What a week we've had in this house! The kids have been so very sick, and I'm practically at the end of my rope. It all began last Thursday when Emma's temperature skyrocketed, and she began screaming (about 6:00 p.m.). Russ and I (along with a seemingly healthy big brother Isaac) took her to the emergency room at our local hospital, and they were quick to diagnose her...double ear infections (some of the worse they have seen in a 14-month-old)! She was given these "miracle" ear drops that took away the pain (they have something similar to lidocaine in them), and a big ten day course of ampicillin. We took her home, and she slept okay through the night. I had to get up two or three times to administer more of the drops, and once she got some ibuprofen for the fever. By Friday morning, she was already on the way to recovery. Actually, she's still on her way, just not 100% yet. On Friday morning, Isaac started acting LOUSY! He was supposed to go in for a routine CT check of his shunt that afternoon, and I postponed it for a week. But in the mid-afternoon, we had to rush him into our pediatrician. Unfortunately, our regular doctor was already gone for the day, and his partner was there....she is NOT my favorite. We have butted heads several times, and she always ends up being the WRONG one. FORTUNATELY, the physician's assistant, Marjean, was there, and she's fantastic. They immediately checked Isaac's ears, and said the left one was a little "dull" looking, but not really infected. HOWEVER, he tested positive for strep. He is deathly allergic to penicillin, ampicillin, and the entire "cillin" family, so this "doctor", and I use the word with intense caution stood there in front of my husband, and argued with Marjean about what drug to put Isaac on. Marjean then mentioned that there was a possibility that Isaac's shunt was failing (wouldn't you know it?)....Dr. Thomas (yes, I'll publish her name....I really don't care if she reads this, and gets upset...she needs to know that she has once again messed up!) stated, "Well, I don't know how to check those!" She proceeded to press on the bulb at the top of his head, which is the connector where the shunt enters the skull and goes into the area surrounding the brain where the fluid is. Russ tried to tell her that the bulb is ALWAYS hard, and but she said, "Oh, this is hard....I'll bet it's failing. Oh, well, take him home, and if he gets worse, rush him to Toledo Hospital." Can you believe her gall? Marjean tried to apologize to Russ, and he simply took Isaac to the car, and came home to get Emma and me. We went to the wonderful new ER at The Toledo Hospital, and then immediately sent him to CT. All in all, everything came back fine, but the doctor (Dr. Isak....great name, huh?) said his case of strep was pretty bad. We ended up with a prescription for an antibiotic, and lots of good advice, and we came home. We have been in a battle with Isaac, high temperatures, pain, stomach cramps, not eating, forcing liquids, etc. for the past five days!!!! Yes, five days. I haven't even showered since Sunday....no time. But today, Isaac seemed to worsen....more temperature spikes, and he began to have trouble breathing. I immediately gave him another aerosol treatment (we began his "as needed" treatments up again Sunday). He got a little better, but still he wasn't great. We called in, and Marjean asked us to bring him in for a blood work-up. They were worried about a viral infection. Well, that test came back negative, but his strep test this time also came back negative. They checked his left ear again, and now it is infected. They gave him an injection (poor baby) of a stronger antibiotic, hoping that maybe this would give his health the kick in the butt it needs. They also checked him for Influenza and RSV. Strangely enough, some friends of ours were at the hospital at the same time, admitting their little girl (same age as Emma) because she has RSV. Obviously, there are a lot of germs floating around the church nursery and classrooms!!! I will tell the childrens pastor, and the preschool director about it....they may have to have a MAJOR cleaning of the rooms. Anyway, we'll know the results of those tests early tomorrow morning. One of the nurses (a good friend) will give us a call with them, and to check on Isaac. Marjean says she is also going to call to check on him when she comes in at noon. I love her. She should go ahead and be a doctor...more folks would listen to her. She reminds me of my mom...she is a nurse who REALLY knows her stuff.
I am so tired, though. Emma is back to running around, runny nose and all. Her ears seem clear, but her nose is still full of (sorry, folks) green stuff. She is cutting three molars, too....that's not helping the situation. Isaac was eating popsicles, bananas, and drinking Dr. Pepper before he went to sleep. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day....
I miss my mom so much when it comes to times like these. She was our family's doctor/nurse all rolled up into one, and it always seemed like she knew what to do. She was so good at that. She should have been a doctor. You know, actually, she would have been a great physician's assistant. They just didn't have that position available in her day. I miss you, Momma...
More later...
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