I AM STILL SICK!

Last Tuesday morning (June 23) I went to the emergency room at the local Indianapolis hospital near Megan's children's hospital for the second time. The first time I was diagnosed with mild bronchitis and prescribed an antibiotic, a rescue inhaler, and more of the cough suppressant I had been prescribed from my doctor at home before Megan was hospitalized again. The second time I went to the emergency room, the doctor said that I should be getting better and that sometimes pertussis (aka: whooping cough) is wrongly diagnosed as bronchitis much of the time. He suggested that I may have pertussis, gave me a breathing treatment, and prescribed some steroids for inflammation of the throat and lungs and some pain medication because my ribs and chest had become very sore by then. I have been dealing with this cold, cough, etc. since May 18th.

Last Thursday I came home and had some blood drawn because my doctor at home wanted solid evidence that I had pertussis before he wanted to treat me for it. I got the results today and they said that it is not pertussis. However, my cough is still as prevalent as ever and my back and chest muscles are still very sore. It is hard for me to do anything without coughing. I am having trouble sleeping. And, the pain medication is making me sick to my stomach.

I have gone back and forth from taking different medications, cough suppressants, cough drops, and all of the other medications that I have been prescribed for my condition. I feel very run down, tired, and weepy as of late.

I have no idea what else to do to get any sort of relief from my coughing. I have even resorted to google-ing remedies and such because I feel that I am at a loss for what to do.

I am no longer scared of all the stuff that I am doing for Megan. I just want to feel healthy enough to complete everything that she needs me to do. I do not remember ever having any type of condition such as this before.

I have been very reluctant to say anything this week because I have not been in the best of moods and didn't want to sound like I was complaining. I understand that in trying times (such as everything we are facing with Megan) that I should not be exempt from facing difficulties myself. Yet I have still found myself asking, "If I have to go through all this stuff, why can't I just be well? Why do I have to do all of this stuff and be sick too?" I don't feel strong and empowered anymore. I am tired and weepy. And I can't get rid of it.

Please pray that I will be able to get some relief from this "coughing disease." Whatever it may be. I want to focus on enjoying the extra time that I have been given with my precious daughter.

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We're Home Again!

Here are our "smiling in the car" pictures from our trip home yesterday. The car ride was unsettling to Megan's system. But, we finally made it back home to rest in our own beds.


Yes, they discharged Megan on Friday, not Saturday. We got home at about 7:30pm. We are still not finished "moving back in" yet. Between Megan's busy schedule, getting some rest, meeting a new nursing provider, and filling perscriptions we have been trying to put some medical supplies and our luggage away.


It was some crazy billboard that got the smiles that were produced for these pictures. Whatever works is just fine with me - as long as I have my camera ready.


Here are all my kids laying on the couch watching a movie together.


It's such a nice feeling! Now, if they could just do that more often!

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Checklist for Thursday Saturday?

Updated Thursday Morning: The "fever monster" showed his ugly face (ever so briefly) yesterday. They took blood cultures to be sure that the fever was not caused by the reoccurence of the bacterial infection we have been fighting. They won't have results until 48 hours have passed. (We were sooooo close!)

Be watching throughout the day for important information about our activities. Then comment a guess as to what you think we are doing.

Antibiotics Ordered at Home Health. Check
Nursing Care Hours Set. Check.
Echocardiogram Appointed. Check.
Blood Cultures Ordered. Check.
Laundry Washed. Check.
Laundry Dried.
Bags Packed.
Room Cleaned.
Van Packed.
Medical Supplies Charged. Check.
Daughter Dressed.
Prescriptions Filled.
Report Written.
Walking Papers Received.
Last Antibiotics Administered.

I'll let you know when we get there. We'll be taking pictures for this sight to see. Let's keep our fingers crossed and pray that the ugly "fever monster" has been scared away for good.

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Not Me! Monday - Late Night Confession

Better late than never right? It is still technically Monday for a few more hours minutes. Others chose to add MckMama's original NMM posts to her BlogFrog Community today. So, here goes.

This weekend all the rooms in the Ronald McDonald House got presents left at their doors. I did not see my present...


...with less goodies than my neighbor...


and switch them. (Theirs had a shoe polish cloth and extra kleenex.) No one was looking.

Then, I went to the hospital gift shop to get some cough drops. Which I found. (Thank you, Lord!)


And, some Vitamin C drops. (Cool, bonus!)


Some sort of fruity, sugary, gummies? (I love gummies!)


But, sour exploders are great too. They're gummies and they liquify in your mouth? Which to get?


Who put the medicine in the candy aisle? I can't say "NO" to laffy taffy, in multiple flavors.


But, I have too many sweet items!!!!! Oh, I know, I'll add something.......



.....................SALTY!!!!!

I didn't? did I?

Nope, not me!

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Planning to "Make Like a Tree and ..."

We spoke with all of Megan's doctors today. And, this is what they got their heads together and "thought up." We got our three clean blood cultures over the weekend - even though it was a poking fest. Today, we got the go ahead to have the picc line (IV) placed to finish the 14 days of anitbiotics, which started on June 17th (the day of the first clean culture). That means, the 14th day is July 1st. Megan will be on Vancomycin 4 times a day and Gentomycin once a day via the picc line (IV).

The Infectious Disease doctor wants to schedule her picc line removed on July 1st and also have a repeat echocardiogram completed. If everything looks good on the echocardiogram, Megan will be finished with the antibiotics and just need to have a repeat blood culture two weeks later to make sure this bacteria is still gone. If it is, then we are done. If not, we will discuss further antibiotic intervention then.

Because the picc line is a type of IV that we can use at home, the doctors are making preparations for having us complete everything there and coordinating the orders with Megan's pediatrician in Mishawaka. If all goes well putting these plans into place, it looks like we will be home in the next couple of days.

Megan and I, particularly, are looking forward to being able to sleep in our own beds once again. Keep us in your prayers that everything will be able to completed as the doctors are planning. Otherwise, we would not be able to come home until after July 1st. (However, if Dr. K's associate works as fast as she does, I predict very soon).

Here is what Megan has to say about everything today:


And, the other day - but I don't think I shared this picture yet.

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Thank You, Lord!

Thank You, Lord, for hearing and answering my prayer on behalf of Megan. I pray for the longevity of this new IV until her more permanent one can be placed tomorrow. I thank you for the clean blood cultures this weekend and for leading us each step we take. Please give us wisdom and strength to make our future plans regarding Megan's antibiotics tomorrow with the doctors. We are helpless without You.
In Your Name,
Amen

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A Prayer for Megan

Lord,
I come to you right now as a mother advocating for her daughter's comfort and healing as only you can provide. I was hesitant to allow the doctors to use smaller peripheral IVs to treat her blood infection, but trusted that You would only allow what is best for us and for Megan. She has had two IV's this weekend with 10 tries to place them already, and now she needs a third. Please calm Megan's movements, give wisdom to the nurses, help the doctors make the best decision possible, and give me peace about having this third IV placed in the coming minutes. I love my little daughter so much and I don't want her to needlessly suffer. I ask for swiftness in allowing our family to get a good night's sleep so that we may draft a new plan in the morning for Megan's future in the hospital or our administration of her antibiotics at home. I know you can work miracles and have seen them in our own lives in the very recent past.
In Your Name,
Amen

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