Jamie's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 3/18/03 -------------------- 3/12/03 2/25/03 2/14/03 2/5/03 1/31/03 1/15/03 1/10/03 1/2/03 12/23/02 12/6/02 12/4/02 11/21/02 11/13/02 11/8/02 10/24/02 10/22/02 10/18/02 8/19/02 8/12/02 -------------------- Jamie's Introduction

Introduction

Monday, December 16, 2002

Camryn wakes up with a runny nose, and has a bit of trouble taking her morning bottle, so in hopes that she won’t be ill for her first Christmas, I make an appointment with the doctor. We go in, and he recommends that Camryn not return to day care because of the increase of RSV cases this time of year. As any paranoid parent would, I heed to the Dr.’s warning and arrange for sitters for both girls.

Wednesday, December 18, 2002
Camryn seems to be feeling much better, but the poor little thing cannot escape her cough. As the evening approaches, I notice that Camryn prefers to sleep on me, and as soon as we lay her in her crib, she comes up and insists on being held. I have been giving her Pedialyte as she will take it since she throws up some when she starts coughing. I also tried putting a humidifier in her room, but it did not seem to help at all and I placed a wedge pillow under her crib sheet to keep her head elevated so the drainage doesn’t get trapped in her throat.

Tomorrow we are to take Hannah to Texas Children’s Hospital to see a GI doctor in hopes of a cure to Hannah’s chronic constipation. Dr. J comes highly recommended, and we are hopeful that he will shed some more insight on Hannah’s problem.

Thursday, December 19, 2002
We had a horrible night with poor little Camryn. So I call the Dr. promptly at 8:30 am. We are scheduled for a 9:50 appointment to come in and have Camryn examined once again to see if her cough has moved into her chest. Camryn seems to be most satisfied in my arms, she refuses to be put down, and Gary has not been able to wear a clean shirt for days. Camryn is quickly nauseated by the smell of starch, or detergent for that matter. It must be mentioned that Gary has been exceptional throughout this allergy/cold that Camryn has taken. For someone with a weak stomach, he has been a trooper!

After talking briefly with Dr. B, he advises us to go to a near by hospital to test for RSV and diagnoses Camryn with an ear infection. I am hysterical! I rush home to get Gary, and arrange for my mom to take Hannah for lunch while we go have Camryn tested. I keep thinking of everything I have ever read, seen, or heard about RSV and am quickly entering a state of paranoia. I am angry at day care for allowing a baby with an illness come and infect others, I am mad at myself and my husband for having to work and not being able to stay at home and keep a more protective watch over such a fragile little person, I am infuriated at a virus that preys on such helpless little babies that have such a terrible time trying to breathe and understand why they cannot inhale through their nose. Needless to say, I am useless and unavailable to listen to any voice of reason or logic.

In about a five minute trip, Gary manages to get me to calm down at least enough to understand that we caught it early and that at this point she seems to be fine, a little stuffy, but for the most part, fine. I must mention, Camryn does not have a fever, she has not cried inconsolably, but she cannot keep her bottles down, and she is very congested.

The nurse comes and takes us to administer the test. She is wonderful at calming me down, telling me that she does not suspect Camryn to have RSV because she can barely get enough “stuff” out of Camryn’s nose to complete the test. She also said, that she feels like if Camryn does have RSV we have caught it extremely early, and commends me for being so aware of my child to know that this was not a normal cold. I take the kudos with a mini sigh of relief and head off to Texas Children’s after handing off my sleeping little princess to my mom. After a quick kiss on the head, and a promise to call every 30 minutes to check on her we switch kids and are off to Texas Children’s Hospital, about a 2 hour trip away.

Hannah sleeps the entire trip to Texas Children’s and we arrive and valet with about 30 seconds to spare! As we slide into the office, the staff immediately takes our information and within minutes we are sent back to see the nurse. I was sure that we would have to wait for hours just to be seen! Within 15 minutes of our appointment time, we are talking with the doctor. Dr. J is FABULOUS, considering the circumstances! He talks with Hannah and established some type of rapport, and then does a quick exam, and then explains with great detail what is happening to our little girl. No one, not even Hannah’s pediatrician has ever explained to us what is happening. It turns out that Hannah became constipated when we switched her from formula to cows milk. At that time, she probably strained trying to go to the restroom and gave herself a mini hemorrhoid or an anal fissure. So all she recollects every time she needs to use the bathroom is how much it hurt until the fissure or hemorrhoid healed. Hence, holding her BM’s until they are very hard and painful to pass therefore reaffirming it hurts to use the restroom. Easy diagnosis, Hard to fix! But we are thankful that it is not more serious and we will go home and complete a program of high fiber and laxatives for about 1 year. Again, we were so pleased with Dr. J. Another thing: Dr. J was very impressed with Hannah’s vocabulary and comprehension. I have no idea where this child picks things up, but she is a parrot! Finally some good news!

On our way home, Dr. B calls to tell us the results of the RSV screen. POSITIVE! Again, I enter into hysterical paranoia. He explains, and I think these words will forever ring in my ears, “Jamie, you need to listen to me, tonight will probably be a rough night for Camryn, she will probably start to run a fever, and then may start wheezing. Watch for her color, and monitor her eating very closely. If her fever is over 102 degrees head for the hospital, or if she appears to have any difficulty breathing!” Other than that, there is really nothing you can do until the virus runs its course. Dr. B. tells me to come in the next day so he can show me how to give her breathing treatments. It must be said that Dr. B is the best pediatrician that I have ever come across. Although, it may seem that he is overreacting, I trust him and am thankful that he gives me the facts plain and simple. I have found him to be very competent in his diagnoses and recommendations.

When we get home, Camryn is sleeping so soundly on my moms shoulder as if she was the healthiest baby on the planet. She wakes up only to give me a sleepy stare and then falls back to sleep in the soft area between my neck and shoulder that she has claimed as her very favorite spot. I promise not to put her down and we settle on the couch and wait for the virus to rear its ugly head.

Morning comes, and Camryn wakes starving for her breakfast! I have been giving her pedialyte through the night to help keep her hydrated. She showers me with smiles and coos and I ask myself if this is the same baby that is supposed to be so ill! We go for her appointment and Dr. B is amazed to see Camryn so vibrant. Her face had just the right amount of color, and her eyes never lost their little twinkle. Thus far, we have not really seen the side of RSV that can be so scary! And for this I thank my lucky stars!!!!

Update
Although Camryn is growing quite tired of all of her prescription medicine, she seems to be recovering nicely from our scare, and is ready for Santa Claus! We never had to give her any breathing treatments, and seems to be responding to the antibiotics for her ear infection.

Camryn Grace, Pretty Face

Camryn is 15 pounds! What a robust baby! She is wearing clothes we bought for Hannah last year at this time. She is in a size 6-9 months for her one-piece sleepers. She is long! According to the growth charts she is in the 90th to 95th percentile for weight and height.

Camryn will entertain us with her coos and her vocal accolades. She will layand talk to the Christmas Tree for what seems like hours. I have been meaning to pick up a full length mirror to put out for her to look into. We all just lay by the Christmas tree and talk about the lights, and the gifts. Tonight we will make the birthday cake for Jesus to bring for Christmas Lunch on Wednesday.

Hannah-Banana

Hannah on the other hand is in the 30th percentile for weight and height! (She was in the top percentages as well until she started crawling and walking, and then the pounds just came off! Hannah weighs 25 pounds. Hannah continues to be extremely active. Her vocabulary is about 100 to 150 words, and comprehension is endless. This morning I told her that Santa was coming to her house tomorrow night and she told me “Paw-Paw has been good too mommy.”

Hannah has also started to call me Jamie. She will try to get my attention, and if I do not give the appropriate response, she will say, “No, Jamie” and then repeat what she is saying. I guess she has heard everyone else call me Jamie; I am really trying to get her to understand that she should call me mommy. So far, I have not had much luck.

Dr. J was impressed with how Hannah would respond with “Thank you,” and “Please.” It is really true that when you use these things at home, kids pick things up. We have gone overboard a bit, we say “Thank you, daddy, for cleaning your plate.” And “Thank you for the kiss good night Hannah.” Currently, we are working on “Excuse Me.”

So far, the most popular phrases in Hannah’s repertoire are “Hannah do it,” and “Stop It.” Hannah has become extremely independent! Here we come Terrible Two’s.

I would like to wish each of you a wonderful holiday season! May you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Jamie, Hannah and Camryn