This is a very short update... I am temporarily home from the hospital. Karla was admitted yesterday to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh due to low blood oxygen and difficulty breathing. It has been a very trying experience for all of us. They admitted her with pneumonia with complications then changed it to asthma then back to pneumonia WITH asthma and then at 12:30 this morning they moved us to an isolation room telling us they think she has tuberculous. They then subjected poor little Karla to a whole battery of probing tests from 1 - 3am. Fortunately so far her TB test has not reacted, but they appear to plan on keeping her in the hospital through Wednedsday (48 hours from the TB test at 1am today). She has responded well to the breathing treatments. She hasn't been on oxygen since she left the ER and her blood oxygen level has remained in the good range since then. She's getting breathing treatments every 4 hours but it still very congested.
Please pray for Karla - that she doesn't have TB (we don't think she does), that her breathing will get fixed soon and that she won't be too distraught and angry over all the tests she's getting subjected to.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Sick Day
Poor Karla was pretty miserable all day today. She slept on and off all morning in the family room. Then this afternoon she slept for 3 hours straight. After she woke up she just wanted to lay on the floor. It was really sad and pathetic looking. Jason and I were debating on whether or not to take her back to the ER. The doctor had told us to come back if she was still lethargic, had a fever, or coughing a lot after 48 hours of antibiotics. At 46 hours after the first dose she perked up a little bit. We were able to play some and then she just wanted to sit in her stroller or on my lap. She went to sleep late but that is probably because she slept so much today. We are really hoping she will wake up tomorrow and feel MUCH better. It is sad seeing her so pathetic.
It is hard for us to know if she is upset because she is sick, if she is sad from all the transitions lately or both. Too bad she can't tell us! She hasn't had a fever today so that is a good sign.
I got to sleep for 2 hours this afternoon while Karla was asleep! It was the best sleep I have had in a month. Karla was asleep in the Pack N Play in the family room so I laid down on the couch. Jason was watching football so I knew he was watching/listening to Karla and I could totally relax! My neck and shoulders felt so much better when I woke up! They have really been hurting - I think from stress and being tense and from holding Karla so much.
We wanted to have Karla's cousins over today but we decided to wait until next weekend since Karla is sick. It was a quiet day with just the 3 of us. I think we all needed it. :)
In the brief time Karla wanted to play today she started making a noise for a horse, pointing to and saying "nose", saying "good", and singing E-I-E-I for Old McDonald Had a Farm.
It is hard for us to know if she is upset because she is sick, if she is sad from all the transitions lately or both. Too bad she can't tell us! She hasn't had a fever today so that is a good sign.
I got to sleep for 2 hours this afternoon while Karla was asleep! It was the best sleep I have had in a month. Karla was asleep in the Pack N Play in the family room so I laid down on the couch. Jason was watching football so I knew he was watching/listening to Karla and I could totally relax! My neck and shoulders felt so much better when I woke up! They have really been hurting - I think from stress and being tense and from holding Karla so much.
We wanted to have Karla's cousins over today but we decided to wait until next weekend since Karla is sick. It was a quiet day with just the 3 of us. I think we all needed it. :)
In the brief time Karla wanted to play today she started making a noise for a horse, pointing to and saying "nose", saying "good", and singing E-I-E-I for Old McDonald Had a Farm.
Pictures
I've uploaded more pictures - pictures at home! The link is on the right of this page. Enjoy!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Picture Comparison
I wanted to post this in Guatemala but never did.
This is Karla in February 2008:
This is Karla in October 2008:
This is Karla in February 2008:
This is Karla in October 2008:
Day 2 at home
Today wasn't the same as yesterday. Karla was pretty fussy all day because she doesn't feel good. I feel so bad for her. I'm hoping tomorrow she will start to perk up.
The highlights of our day were going outside for a short time this afternoon and then some evening visitors. It was so beautiful, warm, and sunny today. We talked to some neighbors and Karla found the three nearest dogs to our house and barked at them. :) She seems to love dogs but when given the chance to pet them she got scared.
This evening my sister Brenda came over...and Karla promptly fell asleep. Just like she did yesterday when Brenda came over! Karla wouldn't nap today because she was coughing a lot so we knew she was tired. She didn't sleep until Brenda came over. Then Grammy, PapPap and Uncle Kevin came over for a little bit too. Karla let Grammy hold her while she slept which I think Grammy quite enjoyed. I enjoyed it too because I got to clean up the kitchen! Brenda folded some laundry for me and seemed to enjoy it because it was all Karla's little clothes. :)
I still want to write about our travel day and things Karla likes about the the house but feel I need to get to bed now. Karla was very "needy" today so Jason and I are feeling quite tired. I have been sleeping on a mattress in her room so I heard her a lot last night whimpering and I'm sure I didn't sleep that well b/c I was listening for her. I had to get up and rock her back to sleep twice after coughing fits. I don't mind it because I know I missed lots of nights with her. Tonight I am going to sleep in my own bed (first time in almost a month!)...Jason and I have the baby monitor turned up as loud as it goes and hear every cough when we aren't in the room so it should be okay. :)
I uploaded a few more pictures to flickr from Nov. 4 and then some from our travel day, Nov. 5. I started uploading them at lunch time and just now got back to the computer. :)
Here is a picture of what we saw when we came into the baggage area at the Pittsburgh airport!
The highlights of our day were going outside for a short time this afternoon and then some evening visitors. It was so beautiful, warm, and sunny today. We talked to some neighbors and Karla found the three nearest dogs to our house and barked at them. :) She seems to love dogs but when given the chance to pet them she got scared.
This evening my sister Brenda came over...and Karla promptly fell asleep. Just like she did yesterday when Brenda came over! Karla wouldn't nap today because she was coughing a lot so we knew she was tired. She didn't sleep until Brenda came over. Then Grammy, PapPap and Uncle Kevin came over for a little bit too. Karla let Grammy hold her while she slept which I think Grammy quite enjoyed. I enjoyed it too because I got to clean up the kitchen! Brenda folded some laundry for me and seemed to enjoy it because it was all Karla's little clothes. :)
I still want to write about our travel day and things Karla likes about the the house but feel I need to get to bed now. Karla was very "needy" today so Jason and I are feeling quite tired. I have been sleeping on a mattress in her room so I heard her a lot last night whimpering and I'm sure I didn't sleep that well b/c I was listening for her. I had to get up and rock her back to sleep twice after coughing fits. I don't mind it because I know I missed lots of nights with her. Tonight I am going to sleep in my own bed (first time in almost a month!)...Jason and I have the baby monitor turned up as loud as it goes and hear every cough when we aren't in the room so it should be okay. :)
I uploaded a few more pictures to flickr from Nov. 4 and then some from our travel day, Nov. 5. I started uploading them at lunch time and just now got back to the computer. :)
Here is a picture of what we saw when we came into the baggage area at the Pittsburgh airport!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
HOME
We are home! I am going to respond to emails and phone calls as soon as I can. Our travel day went well and there was quite a little party at the Pittsburgh airport for Karla last night. She did a great job yesterday! We went to bed late last night because we didn't get home until midnight (I think).
This morning the 3 of us got up, ate breakfast together and explored the house. Karla just wanted to stay in her bedroom!! :) She kept saying "hola" to all of the stuffed animals and dolls. It was really cute and funny. Her grandparents and an aunt and uncle came over for most of the day. She was fine with them and even started saying Pap-Pap. She was happy and roaming around the house. Then, after her nap, she was extremely hot. We took her temperature and it was over 102. She was lethargic and just wanted to be held. We decided to take her to the doctor. Long story short, we don't have a pediatrician yet, our doctor won't see anyone under 18 yrs old so we decided to take her to MedExpress. We went there. They looked her over and told us to go to the ER. At this point I thought I was going to lose it. How could she be so sick and I not know it??? They thought she might have pneumonia and wanted her to get a chest x-ray. I was getting really scared because I did NOT want her to have to stay overnight in the hospital. She's had enough trauma in the past few weeks! Anyway, after a stressful time at the hospital we found out Karla has bad ear infections in both ears and pneumonia in the bottom of her right lung. I can't believe her behavior has been so good and she's been so sick. So now she'll be on antibiotics for 2 weeks along with Motrin and Tylenol as needed.
I had to document her first evening in the US with pictures of course. It was so sad seeing Karla in a little hospital gown and having to be hooked up to a pulse - ox thing. Luckily Uncle Kevin had his camera at the hospital. (And I have to say he is a WONDERFUL uncle-he had to come to MedExpress with clean clothes for Karla b/c she had thrown up all the way to MedExpress (all over new car and car seat) and he cleaned it ALL up while we were in with the doctor! I was quite impressed and very grateful!
This morning felt like the best Christmas morning ever! I will have to write more about the positive tomorrow. I will post pictures from the airports and today sometime tomorrow. Today was busier than expected.
Tomorrow we are staying home - just the 3 of us and we're going to try to just relax and catch up on rest and laundry.
Here are two pictures from this evening. I am so thankful we are at home-not at the hospital or Guatemala! Welcome to parenthood, right???
This morning the 3 of us got up, ate breakfast together and explored the house. Karla just wanted to stay in her bedroom!! :) She kept saying "hola" to all of the stuffed animals and dolls. It was really cute and funny. Her grandparents and an aunt and uncle came over for most of the day. She was fine with them and even started saying Pap-Pap. She was happy and roaming around the house. Then, after her nap, she was extremely hot. We took her temperature and it was over 102. She was lethargic and just wanted to be held. We decided to take her to the doctor. Long story short, we don't have a pediatrician yet, our doctor won't see anyone under 18 yrs old so we decided to take her to MedExpress. We went there. They looked her over and told us to go to the ER. At this point I thought I was going to lose it. How could she be so sick and I not know it??? They thought she might have pneumonia and wanted her to get a chest x-ray. I was getting really scared because I did NOT want her to have to stay overnight in the hospital. She's had enough trauma in the past few weeks! Anyway, after a stressful time at the hospital we found out Karla has bad ear infections in both ears and pneumonia in the bottom of her right lung. I can't believe her behavior has been so good and she's been so sick. So now she'll be on antibiotics for 2 weeks along with Motrin and Tylenol as needed.
I had to document her first evening in the US with pictures of course. It was so sad seeing Karla in a little hospital gown and having to be hooked up to a pulse - ox thing. Luckily Uncle Kevin had his camera at the hospital. (And I have to say he is a WONDERFUL uncle-he had to come to MedExpress with clean clothes for Karla b/c she had thrown up all the way to MedExpress (all over new car and car seat) and he cleaned it ALL up while we were in with the doctor! I was quite impressed and very grateful!
This morning felt like the best Christmas morning ever! I will have to write more about the positive tomorrow. I will post pictures from the airports and today sometime tomorrow. Today was busier than expected.
Tomorrow we are staying home - just the 3 of us and we're going to try to just relax and catch up on rest and laundry.
Here are two pictures from this evening. I am so thankful we are at home-not at the hospital or Guatemala! Welcome to parenthood, right???
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Final Day - Mommy's post
I just read Jason's post and I suspect we will be posting here (maybe often) in the next several days so keep checking. :)
I am so glad I have had this time here with Karla. I am also glad Jason has had a week with Karla too. I really think it is going to make going home together much easier. The past 2-3 days have been better. Karla seems happier and doesn't have a fit if she is told "no". She has also cried less overall.
I still can't believe all 3 of us are going HOME together tomorrow (well, actually later today)! It is a day I really have not let myself imagine much at all. It still all seems surreal.
I am happy that we went to Antigua today although it would have been nicer to have more time there. Someday we'll have to go back when Karla will enjoy it more too. It helped me view Guatemala a little differently, more positively. There are some beautiful places. It was fun to go sightseeing but as we were leaving Antigua heading back to Guatemala City (trying to see different buildings and places, pointed out by our tour guide Diana) - I had trouble looking at the buildings, etc. because I thought the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen was my daughter, sleeping in my arms.
Thank you for all of your prayers! They have been answered!
I am so glad I have had this time here with Karla. I am also glad Jason has had a week with Karla too. I really think it is going to make going home together much easier. The past 2-3 days have been better. Karla seems happier and doesn't have a fit if she is told "no". She has also cried less overall.
I still can't believe all 3 of us are going HOME together tomorrow (well, actually later today)! It is a day I really have not let myself imagine much at all. It still all seems surreal.
I am happy that we went to Antigua today although it would have been nicer to have more time there. Someday we'll have to go back when Karla will enjoy it more too. It helped me view Guatemala a little differently, more positively. There are some beautiful places. It was fun to go sightseeing but as we were leaving Antigua heading back to Guatemala City (trying to see different buildings and places, pointed out by our tour guide Diana) - I had trouble looking at the buildings, etc. because I thought the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen was my daughter, sleeping in my arms.
Thank you for all of your prayers! They have been answered!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
