Bella's Hospital Stay

Friday night Bella had a very rough time sleeping. She would be asleep for about 10 minutes and wake up screaming in pain. We could not for the life of us figure out what was ailing her. We tried gas drops, ear drops, tylenol...nothing. It was about 3am and Caydence bug was fast alseep so Daddy took her to the ER. He called on the way and she was sound asleep. We decided to bring her back home with no real 'visit'. Back home she started the same cycle of waking and crying. Off to the ER Daddy went again. This time she she saw a doctor that said 'ear infection, right ear'. Sent Daddy home with meds. When Daddy got home we decided after her fever spiked 2 degrees in 15 minutes, she was gonna have to go back. We talked to her pediatrician and he agreed. This time, she was going to stay a while. They poked and prodded her in every way possible. They said DOUBLE ear infection...so in the course of 2-3 hours her left ear had gotten infected. And I mean they were running...first clear, like water, then blood. =( I dropped Caydence bug off to Gman's birthday party and headed up to see my baby. The doctors decided it was either RSV or pneumonia with the double ear infection. She had a high fever and low oxygen so she got admitted. After a long day she was finally able to rest and I grabbed a camera to document this trip. Here are the first pics:
(If the picture isn't big enough then if you click on it a new window will open with the pic bigger or full size)

She loves her daddy and they were both beyond EXHAUSTED. See the little oxygen mask? It was awful. I literally hate those things. I realize a necessary evil, but they are itchy and annoying. Then that poor little arm. She had to get an IV for fluids and antibiotics. They had to tape and tape and tape again because she is SO strong. The most fight I saw her give at any time was over the breathing treatments. She did NOT like them.

I decided to take pics of the room. Cute area for a kid. Caydence loved the butterflies on the ceilings. They are all over the place. I told her they were trailing down the hall into our room. =) She remembered them from her visit to the ER last year for the flu/strep.

Gigi kept Caydence for us the first night but then she had to go back to work. Not to worry, we had entertainment:

The night Gigi and Gman brought Caydence to the hospital we were all utterly exhausted. Gman, thoughtful as ever, had Caydence help him make us cookies. We were so hungry we gobbled them right up! I didn't even get the camera out while they were there. I was uber tired folks. The next day Bella was feeling good enough to get up a while so we let the girls play in the baby bed. It looked more like a cage or a 'prison' as Daddy called it.

Check out the hammer in these pics. I got this toy from the hospital play room. It came with a hammer to hit a toy that made noise. I picked this little gem up because Bella was so frustrated she was wanting to hit. Jacked me right in the nose with a book...still have a bruise! She did enjoy a little game of patty cake too!

At the hospital there are these SWEET volunteers who give out handmade items to the kiddos. The first day they came around and gave Bella a bear. It was cute but the same as all the bears we got when the girls got tubes. They were out of the smiley face pillows so they came back on day 2 to deliver one to Bella. It was a different volunteer who thought Caydence was the patient. When Caydence realized the pillow was for Bella...well, she wasn't happy. See below:
Not to worry...I asked to purchase an extra before we left and they gave Caydence a 'green' smiley pillow. It matches Mr. Green Bear (her xtra from the flu/strep ER visit) so she's happy.

So Monday, Gigi has meetings in Huntsville and stopped by to see us. I was SO glad to see her. She brought Caydence some 'bug juice' and zebra cakes, and me a dmd (diet mountain dew). I thought Bella was gonna flip her lid when she saw her!

Not to be out done, everyone knows Caydence LOVES my momma...

Our last night Aunt Nancy came to visit. Caydence and I had run home for a while. Caydence fell asleep so we were later than I had anticipated getting back. My girls sure do love their Aunt Nancy! And I do too!!! By this time Bella was feeling much better. Nancy even got to see her dance to D-d-d-d-d-dora!
While Caydence and I were out of the hospital I called the daycare to let them know about Bella and why the girls weren't at school. Then when Caydence and I got back to the hospital I saw these:
Ms. Amanda from daycare sent them to Bella. Bella adores her. And it was very sweet of her to send these.
I took one last picture of the girls eating dinner together. You can tell that Bella is much better now. She was dirty and had no bow so I improvised folks!
I can't say enough good things about all the staff at Huntsville Hospital for Children...ER included. They are top notch! Nobody wants to have to be there and be sick, but they are there to help you and it was very nice under the circumstances. We are now home (as of this morning). Bella is still sounding less than normal when breathing but her oxygen was up to 95 and she was fever free for 24 hours. We are all SO happy to be home. And SO thankful that God placed the right people in our lives at a time of need.