Monday "randoms"

It seems about every time I feel like I'm getting in a groove with life and blogging... crazy happens!  Our house was hit with the sickies again this past week and a half. 

• Karen came down with a stomach bug early on the morning of the 12th... we had a quiet weekend quarantining ourselves so we didn't spread our germs.  By monday she was getting back to her normal self.  
• Early Thursday morning, miss Megan fell victim for a second time this fall!  Poor girl got hit really hard this time - she was throwing up every hour to hour and a half for almost 18 hours... that's tough on a little body.  She's still not back to herself yet.  It worries me, but I've talked to her doctor a couple of different times and he says not to worry, just give her time... thankfully that's one thing this Mommy does have... time!

• Lauren also had an episode of throwing up on Thursday morning and then spiked a temperature.  By Friday it was running 102 but she had no other symptoms of a stomach bug so I took her in to her doctor so I didn't have to stress about her over the weekend.  They took a urine sample to rule out another bladder infection.  Unfortunately, what they could see under the microscope was inconclusive, so we had to wait for the culture results to come back to know for sure.  The result came back today... the verdict??  another bladder infection. :(  Insert a huge frowny face here!!  
• Because this is her second infection and she's under a year old, they have to rule out VUR - which is the same condition that Megan had.  We are scheduled for a VCUG on the 29th.  That is a test where they put dye into her bladder and then take x-rays to see if the dye refluxes to her kidneys... It doesn't hurt them but really isn't fun - they have to be immobilized for the x-rays, and as any parent knows, that doesn't elicit fun reactions from kids.

• I felt crummy all weekend, whether my body was fighting the stomach bug or it was just the power of suggestion from taking care of three sick kids... who knows.  I'm thankful to be feeling more like myself today!!

So, I'm not intending this post as a complaint, just a catch-up as to where I've been and why I'm finding it hard to write.  I was updating a friend last night as to my family's status, and her response was: "This too shall pass.  I know a family that needs prayers, will you suffer for them?" ... it was an important reminder to me of one of the things I find so beautiful about my Catholic faith... that there is an intrinsic value in suffering and that God provides an avenue for grace in each suffering, no matter how small, if we but offer it up.  Thanks for the reminder - J.J.!!

There are also some really positive things happening in life right now too, which I hope to share - maybe tomorrow in a Tuesday Top 10!!

Two years - a look back

In remembering my first half marathon the other day,  I couldn't help but also remember other events from two years ago.  Megan was only 7 months old and had struggled with bladder infections since she was three months old.  She had a condition that caused urine reflux into her kidneys (VUR) and made her prone to infections.  It seemed that about every 5 or 6 weeks she would have a break-through infection (she was on a daily antibiotic to try and keep her from getting sick).

Two days after my half marathon was a Monday and out of the blue, she spiked a temperature. No other symptoms, just a 101-102 temp... same as always.  I took her in to her pediatrician and a quick look at her urine confirmed it was another UTI.  We changed her antibiotic and went home.

Typically Megan responded pretty well and quickly to a new antibiotic.  On Tuesday, after 24 hours of a different antibiotic, she wasn't much better... in fact, not at all.  Her temp was still up, she was barely eating, and her diaper remained dry.  By bedtime on Tuesday, I was really starting to be concerned at her lethargy and lack of interest in eating.  Fortunately, I have the BEST pediatrician in the world - he gives out his home phone number - so I called and left him a message.  He called me back within 15 minutes.  When he heard the above facts he said the one things I was NOT expecting him too... "I think you need to take her in to the E.R. ..."  I was immediately in tears.  He continued "It sounds like it has gone to her kidneys and if she becomes too dehydrated, the infection could become septic." ... ACK!!!!!!

By 10pm we were at the Pediatric E.R. checking in.  It was close to 2am by the time they got an iv started and us checked in to a room.  Fortunately we got there and got fluids and iv antibiotics to her in time to combat the kidney infection.  It was 5 or 6 days before we left the hospital and she remained on i.v. antibiotics for another week after that.

Sleeping it off with my girl in her hospital bed

Finally starting to feel better...

This was the first of three hospital visits for kidney infections, three picc lines for i.v. meds, and a fourth hospital stay for major surgery to try and repair her ureter tubes so the kidney infections would stop.

Getting the i.v. meds at home after our 2nd hospital visit

3rd hospital stay... just after she turned 1

Sleeping off the anesthesia with Carl after surgery

We were so happy when she wanted to eat!

Fortunately - it worked!! Praise God!  Megan has been off of antibiotics for over a year now and had no break-through infections.  Words cannot express how grateful I am for the care she received and that we live in the time we do where this condition can be diagnosed and successfully treated.  And look at where she's at now... beautiful, healthy, strong 2.5 year old!!