This is what a very sick baby looks like.
What a time this has been. Some of you know, and some of you don't, but last weekend Lucy became very sick. She was acting a little strange on Saturday and Sunday - sleeping more, fussier, etc. - but because she is so new, I thought maybe this is just a new side of her we're getting to see. She wasn't coughing, sneezing, etc., just acting a little different than before. Then on Sunday night she became increasingly fussy, breaking into intense cries pretty much every time we picked her up or touched her at all. About 3:00 AM Monday morning we took her temperature, and it was 102.5. Most of you know that is extremely scary for a newborn. We weren't sure what to do, so we tried to cool her down, gave her the slightest dose of Tylenol, and then took her temperature gain a little later. It was lower, so we decided to wait until morning to go to the doctor. Sure enough, by about 6:00 AM it was back up again, so we took her to the doctor (shout out to Dr. Casey), who sent us straight to the hospital.
This was all new to us, because MCM has been such a healthy baby. We got to the ER and they had to do what they call "a full septic workup" - (something they have to do for all babies less than 8 weeks old who run fevers) a urine test with a catheter, drawing blood (inserting an IV), spinal tap (!!), and usually a chest x-ray, but that was one thing we were able to escape. We had to let our poor 4-week-old baby get poked and prodded and listen to her scream bloody murder while the doctors did these things...knowing they're necessary to make sure something is not horribly wrong, but also just wanting to say no to all of them, because it seems so cruel for a little baby to go through that! Particularly the spinal tap...which tests for meningitis - something you don't want to mess with. We felt we couldn't say no, but after watching her go through it...5 times, yes, it took 5 TIMES until they were able to get spinal fluid...let's just say I'm practically having nightmares about the whole experience. Poor Lucy literally cried so hard that she just eventually fell asleep (or passed out) while they were doing it. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it.
Then we were admitted to the hospital where we stayed from Monday until Friday. Lucy ran high fevers for 4 days straight, which was extremely scary. I have never in my life seen a baby that sick, or even a child that sick. The whole experience felt like we were torturing her, but we were just doing everything we could do to make her better. Every test ame back negative, and ultimately the doctors decided it was some sort of fever virus that would just have to run it's course. Things like that are super common for bigger kids like MCM, but in an infant they are SCARY!
It was a horrible week on so many levels. We are so thankful that Lucy is home and doing better, but now we are dealing with the cumulative effects of a very stressful 5 weeks. Obviously, Leland and I have not gotten much rest. He has been sick and I have been with Lucy 24/7. Lucy has been having a hard time, because the experience at the hospital was so traumatic for her. It makes me sad that my formerly laid back baby is now so fussy and unhappy, but it has seemed to improve every day this week. We're praying that the Lord will give her peace in her heart and erase every memory of what she went through from her mind. Most of all we are grateful to the Lord that she is home and healthy.
MCM has been a trooper through all of this - especially the fact that Mommy was gone for 5 days - much longer than any time we've been apart before. She is such a sweetheart. She understood that Lucy was sick and every time I talked to her on the phone she would ask, "Sister? Sister?" trying to make sure Lucy was okay. I know they are going to have a special relationship one day!
We're all glad to be together again, especially because this week was MCM's second birthday! We'll be having an official celebration this weekend, and maybe I'll actually have time to post pictures of that one promptly. Happy birthday MCM!
This was all new to us, because MCM has been such a healthy baby. We got to the ER and they had to do what they call "a full septic workup" - (something they have to do for all babies less than 8 weeks old who run fevers) a urine test with a catheter, drawing blood (inserting an IV), spinal tap (!!), and usually a chest x-ray, but that was one thing we were able to escape. We had to let our poor 4-week-old baby get poked and prodded and listen to her scream bloody murder while the doctors did these things...knowing they're necessary to make sure something is not horribly wrong, but also just wanting to say no to all of them, because it seems so cruel for a little baby to go through that! Particularly the spinal tap...which tests for meningitis - something you don't want to mess with. We felt we couldn't say no, but after watching her go through it...5 times, yes, it took 5 TIMES until they were able to get spinal fluid...let's just say I'm practically having nightmares about the whole experience. Poor Lucy literally cried so hard that she just eventually fell asleep (or passed out) while they were doing it. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it.
Then we were admitted to the hospital where we stayed from Monday until Friday. Lucy ran high fevers for 4 days straight, which was extremely scary. I have never in my life seen a baby that sick, or even a child that sick. The whole experience felt like we were torturing her, but we were just doing everything we could do to make her better. Every test ame back negative, and ultimately the doctors decided it was some sort of fever virus that would just have to run it's course. Things like that are super common for bigger kids like MCM, but in an infant they are SCARY!
It was a horrible week on so many levels. We are so thankful that Lucy is home and doing better, but now we are dealing with the cumulative effects of a very stressful 5 weeks. Obviously, Leland and I have not gotten much rest. He has been sick and I have been with Lucy 24/7. Lucy has been having a hard time, because the experience at the hospital was so traumatic for her. It makes me sad that my formerly laid back baby is now so fussy and unhappy, but it has seemed to improve every day this week. We're praying that the Lord will give her peace in her heart and erase every memory of what she went through from her mind. Most of all we are grateful to the Lord that she is home and healthy.
MCM has been a trooper through all of this - especially the fact that Mommy was gone for 5 days - much longer than any time we've been apart before. She is such a sweetheart. She understood that Lucy was sick and every time I talked to her on the phone she would ask, "Sister? Sister?" trying to make sure Lucy was okay. I know they are going to have a special relationship one day!
We're all glad to be together again, especially because this week was MCM's second birthday! We'll be having an official celebration this weekend, and maybe I'll actually have time to post pictures of that one promptly. Happy birthday MCM!
6 comments:
oh, courtney! I'm so sorry y'all have had such a hard time, but thank God sweet Lucy is on the mend. Happy Birthday Charlotte! Can not believe she is 2!!
Love~Marjo
Whew, I must be really hormonal or something because now I'm totally crying because I'm so relieved Lucy is ok! That must've been SOOO hard for all of you! The poor little thing, I can't imagine what it was like going through that! I was psycho enough during that newborn phase, I can't imagine throwing a sick baby and a hospital stay into the mix! I hope you're able to recover physically and emotionally. I wish I was near you so I could somehow help! Wow, thank God it's over and that He healed her. Keep us updated on how things go!
I know I saw you yesterday, but I didn't get to talk to you any. Thank you for the blog update on last week. I want to cry, too, after hearing about all the she went through. I had no idea that they had to do ALL of those procedures. How terrible. I'm with you--praying that her little memory will erase all that and that she'll return quickly to the content little Lucy that she is. Y'all have a great time Saturday! Maybe next week we can meet at the zoo or a park?! So glad you got to come yesterday. Hang in there! These ARE the heights and the depths :-)
y'all are so sweet, and i appreciate you caring about lucy!
marj and em, i miss you girls! thank you for your thoughts and prayers! it really is crazy that mcm is 2. maybe we'll get to meet up for a little holiday ham in memphis one day??
brandi, we're definitely up for the zoo or park. just give me a call next week, and we'll be there!
Oh Courtney!! I dont know if you remember me or not from Crichton College but I have been following your blog.
I have to say I am truly sorry for what Lucy went through and at the same time very very thankful she is ok!!!! I do pray she will forget all of the bad memories from the hospital and fill herself with good memories at home with mommy, daddy and big sister!
How tramatic for the family as well! I am glad she is doing better and will be praying for you and your family!!!
Take care!
Courtney,
I'm not sure you remember me but I'm friends with Courtney Cox and love reading your blog. You're very funny! I'm so sorry to hear about the ordeal ya'll have gone through. I had many fever viruses when I was little too. Apparently, I would just "not be myself" and my mom would check my temeperature and it would be 103/104. For a while, my mom thought 101/102 was low grade fever. Many times they wouldn't know how high my temp. was because the mercury would be at the end of the thermometer. It scared my mother often! If it makes you feel any better, they stopped by the time I was ready for school. I realize that is a couple of years, but not a lifetime. Actually, every once in a while one of my ears (usually not both) randomly turns bright red and is extremely hot, but soon passes. Perhaps it's left over from the fever viruses. Who knows! Anyway, your girls are too cute! I hope Lucy doesn't have anymore of them! Have a great day!
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