Well I'm sorry to say that the entire month of October passed and I didn't make a single post - certainly not for a lack of things to say. We had a few challenges at the end there and I feel like I better at least document one of them.
One night Bel was having a horrible coughing fit - when I went in to check on her she was having really labored breathing - her whole body was working so hard to get these little breaths and it was so sad. After trying a few things at home we took her to the ER. I was planning on going in - getting a quick diagnosis, some magical medicine, going back to bed and going on with our lives... no such luck. After a few traumatic hours of tests, iv tubes, blowing oxygen in bel's face and way too much beeping from monitors, they admitted Bel to the hospital, still no diagnosis. Turns out she had viral pneumonia - so we were constantly blowing oxygen in her face, had her hooked up to an oxygen saturation/heart rate monitor and an IV to give her fluids and meds. She also got Albuterol added to her oxygen every few hours (helps the muscles in her lungs dilate and breath better). That's what all the tubes/wires are that you see in the photo. Here she is watching Cars for the 11th time - thank heaven for that movie - we would not have survived without it.
I'm so amazed by our little, energetic 20 month old that she successfully stayed on her hospital bed for 36 hours straight - bless her heart!
A special thanks to our surprise visitors from Des Moines - it was so incredibly nice to have some loving family distraction, glow sticks, new movies and scrumptious cinnamon breakfast cake (I don't know how I devoured all of it by myself - so yummy!) We love you guys!
It was an exhausting 2 days (although Ryan is actually faking it in this photo - don't be fooled)
The best part of our hospital stay (besides learning a little empathy and gaining a HUGE appreciation for our daily routine at home)... scoring a free package of Pampers diapers - woohoo and this incredibly cute toddler sized hospital gown, complete with pants and the hospital blanket that bel snagged on her way out. Gosh I love little freebies - and she looks so stinkin cute in her new jammies!
Bel is doing just dandy and we are so happy to have such a good sport for our daughter.
More frequent and happy posts to come - I promise.
