God Is Watching Over Us . . .

I can't wait until I get to blog about life w/out the illnesses of Lora Kate. I do not know if it is because this is her first winter in daycare or what. I didn't go to daycare and neither did my brother or sister so I'm not familiar with all the illness that breeds in these damn places. Now don't get me wrong...I love love love my daycare. I am so proud to have such a great one and have Lora Kate developing her social skills. However, she just seems to have stayed sick ALL winter long.
As I've blogged before Lora Kate has asthma. So we've been on many meds the past few weeks. On Friday we finished our Prednisone and Arithromycin. We were still doing breathing treatments with Albuterol and Pulmicort. I worked NICU on Friday and talked to the Respiratory Therapist as well as several co-workers with children who've battled similar circumstances. The recommendation that Xopenox would be better than Albuterol came to top our list of conversations. I was told it would not make LK so WIRED and SO MEAN. It would also not keep her up so long. SO .... Nurse Mom called and asked to have a Rx of Xopenox called in. We finished up the Albuterol on Saturday. Sunday I had my first Chez Ami party and took LK to stay with Mom and Dad. I picked up the Xopenonx and gave Mom instructions to give LK one vial in the nebulizer at lunch. Around 3 Mom calls and tells me not even 1/2 way through the breathing treatment Lora Kate started clawing at her eyes so Mom stopped the treatment. LK then broke out in a rash. Then she vomited. However after she vomited she was fine and rash disappeared. I headed to Mom's at 5:30 to pick up Lora Kate. I met her in the road coming to get me. Lora Kate had had a rebound reaction. She had hives all over her body. We rushed to Walton Regional's ER bec/ it was closest. We walked in and as I was holding her and registering she threw up all over me. They took us back IMMEDIATELY! I was VERY impressed!!!!!! Anyways, we got into the room and they administered Decadron and Benadryl. Within 15 minutes things were worse. They moved us into the trauma room, administered Epinephrine and started IVs and drew blood. Her extremities started turning blue and well, it was really scary. The ER Doctor pulled me out of the room and informed me he had called life flight at Children's Healthcare. However, they weren't flying bec/ of the weather but the transport team was on their way. I was quite frantic but I think I did good at keeping it under control. Mom said later she couldn't believe how calm I was. Maybe it's my experience with trauma and ER work and ICU work but it doesn't help anyone, definitely not the child, when the Mom gets all out of whack and loses it. SO I kept it together and we got over to Children's. Lora Kate started to clear up and by 1 am she was running around the ER room back to her normal self. By 1am she'd received loads of steroids, loads of sticks, IVs, heelsticks, a urine cath, etc. They discharged us at 2:30 am. She slept with me last night in case of another rebound reaction but woke up this morning happy as could be. It was a welcome sight!!! We are slammed in the hospital so I took her on to school around noon and came into work for a little while. God was definitely watching over my little angel last night. She definitely could have died if we hadn't gotten to the ER when we did. The cyanosis and lack of oxygen she was receiving to her extremities could have been really detrimental. I'm not a Monday kinda girl but I'm glad to be here Monday and have a healthy little girl at home. We now have an epi pen at home for the chance her allergies continue to develop and we have other issues...oh pray not!
On another note, my cousin, Tom Bell, passed away Sunday. His son and daughter are my age (year older and year younger). There Mom passed away 5 or so years ago. It really made me ponder about the odd events that hit us all in life at various times. The circumstances surrounding his passing have been incredibly tough for all involved. My heart aches for Jeff and Jenny. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin this chapter in life w/out either of their parents. I honestly can't imagine and I know they will need the strength and support of all those around them!
God Is Good!