I'm not really sure where to begin. This was a difficult experience and we are all so grateful to be on the other side of it. After running into the ER in the middle of the night, Addie was admitted to the PICU at Children's for respiratory failure. The doctors, nurses, and staff worked tirelessly to find what she responded to. She is now home, happy, her cheerful little self and the more grown up for having gone through this experience. So are we all (older, that is). Final diagnosis is that she has Reactive Airway Disease - if she was older than 2 years, it would be called Asthma. So far, viruses are her only trigger. (This bout was caused by Adenovirus, a tough cold.) The maintenance medicine she's on seems to be doing its job well. Here are a few shots from our days at Children's (in reverse order):
sister love - when Ains visited on day 4, it really cheered Addie up
"Monsters on the Bus" - read tirelessly to Addie over the course of 4 days
Daddy Entertainment! So nice to see that smile again.
Morning of Day 3... hard up for entertainment... moving things in and out of a box did the trick. In this pic, she does have a lot of tubes - but fewer than she'd had in previous days. And she was able to sit up and play more.
Mom ready to be admitted herself... to the psych ward
One of the first times she sat up. Our favorite nurse provided a bag and crayons.
Addie remained calm, mostly acquiescent, and incredibly sweet through the entire ordeal. When she did kick and scream, mom worried, though who could blame her?
VIDEOS:
She was finally allowed to eat/drink after this first move. The nurse attempted in vain to offer pedialyte and a bottle of pumped milk, explaining that it'd be too hard for her to nurse with the oxygen flow in her nose. Addie refused everything else but breastfed with gusto - amazing the nurse. Glad we pushed on that point.
When we finally left the ICU to go to the main hospital floor, we were thrilled. Addie was making remarkable progress! (Saying goodbye to our favorite nurse, Kelly.)
vid: After the tubes and wires were off... Addie was so happy to be able to move around.
(sorry it's so small...)
Her first cries were soft - she sounded like a kitten! She was so snugly. She curled up on mom's chest as mom was wheeled into the recovery room, where Addie eagerly began nursing as soon as she was allowed.
~ October 9th ~
oh, our sweet baby girl!
Big Sister Ainsley arrived to meet her!
SISTERS
~ Adelaide at the hospital ~
The kids (A & Jake) were eager for Mom and Baby to come home!
I got these fabulous photos with videos and texts from my sweet family each day while at the hospital. It was so nice to be missed and loved.
~ Leaving Hospital ~
Arrival Home:
Addie at HOME
Where'd the BABY go????
Ahhh.... Happy Family!
8.03.2008
I was born nearly 7 weeks early at 4 pounds 11 ounces. I heard that my baby shower was planned for the next day and I didn't want to miss it! :) I was strong and healthy for such a little peanut. I snuggled up in my fancy isolette to keep warm and my mom & dad helped me learn to nurse (yum!) before they took me home.
