First Surgery

SO we thought we were going home on Saturday, then the doctor came in and gave some hard news.  She said that there was a mass growing in Caroline's left lung and we needed to get it out immediately.  It is a condition called empyema. The only way to get it was to surgically drain it. Dr. Goldthorn came in around 6:00 to explain what they were going to do.

In my head I knew this had to be done to make her better but in my heart I was so upset. How did a stupid fever turn into surgery on her lung?!?

All the doctors and nurses were amazing.  One nurse took our number so he could call in the middle of the surgery to let us know how it was going.  They took her back around 8:00.  At 9 Chris gets a call from a weird Lubbock number that he almost didn't answer because he didn't recognize it. Everyone in the waiting room jumped all over him.  I think we all yelled "ANSWER IT!"  at once.  It was the nurse and he said they were half way through she was doing great.  At 10:30 the doc came in and said she was finished.

They took us back to the PICU room where Caroline was recovering.  Nothing prepared me for the utter helplessness I felt when I saw her.  She was sedated & hooked to a breathing machine, Feeding tube, catheter, & her chest tube.  Chris and I wept like babies seeing her like this. {I will not write more because I don't want to remember ANYMORE from this night} We couldn't sleep there that night because of her breathing tube she was really exposed to germs.

Sunday Morning she was doing great.  They took her off her sedation medication and the breathing tube came out.  A little later we fed her a bottle and the feeding tube was aloud out. Then the catheter.  I didn't get to hold her till Monday.  After last week of non-stop snuggles we couldn't hold her for TWO WHOLE days.  You could tell it was uncomfortable for her to be held but she wanted the closeness more.   She had to leave the chest tube in until Wednesday morning.  She was so uncomfortable with that thing in.

Wednesday morning they performed the surgery in PICU.  They had to give her a local anesthetic. When she came out of the quick 15 minute procedure she was really loopy.  She kept pointing at all the nurses.  I know if she could have talked she would have been saying funny things.

She felt so much better after that tube came out.  She was off the oxygen mask and just on room air.  She was also off IV fluids and was eating on her own. 

Thursday we got to put on our own PJs & take off her hospital gown.  She was much more active & even crawled on the floor {we put tons of blankets down- no need to give her staph along with everything else}

We were released by all our doctors except for our pediatrician.  She wanted to take one more blood test on Friday morning. Caroline {& her parents} can't wait to be home! 

Ricky used his IPHONE 5 panoramic abilities to create this picture.  This mural was outside Caroline's door.

We really have some great people that care for her.  Caroline will be writing thank you notes soon for all the love and care she got in the hospital.

We at the Prather house were glad to see January go.  February is already shaping up to be a better month.

Room 358

   This week the Prathers roomed at Covenant Lakeside Hospital.  The little sickness we thought Caroline had turned into a big monster.  We took Caroline to the doctor last Thursday after her daycare called and said she had a fever.  Then her doctor tested her for RSV and Flu and it came back Negative. She she tested positive for a virus and said we would have to ride it out but if it didn't get better in a couple of days to call her and we would do something else.   By Saturday she was worse so we took her the Kids Clinic on Frankford where they tested her for RSV & the flu and it came back negative.  Said it was virus and just ride it out.  On Monday she was getting worse and wasn't eating, Chris and I were feeding her through a syringe.  Chris said "make an appointment for Tuesday- we are done with this!"  The minute Dr. Sorino saw her she said we are taking her to the hospital.  She called in a room at coventant, got it set up, & got the tests set up.

 

I was a little traumatic to watch Caroline go through all the tests, medication, pokes, prodding, IV, breathing treatment, suction, X-Ray & oxygen mask. They took lots of blood for varies tests. The first early diagnosis was Bronchulitis pneumonia- A nasty bacteria that had settle in her lungs along with fluid.  She continued to having fevers we couldn't break so on Wednesday are good doctor changed antibiotics to see if that would help.  She also came back with The RSV diagnoses.

RSV compromised her immune system & invited in a particularly aggressive bacteria.  The good news it was localized in the lungs & we had to get that stuff up!  On top of the fever, bacteria infection, & RSV- she decided to pop 2 teeth out.

Tuesday- Thursday we saw little progress.  The doctor changed meds, & breathing treatments & by Friday there was progress being made.  All the nurses that poked her were wearing blue.  She's no dummy and caught on quick that Blue was the enemy. Even their very presents ticked her off.  Taking her temperature has become an ordeal.

Sara & Andrew brought Caroline a bear that we put a matching hospital gown on.

Breathing treatments were also hard until the respiratory people let us hold the equipment & hid behind the corner out of site. Lolly said she liked holding Caroline while she got the breathing treatment because it helped clear her out as well. Chris developed some what of reputation which I love because he really stepped up for our baby.

The Hendricks Clan sent lots of snacks and balloons.  Caroline LOVED the balloons.  We will certainly have to splurge on a couple for her birthday.  Dondi brought a stuffed dog all the way from Las Vegas. Monterey sent her a yellow and white kitty & a get well balloon. My fellow counselors 

went above and beyond helping take care of my J-N kids at school. Kristen Lewis came to see her twice.  My head boss over all the counselors came to check on me. Our life group leader Randy came by. Sara & Andrew brought dinner to not only Chris and I but my mom as well.  Jacee took care of our dogs & cat. Kelley came to get some snuggles in. Her Grandparents were the most essential part to keeping Chris and I sane.  Something about having your own parents there just makes all the difference. We have had so many people praying for this little girl.  I just look at all the visits, calls, texts and emails and just feel so blessed to have such an amazing support system. We couldn't have done it without it!

After all the good news we received up until Saturday, We got some troubling news from our doctor.  All the RSV & pneumonia was clearing up in the right lung but there was a spot on her bottom left lungs in herX-Ray that was growing.  We needed to go in and fix it.  

To Be Continued.... 

Sickness Strikes Again!

Sickness is still here at the Prather house! Our normal wild child has slowed way down this week. Wednesday teething, fever & coughing -Thursday teething, fever, coughing, congestion, then last night we added vomit to the mix.  Chris and I went through 3 shirt changes a piece and Caroline sported all 6 of her 12m PJs.  I did NOT sleep at all last night.  My body wouldn't relax for fear of her getting sick again.

Nana came this morning and met us at the Kid's Clinic.  We waited about an hour and then we were seen by a nurse practitioner.  She asked us questions about what was going on - Chris went through all her symptoms then accidentally said we have been alternating Tylenol and Midol  for her fever.  He meant Motrin so we had a good laugh.

RSV & Flu came back negative. Yeah! but she does have a virus. We just have to let it work out of her tiny system.

Nana came home with us and rocked her to sleep. The nurse said no milk today but keep her hydrated.  Nana gave her a blue raspberry popsicles that she wasn't sure about but reluctantly ate it. She threw up one more time & we gave her water and pedialyte and then she napped in Nana's arms all afternoon.  

This looks like a Sarah McLachlan commercial. It is so painful to watch this little girl be sick.  At around 5:00 she ate and started to feel better.  It seemed like her fever broke.  She even played with her legos and Halloween house a little bit.  I hope tomorrow she can start to be her old self again.

Poor Sick Baby

I got a call from Caroline's daycare yesterday telling me she had a 102 degree fever.   The daycare will give Tylenol but it has to under 101 & it has to be teething.  So I left work, picked her up & daddy met us at home.  He was able to take off to stay with her.  Lucky guy got to snuggle with our baby all afternoon.

She didn't want to eat or play & just didn't feel good. This morning I took her to see our pediatrician.  While we were waiting she snuggled right up to me.  I rocked her to sleep with the stool with wheels by rolling her back and forth. She slept for about 45 minutes.  Dr. S finally came in to examine Caroline.  The good doc ruled that she had an upper respiratory infection. Also we both saw her top teeth finally busted through the gums & they were swollen. Poor girl.

I took this picture when I realized I had put her boots on the wrong feet.  Poor girl as if this day couldn't be worse her mom embarrasses her by creating a fashion fopa.

 Chris had appointments this morning but was able to take off in the afternoon.  Caroline & daddy played for a little bit then he rocked her to sleep. She was so tired & ended up taking a 3 hour nap. Poor sick baby hope she feels better tomorrow. 

Keeping Up With Caroline

Caroline is all over the place.  We have turned our living room into her personal play area.  We have to corral her in by creating a toy barriers everywhere.  She tries to stand up on anything she can and cruise around the room.

Once she finishes playing in the living room she makes her to the kitchen. she goes straight for the refrigerator.  Those magnets are so fun! 

She likes to take the 4 magnets off, puts them back on, move them around, and take them off. 

When the dish washer down it becomes another toy to play with.

She is very busy! I'm not sure what will do when she starts walking.

Helping Dandy Ruff

Today was really fun.  Caroline & I were honored to go and help Dandy Ruff with the special needs rodeo. My dad moonlights as a Shriner clown and goes by the Alias Dandy Ruff.  He does parades and this rodeo.  This year he asked for my assistant.   I made over 150 balloon animals (flowers and swords mostly because they are the easiest).  There were a few kids with some hard requests but I somehow managed to talk them into a dog, giraffe or butterfly because that is all I could make.

The Sandhills stock show and rodeo has been going on for 2 weeks.  On the last day for the past 10 years the rodeo puts on an event for special needs children and their families. There was face painting, special horse riding, roping, live music, lunch and balloon animals.

Lolly watched Caroline and they had the best time.  Caroline loved every minute of it. The heart sticker on her hat says "I hugged a clown today"  We were also passing out stickers with the balloons.  Dandy Ruff was so great with those kids.  Every balloon sword he handed out to the boys he said, " Be careful with that, it's sharp."  They LOVED him and so did Caroline she thought he was hilarious. 

She would not look at the camera-to busy checking out the clown. 

She wanted to pet the cowdog.  It was very calm and would make a great therapy dog.

Dandy Ruff walking on the side of the horse.

One of the other shriner clowns called "The Sheriff" was also walking around to all the kids. Caroline is waving at Dandy in this picture.

I took this picture of my dad's diet Dr. Pepper with a straw in it because he didn't want to smear his lipstick. Ha!  He also refused to go into Sams afterwards. Without the wig and shoes people would stare.