…however one could always do without having to have one admitted into the hospital. Especially a 7 week old…
It was just a casual day in that we spent in the house, everyone was doing fine.. however, Blue just wasn’t herself. She was hardly eating, hot to the touch, becoming lethargic, and her right eye kept rolling in (which can be quite normal due to the eye muscles still developing). Normally one would just take the child's temperature themselves to determine if it was worth calling the doctor, or worth going straight to the hospital. Just my luck, I couldn’t locate a dang thermometer at all, and with her being so hot, I decided I would just take her into the local hospital.
On the way to the other side of town I decided to keep the windows down to help try and bring down her fever, and it did at least cool her to the touch. Once we arrived I was instructed to take her temperature and it was at 102.8. To high WAY to high for an infant. Immediately they went to draw blood, and well that was hard for me, because they drew it from the top of her poor head. I realize that it is usually the easiest way with babies, but I was by no means wanting to see my baby girl get poked at all, let alone on the side of her head. I was one sad momma. Over the course of 2 hours they were able to get a urine sample and determine that her white blood count was way to high- She had an infection of some sort… and she wasn’t going to going home… for at least 10 days. YES, 10 days.
So here it is, 0045 and we were getting admitted into the hospital. After running more tests, drawing more blood they were able to at least come up with her having a UTI, but with her levels being as high as they were she was fighting more then just a urinary tract infection. I think I finally ended up going to bed around 0550 for about an hour until she was checked on and given two different antibiotics… and a new iv. She still wasn’t eating, and her temperature was now 103.9- baby girl was not doing well at all. She looked worse then she did when we initially arrived.
After 2 full days her fever was finally gone! By day 4 she was starting to at least smile, still pale as can be, but she did smile!
The doctors decided she needed to be pumped with fluids to prevent dehydration, and weight loss. She was put on 2 antibiotics 3 times a day for the next 10 days. Over the course of the time spent there she was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection and urinary tract infection. She was stuck 10 times with attempts at placing an iv… she had 7 iv’s in a matter of 6 days… with the last one having to go on the top of her little head. that was awful. but it worked!!!!
After having 2 kidney ultrasounds it was discovered that she did in fact have some minor damage in both kidneys. The doctors are hoping that with the continued treatment of antibiotics it will only be temporary. When I say continued treatment.. it means for the next 6 weeks (9 in total) she will have prophylactic treatment to insure that she won’t have another infection. She has an been doing quite well since being released from the hospital 3 weeks ago, and hope that the antibiotics will continue to help.
The doctors here in Germany (like most Germans) are quite blunt, and think nothing of it- and I actually prefer people that way.. so when I am told by not 1, or 2 but rather 4 different doctors that had I not followed my instinct – baby girl could have easily not made it. It was a hard trial to go through, but I am so grateful for the many people that prayed for my daughter, for the help of several of my friends here for watching the two older girls, and for the knowledge that the Lord was watching over our family. I am quite blessed.
I appreciate those that have stuck with me during the last few months of having the baby and me being missing in action! I see a lot of fun things in our future!! ♥
