Nights in the Hospital

Poor Hailey is in the hospital. Saturday night we had a rough sleepless night. She would only sleep for 45 min to 1 hour stretches. She would just cry and seemed pretty miserable. We did some suction. Eric and I took turns getting up with her. On one of my turns I tried to hold her but she was having none of that. She just wanted to sleep but couldn't! I tried rocking her in the car seat for a bit but then it was back in the swing.

On Sunday she seemed her old self. Her appetite was a bit off but her mood was fine. Eric did suction in the afternoon and then she got a good 2.5 - 3 hour nap while Jaclyn watched Kaitlyn. Eric and I went and walked the new house to get ready for the final walk through on Wednesday. Jaclyn texted when she woke up that H was pretty wheezy. So we headed home. That night was more of the same (with Eric doing most of the leg work).

Monday morning Eric called and got a pediatrician appointment for 2:45. As soon as they were checking vitals the doctor concerned. Her pulse ox was in the 80's so they started a breathing treatment, an RSV test and sent them to the ER. I met them there. At first it seemed like it wasn't that bad. Her pulse ox was better (because of the breathing treatment) and they were just watching her. They did a chest X-ray. She had a 101 fever. They did another breathing treatment and wanted to see how she did while sleeping. When she dropped to the 80's again, they put her on oxygen and admitted us.

In typical fashion, we are in the overflow area. A small glassed in room with a crib and they wheeled in 2 recliners for us. Not a lot of sleep that night. Breathing treatments every 2 hours. She is not a fan of those but is getting better. She kicks and screams and cries. Breaks my heart! But amazingly we all got some sleep. She practically slept through the 2 am and 4 am treatments. They have her bed propped up so she can breathe better.

The diagnosis is para influenza 3. Main concern is her airway. They successfully weaned her off oxygen, but her breathing is still labored. When we talked to Dr. Armstrong he pointed out that she is having to work hard to exhale. So we are here 1 more night, at least. Fever is down. We are on droplet precautions, which means everyone comes in wearing gowns and masks. Contagious.