Speak up Mommy!

This time last week, I was admitting Ela into a hospital and scared out of my mind. It feels like that week was so long ago, and just a distant nightmare, but unfortunately it was not. Although it was so horrible to watch my little girl go through what we both thought was torture, I definitely put some lessons in my Mom book. I have been meaning to write a post for a long time about Ela and her asthma (or lack of) and trusting my gut when it comes to diagnoses and doctors. (That post will follow..) My experience last week just affirmed everything in all my thoughts I have yet to put online.

Flashback to two Saturdays ago. We had Ela in the pool at my Grandmothers relaxing and having fun. She was just not herself. Ela loves the pool and was not even playing. 

Within the hour she spiked a 104 fever. We gave her Motrin and hoped for the best. Over the night and the next day the fever continued to spike and the only way to bring it down was to alternate Motrin and Ibuprofen every four hours. Still nothing, so Sunday night we made a trip to the local Urgent Care center. They said every mothers worst nightmare "Its a virus and only time will work". The next morning, my hopes of going into work were destroyed( as well as my bed) when Ela proceeded to tell me " My belly huwrt' as she puked all over my bed. After being sick to her tummy for 4 hours straight we headed to the pediatrician. I thought Strep, UTI and other various infections according to Google. Her pediatrician was concerned about dehydration but said if I could keep fluids in her an IV was not necessary.A jug of Gatorade later and I thought we were in the clear. Ela was just not herself, but I did get the fluids in her..... Oh and yes she confirmed "It was just a virus". Tuesday I got a sitter to come to the house, and the fever was still present. Wednesday I tried to put Ela to school as the fever was minimal overnight...No luck. She started with diarrhea and by the end of the day the fever was back to 103. At this point I called my Boss and explained I was taking Ela back to the doctor in the morning and would not be at work. We headed to the pediatricians office, however my actual pediatrician would be out. I was to see her Nurse Practitioner. She examined Ela and after I BEGGED for a blood test, she finally gave Ela one.Her diagnoses: Rest, all she needed was rest, to try juice, to get her hydrated. I explained I was worried about dehydration and she said she was not concerned. At this point I was FURIOUS! I wished they would just find an infection so I could fix the now 6 day fever and vomiting etc. We headed home, Ela sicker than ever, and me with no answers. Words can not describe how bad she looked. 

10am at the Pediatrician office

2pm at the Hospital

4:00pm getting some fluids...Finally

As you can see I ended up taking Ela straight to the ER. After we got home and I went to wake Ela up from her nap in the car, she was lifeless and could not even open her eyes. I was scared at that point. I didn't care if the hospital thought I was crazy like the nurse practitioner did. I was getting answers!!! Sure enough my Mom gut was right.  I'll spare the details in the ER, but one of the scariest moments of my life was when Ela passed out during the insertion of the IV. Thank god for good doctors to calm both of us down. Within an hour of the fluids getting started, Ela woke up and actually smiled for the first time in days. We were not out of the woods, but Ela was improving..Especially when her best buddy came to visit. The nurses joked how it was the boy not the IV that made her perk up.

Ela and Mac playing on the Ipad

We were transported to another hospital via Ambulance. Although this was not my first choice, the hospital was excellent and had some great doctors and nurses....not to mention it passed my standards with flying colors for cleanliness. Ela ended up staying for a total of three days and was on an IV for two days. It took TWO days for her fluid levels to return to normal. Here are some pictures of my sweet baby...Even sick she is too cute. 

She slept all Thursday and Friday... She only woke up to use the bathroom or when she was restless.

Oh...and the other thing I learned is that being potty trained( as of two weeks prior) really saved the day. Not only did it save the day but throughout this whole process, Ela refused to use her diaper. I was so proud. Being able to collect samples, also prevented other unnecessary medical procedures.

A little hospital crib.

 Later on that night she was finally starting to get some energy back.

We took a walk and played on the Ipad.

My "bed" If you want to call it that...

We were finally released Saturday morning. During the course of her stay, I had Ela tested for every possible  cause of the high fever and ongoing symptoms, but everything lead back to a virus. At least we ruled out everything! It also became a little more clear when one of Ela's littlest classmates ended up in the room down the hall from us. There is nothing quite like daycare!

I learned to ALWAYS trust my gut! I should have taken her for fluids earlier in the week. I feel that we put Doctors' on a pedestal because they are Doctors. We often forget that we know our children the best, even better than we know our own bodies. I am not saying that Doctors do not command respect, but in situations like these, I knew it was not like my Ela to sit on a couch for three hours and not move, or not even want to drink juice or eat ice cream. This was a huge reality check that doctors even make mistakes. At the hospital I had a great doctor, who ran any test I asked. I explained that I had been to the doctor three times that week and had to beg for these tests repeatedly. She responded " Mom you are your babies voice and you brought her here because she is not right". Even when we were transferred to the other hospital, I told the doctor how worried I was. She said " You are your child's voice, you are her advocate, speak up" She is 100% correct and that is exactly what I did. I think after this experience, I will be much more likely to speak up sooner than later and not be afraid.

All is well that ends well....and one week later my little girl is back to her hyper, rambunctious self!