Ella is a crawling maniac. She loves going up the stairs. We have to barricade the stairs and even then she will find a way to get up them. On Monday the 18th. Ella climbed the stairs into the kitchen. When she got to the top Mark called her name. She quickly looked up and tried to wave to Dada. She forgot to finish climbing all the way onto the kitchen floor. She tumbled backwards landing on her head 3 times and she toppled down. I ran after her (throwing and hitting her with the batteries I had in my hand) trying to catch her. I checked her before picking her up to make sure she didn't break anything. About 15 minutes after she fell she started blacking out and one pupil was dilated much larger then the other. I took her into the doctor. She had another black out episode there. The doctor then said she needed a Head CT. I don't know if he was trying to scare me or prepare me, but he gave a list of possible outcomes. For example: brain hemorrhaging, brain swelling, cracked skull. By the time I left the doctors office to head to Primary Children's Hospital I was crying. Mark was in taking a certification test for work. When I was unable to get a hold of him. I called my dad. He left work came and took Claire, then called my mom to have her go with me to the hospital.
We finally arrived at the hospital after getting lost, because the map the doctors office gave us was wrong. I was able to go into the room with her. I was to use the toys they had to try and distract her. They strapped her in that big machine. I felt so helpless. My poor baby. There is nothing worse then having your little one looking at you like save me from this and not being able to do anything. She is too little to understand it was important.
After what seemed like forever, the doctor came and told us her scans all came back normal. She just had a concussion. After all the possibilities the doctor had listed to me a concussion was a relief. We were given instructions to wake her up 1/2 hour after she had gone to sleep to make sure she was able to wake up. The rest of week was spent holding her. She refused to be put down. She cried if I even made a motion of bending down for fear of me putting her down. I am glad to say she is recovered. Her pupil is back to normal size and she is once again a stair climbing fool.
Now onto Claire. On Monday the 25th we were at the Zoo. We were sitting down eating lunch. Claire lost all the color from her face. I asked her if she was going to throw up. She just started crying saying she was sick. We put her in the car and she was asleep before we left the parking lot. By the time we got home she had a fever of 104. I did my best to keep her fever down and let her sleep a lot. Finally on Wednesday morning she was crying saying her ears hurt. So I took her in to the doctor thinking she might have ear infections. But she didn't. He also tested her for strep, but that was negative as well. He said it was just a virus and to keep giving her Motrin and Tylenol. Well yesterday, her fever jumped up to 105 and seemed to be uncontrollable as if that wasn't enough she broke out in a rash that was quickly spreading. I called the doctor back. They said to bring her back in right away. After evaluating her the said she now has 2 ear infections and a Urinary tract infection. I thought that was be the end of it. But apparently the rash isn't related to those two things. With her rash and the high fever. They told me she needed to have blood work done to be tested for MEASLES! What? How could she possibly have measles? She has all her shots, one of which I know is for measles. They gave a mask to make her wear and sent us up to Mckay Dee Hospital ER to get the blood work done. At least we didn't have to go to Salt Lake for this one.
Upon arriving at the ER we learned the Doctors office had called ahead. We were put in quarantine. They had the housekeeping staff waiting, and as soon as we walked out of admissions, they shut it down and proceeded to sterilize the whole office. We weren't allowed to sit in the waiting room or use an ER room because the couldn't afford to lose the space for 3 hours for the disinfection that would need to take place after we left. They shut us in a consultation room. When phlebotomists arrived, they came in full gear with face shields. It scared Claire to death. They sent in 3. One to take the blood (which was then labeled BIOHARZARD) and 2 to hold her down. I took her hand in mine and put my other hand on her head to keep her looking at me and away from the needle. She was so brave. She did cry a lot, but she didn't kick and trying to move away. She just held my hand. They had us leave the room and the staff had to leave their clothing in the room. We were then escorted from the premises.
Now it may just be me. But I felt like that was a little of an over reaction. I know measles is dangerous, but they treated her like she was a plague to be avoided. Doesn't make me feel very good about my poor daughter. And in all of this no one ever told me to wear a mask or any protective gear. Shouldn't they be worried about me and my family becoming infected or spreading it if I already am infected? The put a rush on her blood. Hopefully today we will get the results. I am hoping for negative.
She is still completely miserable. Her rash is spreading and her fever is staying around 103. Mark and my dad gave her a blessing last night. After which she seemed to get some relief. Its only 10:30 but she has already taken 3 baths. Any guesses on how many she will have before the end of the day? I guess anything is worth it to break the fever.
I am hoping that this is the end of our hospital trips for the year.
