we were doing.

Tuesday night she spit up about 2 ounces that she had eaten. I was worried about it since we are trying to get her to gain weight. Well Wednesday morning she again spit up about an ounce or so and I called the nurse. She asked me a few questions and could hear Ali in the background and said she needed to be looked at that morning.

My mom was away helping my sister with her baby but when I called and told her I was going to the doctor, she decided to come down in case I needed extra help with Justin being at school. She met me at the doctor's office.

They took Alison's weight and measurements and then said that they needed to check her oxygen level. Well it was low. They had me go into a room and they brought an oxygen tank in at which point I started crying. Oxygen is never a good thing, this I know! The doctor came in and listened to Alison's lungs and said that she believed she could have RSV but that she needed oxygen and we needed to go to the hospital. Obviously this wasn't anything that I wanted to hear! Nor would any mom. She called an ambulance so we could transport Alison with the oxygen she needed. My mom took Molly home for me, so it was definitely inspiration that she met up with us.

We rode in the ambulance and arrived at the ER. They suctioned her nose and used some of her snot to test it for RSV (that's how they do it). Justin came shortly after. We were in that room for a few hours. They have so many RSV cases that they are even doubling up patients in some rooms. We talked to many nurses and doctors (more than I thought we would actually see) and the results came back positive for RSV.

We finally were taken upstairs to Alison's own room where I stayed with her until about 9:30 pm and Justin picked me up. They give you the option of staying, but I was exhausted at that point, physically and emotionally. The nurse said I wouldn't get any sleep there so I decided it would be the best for both of us if mom was all together the next day.

They say that it can be one day to about a week unless they see a fever which could mean that there are other illnesses. She hasn't had a fever the whole time, so that is a positive thing.

I have had a really hard time with this. I know RSV is a common thing and very treatable. But I think because Alison has already been in the hospital for three weeks that this was the breaking point for me. You try to be so tough and understanding and patient, but it is hard and takes a toll. Yesterday it caught up with me. I am doing better today! I slept great last night, just like I knew I would.

Thank you for your prayers, we need them! We hope Alison is better soon and that this is the last time we are at the hospital for any more of our needs. I am headed to the hospital this morning and will stay with her all day. I will keep everyone posted on her situation.