Gracie: September 2006 Archives

The miracle of modern medicine never fails to amaze me. Gracie is doing so well one could imagine she was never sick at all. She finishes up her courses of steroids and antibiotics monday. The doctor wants her to end the breathing treatments over the weekend unless she gets into trouble with excessive coughing. She is not participating in P.E. now just in case. No running around and getting hot and sweaty and getting those lungs inflamed again. I believe one of the reasons she suddenly progressed when we got home is because of the air. Here the air has been light and cool, so easy to breath. Back in Georgia and South Carolina the air is still very hot and heavy. The humidity in the air is oppressive. Before Gracie had shown any signs of illness I had mentally noticed it took a little more work to breath. I am so happy to be back home. Not only is it easier to deal with sickness and life in general at home but fall has come to the mountains of Virginia and it is gorgeous. The leaves are beginning to change but more importantly the temperature has made a major change. The nights are down in the 40's (44 last night). The days are still topping out in the lower 70's. This is the most perfect weather. While we were gone I had extremely limited internect connections. I missed Badger's big Four Oh (40) on September 20th. Happy belated birthday! I did think of you but I know you understand other things were going on. So, for Badgers missed birthday I give my gift: A poem by Emily Dickinson. There is no frigate like a book To take us lands away, Nor any coursers like a page Of prancing poetry. This traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of toll; How frugal is the chariot That bears a human soul! May you always find pleasure, joy and treasure in your books.

Thursday - 8 hour road trip to Georgia. Friday - Good times with family in South Carolina. Saturday evening - In local hospital ER, Gracie was in acute respiratory distress. How long has she had asthma? She hasn't. Let's do a chest x-ray, she probably has pneumonia. No, she doesn't have pnuemonia. Neither does she have bronchitis. IV antibiotics. IV form of prednizone. Liquid form of prednizone. Vomit.Vomit.Vomit. 5 albuteral treatments. Discharged early Sunday morning with 3 oral prescriptions. Drove home lickety-split Monday. Straight to pediatrician. Change of treatment plan. Proud new owners of our very own nebulizer machine. Taking antibiotics and prednizone 2 times a day. The nebulizer twice a day and more as needed due to the coughing. In 3 weeks we do pulmonary tests for asthma. I am exhausted. Steven cut another tooth over the weekend. Colby colored and highlighted her hair. I'll tell you more when I get a tiny bit of sleep and get over this tired to the bone feeling.