It all started last Friday. Yes, the same day my mom flew out after being here for 3 weeks. Eli started with a snotty nose, and we all could tell what was coming. By Saturday I could tell I was starting to come down with something. That same day Layla started with a tiny bit of congestion. By Monday we all felt like death, or at least I know I did. I called the Pediatricians office on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and finally took them both in on Wednesday. After being told for 3 days straight that Layla's congestion was just the 'typical newborn congestion,' I went ahead and opted for her to be seen while I was already taking Eli in. Eli's cold had turned into Bronchitis, as it always does, so he was put on an antibiotic. Layla was given antibiotic nose drops, and several other nasal sprays to help with the congestion, we were told she as well had some type of viral infection. Thankfully, she never really acted sick. She never lost any sleep over it, and was never irritable from it. The worst part of the week, up to this point, was the fact that I was hit the hardest by this nasty virus. I haven't been so sick, for so long, in a really long time. Today is day 7, and it's the first day I've felt somewhat human again. It didn't help that as a nursing mom, I couldn't really take any medication to help me feel better. By Thursday, Layla had developed a pretty nasty sounding cough, and her coloring looked a little off to me. She was finally starting to look like she didn't feel well. Another call to the Pediatricians office, and it was confirmed that she needed to be seen asap. By this point, I wasn't sure how much more I could take! I was burning up with a fever, had very little energy, and was worried sick at the same time. I let myself have a few emotional meltdowns, collected myself, and then made arrangements for Danny to come home and stay with Eli while I took the baby to the Doctor. As her pediatrician was walking into the room to see us, Layla was having a really bad coughing fit. She stopped dead in her tracks, shook her head, and let me know how uncomfortable she was with that cough. Well, yes, me too. She listened to her lungs, which sounded good, and then went on to run an RSV test. I had a gut feeling all day long that it was RSV, so I was pretty prepared when that test came back positive. I knew that this meant a trip to the hospital, which is what I had feared all week long. We were sent home to quickly pack a bag, arrange care for Eli, and head for a direct-admit to Memorial Hospital in Savannah. By this point, I'm running on adrenaline, and feeling like I need to be admitted to the hospital more so than the baby. She wasn't even acting sick! Me on the other hand, was covered in sweat from the fever, and had little to no voice left. We arrived at the hospital around 4:30, and really didn't have any answers to our questions until much later that night. We were there pretty much to have her monitored throughout the night. This virus typically peaks around the 4th or 5th day, and this is obviously when things go bad, really fast, in newborn babies. Thankfully Layla's oxygen levels were high, and stayed high, she never ran a fever, her lungs continued to sound great, and her breathing never seemed to be affected. She never needed oxygen or a breathing treatment during her stay, just a lot of deep suction. After a great night for her, and little to no sleep for me, they felt comfortable letting us continue treating her at home. We were SO thankful, as we were told to expect at least a 3-4 day stay. Danny and Eli rushed to pick us up, and we headed back home from the hospital, again. Whew!
Chubby cheeks pretty much slept for the majority of her hospital stay.
We kept her propped up on her boppy to help her breathe better...which is how she loves to sleep at home.
To say that this week was a challenge, would be the understatement of the year. But, I'm so thankful for the help of a wonderful husband, and for the extra strength that the Lord gave me to get through some of the most difficult days. I absolutely hated being sick at the same time as my babies, and feeling like I couldn't give them 100% of me. After this week, I'm thinking that the 'normal' weeks to come are going to feel like a breeze! All of my friends have always told me how hard the adjustment from 1 to 2 kids is, but I certainly wasn't expecting my first week to be quite so eventful! We're very thankful to be on the mend, and we're looking forward to some quiet, restful days to recover. I have a massage gift certificate to use, and now I know there was a reason that I saved it! I certainly could use one of those right about now!
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