Gabby is not my complainer...so when she said she had a tummy ache, I said, let's lie down on the couch. She lay down, fell asleep, and missed swimming lessons. I thought is was constipation...but then she got a low-grade fever. We went to bed early Sunday night, but Gabby woke up Monday with the fever still. In the night, she had woken up two or three times. I saw her holding her side as well. When she kept doing that and the fever did not subside after rest on Monday, I took her to Urgent Care.
Mind you, I have learned. This is now the third time I have taken a kid to Urgent Care when I should have gone right to Children's Hospital! NOW I know.
After a blood draw, getting sent to the closest ER, a lot of different doctors and nurses pushing and poking, and asking questions, a urinalysis (catheter), IV morphine, ultrasound, and CT scan, we were sent to Children's hospital because where we were there was not a doctor or anesthesiologist who would operate on a child under 5. They had concluded it was appendicitis.
At Children's, we were checked in and had to wait only a bit while the doctors there asked their questions, went over paperwork, looked at the CT scan CD, and decided that we would be admitted.
It wasn't until the next morning that we found out that they definitely would be operating.
Meanwhile, Gabby got a sticker, stuffed animal, or some kind of "prize" for each procedure and test done to her. Man, she raked it in! As seen above, she put all her stickers on her shirt.
I smile.
That first night was tough: we did not get to Children's until after 11, so sleep barely came when we finally had a room. Roger and I both slept in her room, but I was the lucky one she wanted to sleep with her. Being 36 weeks pregnant was not helping this situation! I'm guessing I got about 3 hours of intermittent sleep.
Right before operation the next morning, we cuddled, got more information, and yet another stuffed animal for having to get operated on...
Roger had gone and found me coffee so we were doing alright waiting...
She was in surgery for only about 45 minutes and we got to be with her right away after...
but she was just a bit out of it...
Sleeping so peacefully...she missed the great view out her 6th floor window...
Nanny was there for the surgery and was there when Gabby woke up. She took took in the view.
More sleep...
As she was waking, she wanted to cuddle...and watch Tangled for the second time.
And then again...more Tangled...
We stopped Tangled long enough to listen to the story-teller...
and then the best part: finally some kind of food/drink.
The first in 24 hours: orange Popsicle!
But not enough...she wanted more...
But the nurses needed to hear gurgling to know it would not come right back up...
And as the gurgles came...PUDDING!
And watching Tangled...again!
Daddy had gone home to get Momma some clothes and
to bring Owen back to see Gabby...
He made her smile by doing his "magic" tricks.
And Owen got some hospital ice cream!
Owen brought Gabby a nice present and she got more stickers too!
So, the same day as surgery, she was already perking up!
By 7 at night, she was wanting to play in the playroom,
walk around, and just be out of bed more...
Momma was too tired to even read her stories so she had to read to herself.
Yes, I felt bad, but I was still going on those three hours of sleep and a day of praying...
We both fell asleep watching Tangled...again and slept quite well.
But, she was up and ready to climb out of bed by 5 in the morning.
Breakfast couldn't even be ordered until 6:30!
But, we got up regardless and went for a walk...
We colored...
And by later that morning, she was pushing her own IV cart around!
After breakfast around 7...
she was ready for a nap...and so was Momma.
We both fell asleep...watching Tangled yet again...
By the time Daddy came after dropping off Owen and getting Momma coffee,
Gabby was playing and walking all around the 6th floor...hoping to get home soon!
When they finally took the IV drip out, it was such a relief to not be attached to it anymore!
We were discharged by 2:30 and she was asleep in the car by 2:35.
She slept for 3 hours in the car and woke with enough energy
to hit a few houses for Trick or Treating...the Doctor said no restrictions! :-)
She went to bed at normal time and slept until 9 in the morning!
Catching up sure feels good!
By Thursday she was doing flips with Daddy and back to her normal self.
By Friday she did not need pain medicine until noon and was playing like nothing ever happened.
