Another Trip to the Night Doctor

Just the other day I was thinking about how we have managed to stay out of the doctor's office for a few months.  Then I had a little chuckle about a conversation Ryan and I had earlier in the year.  It was in regards to a pre-tax medical deduction that we were taking advantage of and he thought I overestimated our monthly medical expenses.  Turns out I underestimated them... considerably.

Apparently that thought was a jinx.

My second jinx occurred Thursday morning right before the big incident.

Ryan was at the hangar.  Abby was napping.  Ella and I were entertaining our dear friends, Heidi and her daughter, Ruby.  They had arrived for a play date 15 minutes earlier.  The girls had just enough time to warm up to each other, we grabbed our coffee, headed outside, and Ella had enough time to eat half a muffin; if you know Ella, that does not require much time.

The conversation went like this:

Me to Ella:  "Ella, please get down from the roof (of her Little Tykes play structure).  Remember my job is to make sure you are safe and that is making me nervous.   Can you make a better choice?"

And she got down.


Me to Heidi:  "Ella is going to have a broken arm by the time she is 3.5 if she keeps up all this climbing."

and no joke,  .2 seconds later she tumbled.  And by tumbled, I mean, crashed on her chin.

The scene of the crime.  Ella apparently tried to climb over the little red door and it swung out from under her.  We have speculated she landed on the plastic door frame. 

Doing what I always do, I held back not wanting to make a mountain out of nothing.  But, as soon as she stood up you could see there was a gash.  A big one.  It was ugly and I went into panic mode.  I grabbed Ella and used my hand to hold her gash together.  I thought she was going to pass out.  I thought she might have broken her jaw.  I thought the ambulance was necessary.  After a minute we called off the ambulance and hopped into the car, shoeless.  Luckily, Ella's princess shoes were still in the garage from the fit she had the day before (that's another post).   Heidi stayed with sleeping Abby until Grandma and Pa could arrive.  (Huge thanks to all of them.)

We were on our way to the Night Doctor's.  If you remember, Ella has previously visited the Emergency Room before.  Click  HERE.

Unlike her previous experience at the ER, it was busy.  We had to wait, and wait, and wait.  All the while the anticipation built.  The videos distracted her, but not us.

Might as well take a picture or two.  We've been here for 90 minutes already. 

When all was said and done, Ella did amazing.  She absolutely hated being restrained, and  I absolutely hated restraining her.   Seeing her fight and question, not understanding the process or reasoning behind the doctor's actions was heartbreaking.  Her owie was so big and deep the doctor did two layers of stitches, ten across.

And we suppose Ella will have quite the battle scar and story to tell.   And you would think that that experience would slow Ella down and limit her climbing.  Not in the least bit.  Not even for a second. That's our girl: fearless, brave, and full of spirit.






Warning some pictures are gross and disturbing.

OUCH!

My poor baby girl. 

All stitched up with a story to tell. 

Silly and goofy like always. 

 

Week Long Run Down

It has been a week to remember.  Actually, it is a week I would like to forget.

Sunday: 
Ella began a fever.

Monday:
Ryan stayed home with Ella, Abby went to day care, and I went to work.  I left work early because I was showing signs of a bladder infection.  Wonderful.

Tuesday: 
Ryan had to fly so I stayed home with the girls.  Abby had her 9 month Well- Baby appointment and I scheduled an appointment for Ella.  4:15 could not arrive fast enough because I was dying to get out of the house and I wanted to get some meds for E.  Turns out E had an ear infection, upper respiratory infection, and a nasty virus.  Abby's well baby appointment showed that she is a jolly giant.

9 month 9 day weigh t= 24.6697 pounds (99.17%)
9 month 9 day height =  31.5 inches (above 98th%)

Meanwhile, Ella weighed in at 34 pounds.

That night I was debating whether to stay home or head in to work.  I knew Ella needed me, but my sick days are really limited and Ry had to work on Thursday.  After calling the sub and canceling her, I changed my mind.  Missy Moo was just not herself and I knew I should be home.  Daddy does a great job, but he is not mommy.  Thank goodness I called the sub back and told her to fill in for the day.

At about 8 pm Ella woke up burning hot.  She felt like she was on fire.  Our digital forehead thermometer read 106.4, 106.8, and 105.9.  It was terrifying.  I took off her Dora footy pajamas for lighter ones and called the doc.  The doctor, whom we have seen quite often lately (remember the month of December?), told me to give her a dose of acetaminophen and wait half an hour.  If her fever did not drop significantly, head to the ER.

After 20 minutes, her fever was down to 105.5.  To me, that was not significant enough.  I loaded E in the car and left Ry home with baby girl.  I think we Ry and I were both terrified.  High fevers can cause seizures.  E and I talked about visiting the "Night Doctors".  She seemed groggy and pretty relaxed.  I attribute her love of doctors due to the Dum-Dums she often receives at her check-ups.  

Anyways, we checked in and immediately we were sent into a triage room.  It was a slow night and the staff took good care of E.  She did great until the rectal temperature, but even then, she did better than I would have anticipated, maybe because she was so tired and feverish? The doctor gave her some more acetaminophen and Motrin, had her take off her shirt and then we waited until her temperature dropped.  She kept saying she wanted her shirt back on and to go home and sleep in her big girl bed.  It was so sad.  Instead we cuddled for an hour and a half.  She was begging to sleep; I was begging for her to be well.  It was not a good night.  Luckily, she was discharged at 11:30.  And I must say, a big thank you to the ER staff at our local hospital.  They were attentive, friendly, and went out of their way to make baby girl feel safe. 

Wednesday: 
Stayed home.  I was happy to be home since we had had such a long night and such a big scare.

Thursday: 
Stayed home AGAIN.  Ryan had to work.  Meanwhile, I believe we were crawling up the walls with boredom.

Friday:
Yay!  I don't think I was ever so excited to hear my alarm go off for work before.  I was just itching to get out of the house.  Besides, I have such a great class and I was totally missing them. Ryan stayed home with Abby, as E was well enough to attend school.  Abby, however, developed a bit of an earache and had a doctor appointment of her own.  Ryan, not to be outdone, also scheduled a doctor's appointment.  When all was said and done, all members of our family had visited the doctor at least once this week and were prescribed at least one medication (Ryan 2 medications, Rebecca 2 medications, Ella 1 medication, Abby 1 medication).

E begging to get her bracelet off.  Apparently it was digging into her skin.  

Tired, exhausted, sick girl after her trip to the "Night Doctor: