We spent the afternoon back at the doctor today.  Her doctor told me at our appointment on Wednesday that if she still had a high fever on Friday, to call her back.  When I told them that she awakened this morning with 102, they said they needed to see her.  Her RSV has developed into pneumonia, but we caught it early. 

They gave her two huge shots full of strong antibiotics and a breathing treatment that was pure torture for the both of us that lasted about 15 minutes.  We had to get a machine for our house (fortunately we borrowed one from a good friend who owns one), breathing meds, and will start her on another round of oral antibiotics tomorrow.  If she didn’t have a wet diaper before 8:00PM tonight, her doctor made me promise I would take her to the ER for IV fluids.  I used a syringe to force her to drink tonight.  It was awful, but I held her back and basically squirted it into her mouth so that she would have no choice but to swallow it.  That is the only way that she would drink.  She was so sick she wouldn’t accept any liquids whatsoever, not even juice. 

Right before 8:00PM tonight, she had a wet diaper!  At 9:00PM, we gave her her first breathing treatment at home.  I made Mike do it because I didn’t have it in me to pin her down again.  I left them upstairs.  The big girls were so alarmed.  They were so concerned for baby Rose!  I thought Noelle was about to go rip her out of Mike’s arms.  The machine is so loud, the mask that Rose has to wear on her face looks scary and blows out mist, and to top it all off, Rose was screaming her little heart out.  Noelle and Anna Kate started gathering presents (their toys) from around the house for Rose to play with when she finished her treatment.  It’s been a lot, but we are okay. 

So thankful to be alert and on the ball and have such an amazing and understanding pediatrician.  She really went above and beyond for us to not have to go to the ER today.  It’s such a blessing for me to be with the girls full time and be in tune to their needs.  I love taking care of them!  It gives me so much joy, and they are my treasures, my crown jewels in life!  I would do anything for them, and it is an honor to protect and take care of them.  Truly, it brings tears to my eyes to have the privilege to meet their needs.  Our next breathing treatment is at 1:00AM.  It’ll be a long night again, but we’ll make it.  After that, her next treatment will be at 5:00AM.  It’s different than breast feeding, because you are waking up to feed in the night, but you are still half asleep because it is relaxing for mom and baby.  This situation will wake all of us up to the extreme!  I dread it.  I feel so badly for kids with asthma and their parents that have this as a lifestyle.  So sad to me, and I’m sorry to those of you out there that know about all of this too well.

I don’t think I’ve processed today.  I’m still in go mode.  Mike is at the store loading up on juices and fruits (yes, at midnight… it’s been a week, I tell you).  Mike and I are really okay.  I’m weak and tired physically but have a strong constitution. 

I don’t know if you can see it, but Rose is smirking in this picture.  She thought she was big stuff to lay on all the sofa pillows the girls laid out for her.  She was so proud!  This picture was taken right after the celebration of her wet diaper and no ER visit tonight.  It seemed like she perked up a little after dinner (Mike made bacon and french toast).  We think the huge doses of antibiotics via shots are starting to kick in.  She went to bed with 100 fever, which is down quite a bit, so that’s good.  She is comfortably sleeping right now.  Ugh, about to wake my baby for her next breathing treatment… hopefully we’re over the hump and will just keep seeing more and more improvement and a little spunk back in our baby throughout the weekend.  I have a feeling the hard part is behind us.  And moms have intuition about that sort of thing!