Pneumonia

We've had a crazy couple of days.  Gracie was running a fever when Jeff picked her up at daycare on Thursday.  He stayed home from work with her on Friday and her fever would come and go.  On Friday night her temp spiked to 105.  I was quickly on the phone with the nurses line.  They told me everything we were doing was right.  I didn't feel terribly comfortable with that knowing our little pumpkin.  She was burning up and shaking uncontrollably from the chills.  She also had very labored breathing.  We finally got her temp down a bit, but she was so restless.  She finally fell asleep about 11:00 p.m.   On Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m., it started all over again.  Jeff had to work, so I packed a quick bag and headed to the E.R. with her. 

At the E.R. there were so many trauma patients, that they put us in the intensive care area...not because we needed to be there, but so the doctors could be close to us and their emergent patients.  I was relieved when 8:00 a.m. came and the pediatrician (who I really liked came in)...that's when things started to happen for us.  She sent us for a chest x-ray and sure enough it came back positive for pneumonia.  She also gave Gracie a red popsicle for being such a good girl.  Gracie ate it like a big girl, but you just can't help the drips, there was red popsicle everywhere...including the floor of the x-ray area. 

So they gave us some antibiotics and sent us home.  Our weekend was pretty low key.  Gracie didn't have a lot of energy and her fever continued to spike and then come down with ibuprofen through Monday.  By Tuesday we had the fever under control, but the coughing is pretty nasty.  She's been a trooper though.  Since Jeff had to work on Saturday, went to a family event on Sunday (Happy 50th Anniversary Ann & Denny - so sorry we missed your special day), and I stayed home with her on Monday and Tuesday, she has been missing daddy and constantly tells me that she wants to see daddy.  On Monday after her bath, she took her medical alert bracelet and pretended she was reading it.  Here is her interpretation of what it says:

"Dear Mommy, I love you.  Love, Gracie.  Dear Daddy, STAY HOME!" 

And I thought it said "seizure disorder and allergic to tree nuts".   She is a little comedian sometimes...and of course since I laughed, she's been going around the house saying that alot!!!!

Gracie is back at daycare today.  She was a little hesitant at first, but was definitely ready to see her friends.  It was so sweet, after she settled in there was a three girl hug with Gracie in the middle.  It was priceless. 

She's still a bit tired and has coughing fits if she does too much of anything, but is happy and fever free.  Now if we can only keep her cool in the heat today.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie the germ fighter