It’s just shy of 3am, and she’s asleep now, still wearing the mask you see on her in the photo below. She’s getting her second albuterol breathing treatment of the night from the nice folks at Children’s Hospital. The nurse who got the albuterol started a while ago said she’s rarely seen a toddler so willing to wear the thing without a fuss, and to breathe in the medicine. But G seems to know that this makes her feel better, so she’s been very cooperative.
G just seems to catch every single virus that comes anywhere neat her, and to get it worse than her siblings and cousins ever did/do. Only 14 months ago, she and I spent December 24th thru the 26th at Children’s (Jon stayed at home to keep Christmas up and running for the other kids) because she had caught some nasty, unnamed virus that left her weak and dehydrated.
And now here we are back again. She’s been battling a horrible cough and sore throat for over a month. At one point, we thought it had finally gone away, but only a week later it came back, worse. So our pediatrician started her on a round of amoxicillin, deciding that the congestion from the virus had hatched an infection. The antibiotic was like magic. She immediately felt SO much better, and was jollier than I’d seen her all winter. She finished the amoxicillin yesterday, and then this morning, Jon noticed that she’d started coughing again. By evening she was miserably ill, and when we tried to get her to bed, it became clear that not only was she coughing and (now) vomiting, but she was also struggling to breathe. When steam and Vicks did nothing, and her breathing seemed worse, we decided that I should take her to the ER at Children’s.
That was 5 hours ago. They’ve determined that she doesn’t have RSV or mycoplasma, but she is pretty well sick. Her oxygen sat numbers are hovering around 90. They gave her an albuterol breathing treatment at about midnight that made her feel SO much better for several hours. I thought we’d be going home.
Here she is feeling pretty good between the two breathing treatments.
But then the wheezing and chest tightness started again and now they’ve told us they will be admitting her. But before we are taken to her room, she’s having another breathing treatment – an hour long this time – and they also gave her oral prednisone, which seems to have made her sleepy.
I hate seeing her feel so bad. But I am SO consciously grateful that I am able to access good medical care for her.
Hopefully, we will be home within 24 hours this time. I have my fingers crossed.
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Update 5:30 am: I think I’ve convinced the awesome ER doc to let me take her home to give the breathing treatments and prednisone to her there. We live really close to the hospital and I promised we will come back immediately if she gets worse or stops responding to the albuterol.
Woohoo!
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Update 1pm Saturday: She’s feeling very cheery and her breathing is waaaay better from the ongoing albuterol, etc. She keeps telling us how the doctor took, “GOOOD care of me!”
Poor little girlie. I’m glad you’re at Children’s. I hope you’ve gotten to your room so that you can both get some rest.
I love the video, especially, “The doctor taked good care of me on my tummy.” How is she this morning?
That video is absolutely precious! What a sweetheart. I wish her a speedy recovery and hope that you, too will get to catch up on much needed rest.
Katie,
Just think when you are old and gray and sick in the hospital, your kids are going to sick a camera in your face and have the internet watch your babbling. I’ve long said how you treat your children is how your children will teach you when you are old. Wonder if they will film you messing in the bed?
I think this is once again, another post that is in poor taste. She’s sick, not blog fodder.
Really, Char? Katie was up all night in the ER with her sick kid and this is what you write? If you don’t like or approve of Katie’s choices why are you reading her blog and clicking on the videos?
I thought the video the video was adorable and is exactly what my kids would enjoy seeing when they are older. I so wish I had recorded more of the cute things my kids said when they were little.
In any case, I hope G is feeling much better.
Gosh, and I saw a little kid who seems to be having an adventure while sick — one who has clearly been well-prepared by the adult with her and the medical staff to not be fearful! I also saw a mom who thought of a way to amuse and entertain a sick kid in the ER.
Have you spent much time in doctor’s offices or the hospital to know how important a good attitude and something to pass the time are?
Besides, I’d kind of love to hear Katie’s take on her nursing home care, now that you mention it. Especially if she’s anywhere near as cute and charming as this.
Char,
How is it you can be so mean and hateful. If you don’t like Katie please stay off her blog. Perhaps there are better places for you to troll.
Troll is the word.
Katie, I’m sorry sweet lil G is sick. Given your description of her recurring illnesses, I thought I’d tell you about common various immune deficiency, CVID. My mom was recently diagnosed, after years of antibiotics several times a year. It’s a thought, maybe to bring up with g’s pediatrician. All the best to you & G & the whole family!
Katie, I’m sorry sweet lil G is sick. Given your description of her recurring illnesses, I thought I’d tell you about common various immune deficiency, CVID. My mom was recently diagnosed, after years of antibiotics several times a year. It’s a thought, maybe to bring up with g’s pediatrician. All the best to you & G & the whole family!
Katie, I am sorry about your sweet daughter. Once everything has settled down, I urge you to look into building up her immune system as this is the root of the problem. I know you are on a food journey of your own, but for little kids, good old fashioned fats, bone broths and raw milk products are an excellent place to start. It’s amazing what happened in our family when we switched to this way of eating.
I noticed in an earlier post, a comment from a reader who was royally pissed that you were (gasp) spending money on your own health instead of your daughter’s college fund. Your response was full of grace-I would have told her to go eff herself. I do notice that when individuals/entire families make these very positive shifts in how they feed themsleves and exercise, there are those who are upset simply because they are more content with the status quo (poor health and an exess of weight) and are threatened by the obvious positive change that the individual is experiencing and putting out there.
Best of luck
Jen
I’m seconding this about her immune system. Thriving gut bacteria is very important for good health. Ever since she’d taken antibiotics the first time, her balance of good germs has been compromised. I hold no grudge against antibiotics. They are lifesavers when administered properly. We just have to follow up by restocking a system that’s been wiped clean and easily overwhelmed by the next bug.
I was that kid until around the age of 14 I was diagnosed with a variety of allergies and sensitivity, particularly to mould, dust and pollen. I lived in, you guessed it, an older home with lots of old upholstered things and draperies. Since becoming an adult and choosing to live in places with hardwood, blinds, and without the dust and damp of the ages I have been a lot healthier. I wouldn’t change my life without having her tested but it might be worth checking out.
I love her.
My oldest was like that–any kind of chest cold ended with a trip to the ER or breathing treatments. It’s so scary and I feel for you. I’m so glad she’s a little better–she’s a trooper
So glad she’s feeling better and you are home now. After a bunch of nasty respiratory viruses, my daughter’s ped started her on a daily maintenance dose of pulmacort in the nebulizer for the winter months. With that treatment, she has done so much better this winter-and fewer scary sleepless nights for all. She loves giving all her animals neb treatments.
There will always be mean people, it stinks! I think many of use can relate to a sick child. Once my son had his tonsils out he was no longer constantly sick. Hope she gets better soon!
I’m so sorry that G has been so sick — it doesn’t seem to slow her down any though! She’s delightfully feisty despite all the viruses. Hope the doctors can find a solution. I know when I was 2 or 3, I suffered a bout of bronchitis, and after that, I caught everything, all the time. It wasn’t winter without at least 3 bouts of strep. But then we moved somewhere high and dry, and voila, it all stopped. May it stop soon for G too.
And Katie, I’m sorry at the nasty comments you are subject to. I’m quite shocked at the horrible things people say to you. There’s something wrong with them for being so cruel, not with you and your blog. Don’t let it get to you.
Best to you both.
Did they test for whooping cough? I just read a lengthy article about an outbreak in Europe + several isolated cases in Georgia- in fully vaccinated children. I hope she gets well soon!
Looks like G might have a bit of a suppressed immune system. As an adoptive mother, we hear about this a lot. (Adopted children frequently have issues with their immune system because their mothers may be under great stress during the pregnant.) You have probably already done this, but be sure to check with her pedi about ways to boost it.
Dr. Sears also a lot of info on this issue. Here’s a brief bit about it, but there’s a lot more! http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/family-nutrition/foods-boost-immunity/8-foods-boost-immunity
Either way, hope she feels better soon!
Katie-
My room mates work with large groups of people (one as a teacher, the other as an activity coordinator at a day program for adults with special needs) and both have said something in passing about a 100 day cough- it comes and goes but in total it would be around for approximately 100 days (so even if you count from between Thanksgiving & Christmas it would be until about St. Patrick’s Day). We’re in Maryland but I’d double check both of them said it was the younger siblings/nieces or nephews who are effected more often.
Just a thought.
100 day cough is another term for pertussis or whooping cough. Just FYI.
Katie-
My room mates work with large groups of people (one as a teacher, the other as an activity coordinator at a day program for adults with special needs) and both have said something in passing about a 100 day cough- it comes and goes but in total it would be around for approximately 100 days (so even if you count from between Thanksgiving & Christmas it would be until about St. Patrick’s Day). We’re in Maryland but I’d double check both of them said it was the younger siblings/nieces or nephews who are effected more often.
Just a thought.
I’m so glad she’s on the mend and as an asthmatic with an asthmatic son with a tendency to get a cough every winter, I sympathize entirely. I’m sure you will pursue allergy testing or whatever the pediatrician recommends. You want to keep things from getting to the point where she has to take prednisone again, if you can. That’s not a drug you want your kid taking any more often than they absolutely have to. As a child I got allergy shots and it was well worth the nuisance/discomfort because I was allergy free for the next 15 years. Your old house may or may not be a problem, ditto your pets. Allergy testing will tell the story. Hope for more cough-free days.
I do believe your doctor should be the one to diagnose poor little G, however it does sound like asthma may be the issue. I spent so much time with my son at the doctor’s office and ER when he was between the ages of 2 and 4 that we joked we should just pitch a tent in the parking lot. Fortunately, his symptoms improved and, while he does have asthma, it is well under control.
What worked best for us was for him to start inhalers (two different medications) as soon as he caught a cold as that would often trigger his asthma. He also used inhalers before strenuous exercise. He did also go for allergy testing but was allergic to so much that allergy shots would have been an arduous ordeal.
I’m glad to hear G is so much better!
Glad you daughter is better. But I do wonder about so many blog posts from the hospital. Being up all night with a sick kid is one thing, being up all night with a sick kid and a smartphone is another. Blogging and the social approval resulting from the posts can be addictive.
My oldest daughter is 21, when she was 4 1/2 she spent nearly 2 weeks at Vanderbilt with a pneumonia. She’s questioned me extensively about her stay at the hospital and quite honestly, much of it is a blur for me – I was mentally and physically exhausted too (I was 8 months pregnant). I wish that I’d had my camera and documented some of those experiences for her – an iPhone would have been perfect for capturing that defining time in her life.
A side note: Can’t imagine Danger Toddler pinging around the house keyed up on Albuterol!
TEST
This is a test as requested.
I use Google Chrome.
I did not see an option to post a comment on either of the posts newer than this one…
Laura
Thanks Laura!
Posting a comment per your fb request. I am using Firefox. BTW, Love the dinosaur mask Georgia.
Leaving a comment per your FB request. Just wanted to give you a HUGE thank you for your video about Henry~ I have sent it to a co-worker whose 17 year old son is in trouble with oxy. Keeping my fingers crossed that it helps her help him. I’m using google chrome. Also this is the first post that I can post on as well. Thanks for all you do with your blog, Katie. You really are making a difference. THANK YOU = )
I’m responding to your awesome blog. You do a great job Katie.
I’m using Google Chrome.
Tell Betsy hi and that she’s in my thoughts.
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I know you have posted many times that you love your pediatrician, but dang he needs to get on top of this and figure out why she is so prone to illness. Or step aside.