Regina Hospital Week

A week we never want to relive started late Friday (Oct. 12, 2012) night. Before bed, we noticed Jennie and Regina had slight fevers. During the night, Regina had all the sounds of croup and wasn't sleeping well. On Saturday, she was still sick, but by noon, she was very sick and was having a very hard time catching her breath. I loaded up all the kids (Matthew had to work in Portland, OR that day), and headed to Urgent Care. After sitting there for about an hour, a nurse noticed us while she was assisting someone else. She got us right back and once the doctor took one look at Regina's breathing; he sent us to the Emergency Room. As soon as we entered the Emergency Room, we were swept back and at least six nurses and doctors were working on Regina. At one point they wheeled in the pediatric crash cart--thankfully they didn't have to use it. I was trying it keep my cool and once they asked if there was anyone they could call to watch the other kids, I lost it. Since I couldn't get a hold of Matthew on his cellphone, a kind nurse called the restaurant that I knew he was eating at, so I could tell him what was going on--it is a good thing we communicated his plan for the day, so I could find him.
Since Regina was having such a difficult time breathing, she had to stay over night for observation. (Matthew stayed all the nights with her---what a trooper). We were sent home the next day with hopes that all was behind us. This wasn't the case, at 7:00 PM, Matthew took her back to the Emergency Room with breathing difficulty and they were admitted for observation. Monday, she was sent home once again hoping to be done with the hospital.
However, Regina took a turn for the worst--not sleeping well that night and having trouble breathing by the afternoon, and now Bruce was coming down with it. This time, Regina was admitted and had to have an IV treatments. (I was very nervous that we were going to loose her or Bruce was going to take a turn for the worst.) Since she had been sent home twice and had to come back, the hospital decided to keep her until she was able to go 24 hours without any type of breathing treatments. (This didn't occur until Friday afternoon.)
 During her stay, our regular pediatrician came for a visit and saw her having a coughing fit. This triggered in her mind the symptoms of whooping cough, so all the kids were tested for it. Regina was positive for para-pertussis (form of whooping cough), Jennie came up negative, and Bruce was positive for pertussis (whooping cough). Thankfully, our pediatrician didn't wait for the test results before treating us. She put Bruce and Jennie on steroids and antibiotics which I am positive has kept Bruce out of the hospital and on a speedy road to recovery. As of now, we are all recovering and on antibiotics and quarantine to help keep the pertussis from spreading to friends.

Regina at the hospital--the first time.

Bruce in Regina's room---The second visit.

Regina in her crib at the hospital--the second visit (Look how pale she is---she wasn't eating and drinking was only small amounts of juice)

Regina in her crib---the end of the third visit. Her appetite was much stronger, and she was getting back to normal. At one point, she was trying to use the mattress as a slide and was getting into everything. She even got the hospital phone and put on intercom and was babbling to the whole hospital.

Jennie and Bruce at our doctor's office getting ready to be tested.

Bruce was having huge coughing fits at this point and was just plain miserable. I felt like I had a brand new baby---he wasn't sleeping well, wanted to eat all the time, and wouldn't let me put him down for a second.