I know it has been awhile since posting but as you know no news is usually good news. Since Reagan's birthday in February, we were able to spend some much needed time with Rod while he was home in late March/early April for his 2 wk R&R. We really enjoyed our time with Daddy and hated to see him go but he is due home in June for good. Thank you all for your support of and prayers for our troops!
Unfortunately, Reagan is having another bad episode and is in the hospital once more. This time was really weird and unexpected because she really didn't have any symptoms before getting really sick. Last Wed. night it all started with her eyes having a green discharge. By Thurs. morning, her eyes were matted shut and I phoned the pediatrician who called in some eye drops for her for what we both assumed was pinkeye. All day Thurs. she was more tired than normal and would fall asleep on a whim which is not her norm. Her nose has been bleeding off and on lately (which happens occassionally due to her being on a daily aspirin regimen). By Th. early evening, she began vomiting old looking blood. I got her up in the recliner with me to try to get her nose to stop bleeding when I decided to put the pulsox on her and check her oxygen levels. They were in the mid to upper 80s. She immediately fell back asleep in my arms and would only wake to vomit this old blood and then fall back asleep again. She also had a fever of 99.1, then 99.8 before leaving the house to head to the ER in Austin. Her oxygen levels also her dropped to about 79 before leaving and was holding steady. Upon arriving at the ER Thur. night around 9pm, Reagan's temp was 103.9 and needed 3L of oxygen. A chest x-ray was done which didn't look any different from the one in Feb. when we were here with pneumonia. An iv. was started and blood work done. Nothing showed up on the bloodwork other than she was a little dehydrated. It was suspected she had some kind of virus (possibly adenovirus) but because of her immune system was given a round of antibiotics just to be safe. We finally were admitted and sent to a room around 2:30am. By Friday, Reagan had a rougher time. Her work of breathing had increased and she was requiring more oxygen support. In fact, we had to switch from a nasal cannula to a mask. During the day Friday, she also spiked another fever so another x-ray was done to see if anything had changed. This time, her xray showed a possible pneumonia in her lower left lung. This is Reagan's worst area of her lungs because part of it has died and calcified from not getting adequate blood flow before her heart was fully repaired. The decision was made to keep her on the antibiotic in case this truly was a pneumonia. When I left for the Ronald McDonald House last night to get my first full nights sleep in 36 hours, Reagan was on 10L of oxygen thru the mask. By this morning, to my surprise, I walked in to see her back on the nasal cannnula on 2L. She had a better night and no more fevers. Her vomiting has slowed slightly but now is starting to cough up really yucky stuff. She's getting breathing treatments every 4 hrs and vest treatments during the day to help break things up in her lungs. She still is feeling pretty cruddy and still not eating, has only been getting i.v. fluids. Hopefully, she will begin to feel like eating or taking formula thru her g-tube so she can get some nutrition and energy to get better. Special thanks to all my village that helps me with Nolan in times like these (Nan & Pop, MiMi & PawPaw, Aunt Kay & Mrs. Debra Moore).
Looks like I'll be spending this Mother's Day in the hospital as I was this time last year. Reagan received her full repair of her heart on May 5, 2010 and was still on the ventilator on Mother's Day last year. I am thankful she is not on the ventilator this time but pray she starts to feel better real soon as she looks so pathetic and sick.
Let me conclude by wishing all my mom friends a Happy Mother's Day and a special prayer to one of our heart moms, Marcia, as her sweet Anna (age 7) went to be with Jesus recently. Marcia, I appreciate your sweet messages you always leave and will be thinking of you tomorrow.
Also, I'd like to thank my sweet Mom for giving me life 35 yrs. ago and for always being there for me growing up and now being there for me and my babies. I love you Mom!!!
Lastly, while checking my emails from the hospital room, I received this in an email from the Ronald McDonald House and found it quite fitting so wanted to share:
She holds your hand when you get a shot.
She hugs you when you're scared a lot.
She plays games to help you pass the time.
She knows your favorite nursery rhyme.
She always remembers to bring your favorite stuffed animal sheep.
She lays with you in your hospital bed until you fall asleep.
NOTHING CAN MAKE A CHILD FEEL BETTER QUITE LIKE A MOM.
