First Time for Everything

I've never been one of those Moms who over sanitizes, over washes, or obsesses over germs.  If her paci falls on the floor, I brush it off and put it back in her mouth.  If someone wants to hold her, I don't demand that they wash their hands first.  I live by the thought that a few germs are probably GOOD for her, in order to build her immune system.  Obviously, my theory worked, since she went 15 whole months without a fever, a cold, an ear infection, or any other type of illness.  We were blessed, to say the least! 

That all came to a screeching halt on New Year's Eve when I realized she was starting to get sick.  It didn't seem like any big deal---a runny nose, a slight cough and a few sneezes.  I felt silly because I honestly didn't even know what to do.  Most Moms have dealt with this stuff by this point in their child's life, but I hadn't.  I sought the advice of a few friends and decided there wasn't much I could do, other than just let it run its course.  Plus, we were in Tallahassee and I knew that seeing her pediatrician wasn't an option.  However, on Monday January 2nd, I started to get really worried so I called TMH's Urgent Care and made an appointment for her. 

Apparently, everyone in Tallahassee was also sick that day because the waiting room was PACKED, and we were there for a total of four hours!!!!  It was worth the wait, though, because to my surprise, the ARNP who saw her just happens to be a friend of mine!  Melanie was my nurse when I was a patient at Wilson Family Medicine in Tallahassee, back before I got married and moved away.  She always took such great care of me, so I was THRILLED when I saw her walk through the door!  What a nice surprise!  She listened to Kyndall's lungs and decided to order a chest x-ray.  Easier said than done, lemme tell ya!!  No, it wasn't painful, but being held down on a cold table by Mommy and some stranger just wasn't what she wanted!  I'm pretty sure the entire building could hear her crying.  At some point during our four hour office visit, I started crying too.  It was just too much for me to see my sweet girl so upset.

Once Melanie read the x-ray, she concluded that Kyndall had PNEUMONIA!!  Pneumonia?!  How could my healthy baby have something so terrible?  On top of that, she also discovered that she had the early stages of an ear infection.  NO WONDER she was so cranky in the days prior.  Poor baby was in bad shape!

Melanie decided that Kyndall needed to do an in-office breathing treatment to help with her cough.  Again, easier said than done!!!  For some reason, that x-ray had really set her off and she absolutely could NOT be consoled!  She wouldn't hold still to take the breathing treatment and was just having a complete meltdown.  It lasted for over an hour, until FINALLY she just wore herself out and passed out in the stroller.  (This was AFTER she cried so hard that she puked all over me, my Mom and herself.  Hence, the reason that she's wrapped up in a sheet in the next few pictures!)

They also gave her a shot of antibiotics and then sent us home with an inhaler and more medication.  She was pretty pitiful for the next few days, and lived on Pedialyte and Gatorade.  I must have wiped her nose 3,285 times and cleaned up vomit and blow-out diapers almost as many.  I learned one thing during this whole experience:  I don't "do" sick babies very well!!!  My weak stomach doesn't allow me to make for a very good nurse!  Thank goodness this all happened in Tallahassee, where I had plenty of help! 

Our in-home pharmacy for the week:



Poor girl

Here's a new trick she learned while being sick......lovely, Kyndall.

We ended up staying an extra four days in Tallahassee, in order to let Kyndall rest and feel better before attempting the 6 hour drive.  Matthew had already gone back, so I was left to make the trip by myself.  Not a big deal normally, but this time wouldn't prove to be so easy.  About 30 minutes outside of Jacksonville, she started puking in the backseat, and in turn, choking and gagging.  I pulled over as fast as I could and it all just went downhill from there.  We were both covered in puke (again) and both in tears (again).  I thought about turning around, but by this point I was almost halfway home, so I decided to try and keep going.  Thankfully, she did alright the rest of the drive and we only added an hour to our trip.  I've never been so glad to cross the South Carolina line in my LIFE!  Here's hoping we get back on track with another long stretch of good health!!