So This Happened

Coz you know that being in a car accident and needing teeth pulled isn't enough. Right after the last post, Tony got sick. I had a session and as soon as I came home he was throwing up. Then I got sick hacking up a lung with an awful fever producing cold that Drum caught a bit of, too. All while B was out of town for a trial so I was sick by myself with all the kids. During that time I also tripped and did a backflip over the baby gate (which I forgot I put up) while holding the baby (who was unharmed) managing to break the baby gate and bruise my tail bone. 

When we picked up Auds from Sunday School she was complaining of an awful headache. We tried to get her to rest and lay down and pushed fluids as much as we could. Monday she woke up before the crack of dawn in tremendous pain and started throwing up all over the place. It didn't stop. Even a sip of water would cause her to get sick. When there was no water in her system she threw up bile. I lost track of how many times she got sick. 

B was out of town for court again (everyone is suing everyone right now, apparently) so I scooped her up and took her and the rowdy boys to the pediatrician. She threw up in the car. One look at her and the doctor told me she was being admitted and to get across the street to the hospital as quickly as I could. I had Drum in the beco on my back, was carrying the diaper bag (full of not only diapers, but sippy cups and snacks and toys for the boys since I figured it would be a long day) and my purse while being dragged by T and dragging Auds (she could barely remain conscious and didn't even remember going).  During check in we had to rush to the bathroom coz she got sick. 

They rushed us back and I texted B that we were in the hospital. He ran out of court and called me freaking out and drove as quickly as he could to meet us. They drew blood work and hooked up iv's and tried a clear fluids diet. Nothing stayed down. Not one thing. They started zofran. No difference. B came to get the boys so I could focus on my wilting little girl who was curled up in an incoherent ball. 

She couldn't keep things down nor go to the restroom. All the tests were coming back negative. B and I switched out at midnight since Drum needed to nurse mid-sleep and siblings weren't allowed to stay overnight. I'd drive home and get back at 1, nurse and tend to the boys and pray until 6, get everyone ready and rush back to the hospital. Then he'd take the boys and bring them back throughout the day for Drum to nurse. 

After 24 hours there was no improvement and no results, so they started an antibiotic in hopes it would do something. Thankfully, they were right. Whatever super bug she had was bacterial. Right after the doctor left, Drum started throwing up everywhere. Same symptoms. So I had two very sick kids. But Drum is too young for the meds Auds was on so there was nothing they could do unless he got dehydrated and needed to be admitted, too. 

 I had to stay with Auds, but I needed to be with Drum. So I prayed and prayed and B brought Drum to nurse when he could and tried pedialite in the interim. He was still having wet diapers - which was great! We switched out at midnight again and Drum got sick again and again all day and night. Thankfully, in the course of the night the antibiotics started doing their job and Auds was able to finally pee and eat 6 saltines. That was enough for the doctor. 

This morning Drum got sick at about 3am, but that was the last time. The immunities in the breast milk kept his case mild and hydrated him enough. Auds was able to eat two pieces of toast and keep it down so the doctor let us go since the continuous iv fluids really helped her out. 

The hospital and staff were great. She got so many goodies to keep her occupied - dolls, a pillow, small trinkets - and there was a nurse whose job was to find activities suited to each of the kids' interests. She brought paint and paper so Auds could paint in bed. When tony was there, he tended to her so diligently. He loves his sissy. 

She was so thrilled when they said she'd be going home and I was just as thrilled. She finally had some color again and was able to carry on conversations and notice things, even if she still looked very sick. 

I finally have all of my babies home together again! Our church and Sunday School department sent over flowers and stuffed animals this evening to welcome us back.

She's on bed rest, meds, and a strict diet until next week, but we're hoping she's tested enough for the church Harvest Fest Friday. I'm so grateful that it was just some bacterial infection instead of meningitis - for which she had all of the symptoms. God is good. And while it was a rough beginning to the week, I'll still praise His name. And now I get to get back to magazine layout and running a business and homeschooling. :)

The only neat thing about having to watch tv in the hospital (which - holy wow - is awful and most kid shows are very inappropriate!) was on Sesame Street episode they featured "Doctor Two" with someone dressed as Tom Baker and as the latest Doctor, and two cyber men, two daleks, and the tardis. I laughed out loud and probably scared the nurses. 

It's not the best picture, but you can see the tardis. :)

Well...

So all the craziness resulting from the car accident is still not finished. I've spent the past few weeks on the phone with insurance adjusters trying to get everything settled. It is so hard to give a statement of events when you've got four littles running around. Haha. I must have said "sorry, hold on - we don't lick doors. Sorry, one second - don't sit on the dog, please," a million times. I swear having a phone conversation with kids is like having Turret's. lol 

I ended up developing mastitis from where the seatbelt hit. I cannot tell you how fun that was. Having to rush to urgent care before Bible quizzing practice and have a liberal doctor scoff at being young with so many kids - even though there only three of them. Having to explain to a male insurance adjuster your injuries and what it is. Not to mention the pain.

We're still in the rental car because the van isn't fixed yet. It makes me so thankful for my van - our little rental feels like a clown car with all three in the back. Drum kicks Tony, so Tony hits Drum so they scream and fight. Good times. Haha

But we're trucking along. Auds is having a ball in ballet and Bible quizzing. I'm trying to be more flexible in my schooling by discussing things with the kids as they ask questions and if we don't get to the scheduled lessons not freaking out. They're not in college yet so I don't need to be so focused, but I still feel they're getting a better foundation than they would at a local school. 

B and I also treated ourselves to an early Christmas  present. We haven't given presents to each other in years. We got a beautiful 1930s Duncan Phyfe revival couch. The best part - I found it for only $150!! And we prayed for wisdom in purchasing it so that we wouldn't be splurging more than we should and our pastor heard we were thinking about it (his wife and I are very close and I showed her pictures) and walkedup and  unexpectedly   gave us money to put towards the purchase of it. We tried to refuse, but he said if we didn't take it that he would go and buy it himself and show up at our house with it. 

It'll look great once I paint the red one day! It's in near mint condition and will be our forever couch. We're thinking of reupholstering it in a tufted leather when the kids grow up and move away. 

We've also been enjoying cooler weather.  We took a yogurt date at a nearby fountain on our way to make groceries one night and have been playing in the back yard a lot. 

Drum is now about 30 pounds and is a climber. He gets in to everything!! I can't even keep the chairs by the table anymore coz he climbs up and tries to jump off. He also has a habit of getting on the rocking chair (I have an antique wooden slat one) and sliding out the side and getting stuck and walking the rocking chair around. Never a dull moment! 

In other big news - Auds is getting her big kid teeth. She actually has lingually erupting incisors, or shark teeth, where the big teeth come in behind the baby teeth because they haven't fallen out yet. Generally it takes care of itself, but if it doesn't correct itself within a few weeks, the dentist will have to take the baby teeth out. 

There's two big ones right there. It is hypothesized that it happens when a mouth is too little and the teeth can't fit in where they're supposed to so the teeth take the path of least resistance. Looking at her teeth, the dentist may need to take all four bottom ones out. How is my little girl big enough for big kid teeth?!!