Early Tuesday morning (about 2am) Brooklynn started to show signs of trouble breathing and wheezing again-very similar to the last time she was admitted to Akron Children's. Jacob had already left for work by the time she woke up and I realized how much worse she sounded. After calling him we decided to get her in right away to the pediatrician to hopefully avoid the hospital visit like last time. At the pediatrician's office they gave her steroids and several breathing treatments but weren't able to make her breathing any less labored for her. They recommended we take her to the hospital that evening. I left work early and we drove her to Fairview. Immediately upon being seen in the pediatric ER they called for transport to have her taken to Main Campus so that she could be in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. After being in the PICU at main campus for less than 24 hours Brooke's team of doctors and nurses decided that she needed to be intubated. Her breathing was not improving and putting too much stress on her body. She tested positive for rhinovirus but that was it--we are still waiting and hoping to receive answers about why this has effected her respiratory system so severely. Jacob and I both wonder if maybe she does have asthma and the virus caused it to react…doctors all say asthma is too hard to diagnose before the age of two so i'm not sure we will ever get a definite answer. The hardest part right now is not having a definite answer as to what is causing her to be so sick. We like answers because we feel like we can devise a plan or see a finish line in sight but we've just been hanging here waiting for several days now. As far as treating rhinovirus goes there really isn't anything they can give her to help fight that either…unfortunately it has to take its course and Brooke's body has to defend it on her own. Jacob and I have seen very little of each other this past week. We have an hour or so together at the hospital as we switch shifts. We want to be here for Brooke but at the same time we need to keep some consistency at home for the others. One of us will spend the night here with Brooke while the other is at home. Thank God for our amazing network of friends who have helped us around the clock with home too. It doesn't help that the babies at home are sick as well so they have not been eating or sleeping well themselves. Shvonne, Amy and Kathy are getting a bird's eye view of how much fun it can be with that many sick babies sharing one room for sleeping! They have rotated nights at our house for the past few nights--God love them! We've also had friends and family in and out during the day, coming over at a moments notice to help out while Jacob and I go back and forth to the hospital. If that weren't enough Lexi is sick too--she went home for the weekend with my mom so that she could have Christmas with my family and see her cousins. We were all supposed to make the big trip but couldn't now that this happened. I think it will be good for her to get away from this for a few days…she has been handling it very hard. She is a great big sister who loves her little sister and hates to see her sick. Lexi decorated a little Christmas tree and stocking to put in Brooke's room to spruce it up a little bit! She also recorded a book so that Brooke could hear her voice while she is in here. I've spent my time here at the hospital getting some school work done. Its not often I have quiet time where I can spread some papers out and get quality work done on the computer! I do of course pamper my little girl while I'm here though too--Yesterday I spent about an hour giving her a pedicure and manicure..I went for penguins on her nails--I think she'll love them when she sees them:)!! Thank you to my best friend Pinterest for the idea!! haha... Thank you for all your continued thoughts and prayers--we truly appreciate your support through this!
1 Comment
Audrey McGinnis
12/24/2013 02:00:16 am
I hope your sweet baby is better soon so you can be home for Christmas. I've been following your blog ever since I came across it on the news before your little ones were born. I enjoy all the photos and stories you post. I have a little boy, and a daughter on the way - I love reading about your family, and the strength of you and your husband is a true inspiration to me. I am sending you a huge get well wish and some prayers. :)
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