Pneumonia, RSV, and Bronchiolitis

We just had rounds for day 5 in the hospital and the med student presenting pointed out that today is Jae's 10 month birthday. Say what!?! Well, I clearly don't have a super cute 10 month picture of her or an elaborate post about her at 10 months...yet. We'll work on that so I thought I would document this crazy roller coaster we've been experiencing with our sweet baby girl.

It all started....

Last Wednesday Jae was sent home from day care with a mild fever and crabbiness. We kept her home with Steve's mom on Thursday with a mild fever and stuffiness. On Friday morning when I got her up to go to school, she was really sick. Not a fever but super stuffy and just really sad looking. Steve stayed home with her and she slept with him on the couch all day with some difficulty breathing. I rushed home after work and took her to her pediatrician. There, she oxygen saturation was in the mid 80s and her breathing was really labored so he sent us the hospital with suspected RSV.

I took her immediately to Children's Hospital South where she was taken to the ER and evaluated, given lots of oxygen and had x-rays taken of her lungs. The Dr. diagnosed her with pneumonia in both lungs. They were having a hard time keeping her oxygen sat up so put her on heated high flow oxygen. She also got an IV put in with some fluids and antibiotics to treat the pneumonia and double ear infection (oh, did I not mention that?).

Steve and Kellen brought us some dinner and overnight supplies assuming we would be staying for awhile and then headed home. The doctor decided that Jae needed a level of respiratory support that they could not provide there and put in orders to have us transferred to the main Children's Hospital campus in Aurora. Lucky us, got to ride in an ambulance at midnight and were admitted to the ER there.

After staying in the ER for a few hours while they monitored her, she was sent to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for further treatment. She needed to be on 60% oxygen and 6 liters to keep her O2 sat in the 90s. They were also suctioning her every few hours. We got zero hours of sleep Friday night, before I knew it was Saturday morning and we were in the PICU getting round the clock care. Jae got more x-rays and a viral culture confirming RSV.

At this point I was so exhausted that I wasn't able to really think straight and it was making me super emotional and angry. I was mad at the EMS guys for dumping us in the ER, I was mad at the doctor for telling me I couldn't nurse Jae, I was mad at the nurse for not letting me out of our room during shift change and I was mad that if I went downstairs to get breakfast I wouldn't be allowed back into the ICU. After I was able to get a nap, some caffeine, and someone explained the rules of the ICU I felt much better about things. 

 Saturday afternoon, the nurses were able to reduce Jae's oxygen to 40% and 4 liters which is the minimum requirement to get out of PICU so they moved us up to an inpatient room. I was excited for a little privacy, a shower and some sleep. Steve was able to give Kellen to my mom so he could come see us (Kellen isn't allowed in the hospital) and the my mom brought me dinner. We went to bed Saturday no problem but were woken up around midnight with low oxygen levels again. The PICU doctors came up to check her out and readmitted her to the ICU early Sunday morning.

Jae was pretty sick Sunday, she needed almost 10 liters of O2 to maintain her saturation. She slept a ton and this just turned into a waiting game. At this point doctors were treating her for pneumonia, RSV and bronchiolitis plus the ear infection. We were able to get rid of her IV though since she was nursing really well and was able to take her meds orally. That was a huge relief as it was so uncomfortable for her to nurse with it on.

Steve came and visited us while Kellen hung out with my mom. We were all excited to watch the Broncos in the Super Bowl but some fun that was. After coming to terms with the fact that we were not going anywhere anytime soon, I was able to get in touch with some coworkers to figure out sub plans for the week.

Monday was a lot of waiting, luckily we were both able to sleep through the night and I finally felt rested. Steve was super busy trying to hold down the fort and get some work done but my mom came by for some Jae snuggles and to bring me dinner. The fact that Children's Hospital is in an extremely congested part of town that is not close to where we live and that Kellen cannot come here has made coordinating visits difficult.  

Jae was dropped down to 4 liters of oxygen on Monday morning and by Tuesday, had no issues that required any breathing intervention (besides a super fun treatment called EZpap) so they transferred us back to an inpatient room. Once settled on Tuesday late afternoon, nurses and doctors started weaning her off of her oxygen and by Tuesday night she was on regular oxygen at 2 liters. Throughout the night they took it down to 1 liter and at some point Jae took off the oxygen and she maintained her oxygen levels just fine.

 So that brings us to today, Wednesday. Jae is hanging out without any oxygen now and no monitors. They are going to see how she does for the day and we will most likely be discharged tonight or tomorrow morning. It is nerve racking that yesterday she was on a ton of support and today she is on nothing but the doctors feel the same way and won't send her home unless they are certain she can handle it.

 While I'm anxious to get home and see Kellen, the dogs and Sydney I think Steve has had the roughest week. Running around town trying to get some work in, bring me stuff, see Jae and pick Kellen up from school. Hanging out and snuggling with Jae in the hospital seems pretty easy. We have had lots of help this week with coworkers and my mom. We've also had tons of offers for food or watching Kellen, we can't thank everyone enough. I'll be glad to put this behind us, I would have never imagined a little cold and fever would turn into this. We are very fortunate though because even though Jae was really sick, there were kiddos in the ICU who were much sicker and who will be there for a very long time. It really put things in perspective.

As soon as we're home and settled, I'll get Jae's 10 month post together!

Update: We were able to go home Wednesday late afternoon. Jae was exhausted and slept almost 12 hours straight Wednesday night. I slept 10 of those! She has been coughing with a runny nose but breathing fine. We met with Dr. Mike Friday morning and other than her ear infection, she is looking great.