Sick littles is anything but sugar coated. If one gets it, it’s a domino effect…so count on Lysol and Clorox wipes being your new best friends. Now if I went back to the first time one of my littles was sick— well lets just say — you would be reading for days. With my kids it all started young Zoe (7) began health issues at 8 weeks old. McKenzie (3) began health issues at 4 weeks old. Kennadi (2.5 months) was born a preemie at 5.6 oz and began health issues at 1 week. Yeah, so not everyone starts out as young as my girls did but no matter when it happens, it is never easy.
Kennadi Audrey Monroe was born 5 weeks early. She left the hospital weighing 4lbs 12oz but was a happy yet small little bundle of joy.
The first few weeks we didn’t have too much trouble – a little issue with weight gain but after finding out she had acid reflux – rice cereal was added to her diet and she quickly put on the weight.
It wasn’t until just a few weeks ago that was by far the hardest chapter in mommywood so far…………
At 11 weeks old she took her first trip to the ER with a fever of 102, non-stop cough, wheezing, struggling to breathe, and just plain miserable. After holding her down for a spinal tap, blood work, urinalysis, and chest xray we all were exhausted before we found out what was going on with her. The worst thing is watching a nurse struggling to put an IV line into your baby’s microscopic vein as they wail in pain just to follow with a tube down their nose, breathing treatments and everything else you can imagine.
Diagnosis: RSV and double infections.
Treatment: antibiotic and breathing treatments – something we are quite familiar with. We were discharged & thought we were in the clear and ready to get Kennadi well.
April 28th however was the worst day ever which was really still the 27th to us because we hadn’t slept at all. I have never seen a baby so sick and struggling for each breath. The whole way to the hospital she was choking, gasping for air and her breaths got further apart – almost as if she wasn’t breathing. She looked up at me with her big blue eyes like “Mom, help me.” It was at that moment I wanted to breakdown and cry but just reminded myself to breathe and stay strong but the pressure was seaping in almost more than I could handle. It was 3 a.m. so we headed to the Pediatric ER at the closest hospital where she would soon be admitted for RSV. For the next 48 hours (where I was awake for 44 of them) we watched her struggle, every moment – she was hardly eating so they put her on IV fluids and an antibitotic for the double ear infections. She was placed on oxygen and in a mist tent – at that point we couldn’t hold her. It was the hardest moment of my life. Watching this tiny little person fighting so hard, just storming through it and still showing a little smile. Seeing your little one sick is hard but not being able to pick her up and console her is even worse. We were told that we would be in the hospital at the minimum 3 days.
However, we got a surprise and on the second day the doctor came in and decided that Kennadi was over her peak period for RSV and could now go home. They took her off oxygen and within 15 minutes we were out the door. I couldn’t believe it. One minute we are going to be there for even longer and the next day they seemed to think she was okay to be home. At this point, I was exhausted, mentally and emotionally, so I packed our things and within 15 minutes we were out the door.
We got into the car and buckled her in and felt free – but something was holding me back, call it mother’s intuition if you will, but I was just nervous as we pulled out of the parking lot — I kept telling my husband, I don’t think she is ready to go home — she still looks like she is struggling. He said, lets just see how she does — maybe I was just worrying I told myself and just prayed the whole way home not realizing within a few hours we would only be back where we started.
We got home and within twenty minutes she started to retract again, struggling with each breath – her respiratory rate was 90 (in a newborn her age it should be around 30) — she was breathing way too hard and way too fast for her little body. We had to get back to the hospital and fast — she had taken a turn for the worst. We hadn’t even unpacked the car so we jumped back in and flew around the corner to a good friends house who is a Chief Deputy of our local police office. I told him we needed to get to the hospital and fast. With rush hour traffic we wouldn’t have been able to get there in time and we didn’t want to call 911 because our local hospital doesn’t have a good Pediatric center. With no hesitation he jumped in his undercover police car and said “come on” – I grabbed Kennadi and just prayed with each breath she took and tried not to notice the fact that I felt like I was on a high speed police chase, dodging cars and going through red lights… but that is besides the
point. WITHOUT HIM SHE PROBABLY WON’T HAVE MADE IT, HE WAS OUR TRUE ANGEL & HERO. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY EVERYDAY. Kennadi kept looking up at me with her big blue eyes. With each breath she was getting more and more tuckered out — I could see it in her eyes, she just wanted to give up, and she did. For about 3 seconds (about an eternity for me) Kennadi stopped breathing. She looked up and closed her eyes and I just said please God don’t do this to us – I need her to stay strong. I have never been so terrified in my life.
point. WITHOUT HIM SHE PROBABLY WON’T HAVE MADE IT, HE WAS OUR TRUE ANGEL & HERO. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY EVERYDAY. Kennadi kept looking up at me with her big blue eyes. With each breath she was getting more and more tuckered out — I could see it in her eyes, she just wanted to give up, and she did. For about 3 seconds (about an eternity for me) Kennadi stopped breathing. She looked up and closed her eyes and I just said please God don’t do this to us – I need her to stay strong. I have never been so terrified in my life.
Finally we arrived in the hospital and I flew in like a bat out of hell — the nurses were shocked but not so shocked to see us back. They were surprised we were even discharged — that was just great to hear (hint the sarcasm). Immediately, Kennadi was all plugged back up to oxygen, IV, breathing treatments, etc — all over again. I remember tweeting in desperation for prayers & supports as I thought I may have a nervous break down from stress and lack of sleep. A new doctor came in within minutes and knew everything that was going on – he said lets continue what we were doing and keep a close eye. I said NO and demanded to be transported to one of the nations top hospitals – Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC. They didn’t argue and suggested we should definitely go to extreme measures to get her the care she needs. Five hours later the NICU team from Children’s Hospital arrived — my poor little one was now being transported in a box.
When we arrived to Children’s it was a whirlwind – Kennadi was in complete distress and we had to explain everything to them — the same timeline I had been replaying in my head for days. Kennadi was placed on a Vaportherm and continued on her IV — but they added heart monitors and a pulse ox to the mix — she had a total of 5 wires hanging from her body that I constantly was getting tangled in. This was a nightmare I wasn’t sure would ever end. But luckily, there was light at the end of the tunnel.
To make a long story short (if that is even possible at this point) Kennadi was in amazing care in the NICU where I never left her side once except for four hours during the 7 day period and I had a friend come sit with her so I could make my first graders play (I had not seen them in 7 days) — minus the set back of picking up a contaminate bug from the previous hospital — her ear infection cleared up as well as her pneumonia. They slowly took her off oxygen and she was watched for a full 12 hours off oxygen before being discharged. But at least we left on no medication except the Prevacid for her acid reflux – - she seemed healthy and happy. Even though she was on contact isolation leaving the hospital — I didn’t care, I was now a complete germaphobe and wasn’t letting anyone near her. I was so relieved to be done with the oxygen, the wires, the blood test, steroids, antibiotics, germs — but most of all I was so blessed to have my Kennadi back.
After ten long days I realized many things sitting there with Kennadi — mostly by myself — that prayer is a powerful thing and that my social media network is the best support system a gal could ask for. Without the outpouring of tweets every single day – well, I honestly don’t know how well I would have pulled through. During the moments of pure madness and moments I just wanted to scream and cry — my twitter gals were there – supporting, praying, emailing, texting, bbm-ing and making #prayforkennadi a trending topic — I just want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you. Thank you for following me on this journey and thank you for being there every step of the way. You all have a very special place in my heart and I am sure once I share this story with Kennadi — she will a hold a very special place in her heart for all of you.
At the end of the day — it is all about faith. Kennadi was the only baby in the NICU unit this season that did not have to be incubated – out of the many babies admitted with RSV (and one who didn’t make it)
– the fact that we came out okay – well, that is just amazing. And when you are in a situation like this and you almost lose a child you just have to realize – God works miracles and I thank him everyday for mine.
– the fact that we came out okay – well, that is just amazing. And when you are in a situation like this and you almost lose a child you just have to realize – God works miracles and I thank him everyday for mine.
Pray.Have faith. God works miracles.
About Casi:
Casi is editor of cupcakeMAG (www.cupcakemag.com) ringleader of her 3 girls, Zoe (7), McKenzie (3) and of course Kennadi (4 months) along with 4 rescue dogs and let’s not forget to mention her darling hubs.
When she isn’t writing and interviewing celebs you can catch her watching reality TV, reading the “weeklies”, wishing she had a nanny and chasing after her littles!
Check out the cupcakeMAG and Sprinkles blogs for everything from the latest lip gloss to exclusive celebrity interviews to product reviews + giveaways galore. From a fashionista to a mommaista where we feature chic things for your littles – we always have something for your fashion sweet spots.
You can also follow Casi on twitter (@cupcakeMAG)
About Tales From The Crib:
Thought up by Dawana, author of A Bittersweet Existence, as a way to share stories from a variety of Moms in one place regarding the trials and tribulations. A Stay-At-Home Mom herself who often thinks she is losing her mind, Dawana has found a great deal of comfort in the stories from other Moms and wanted to share them all in one place. If you’d like to submit a story, please feel free to email Dawana by clicking here.
Come on…don’t copy- get your own material. Nobody likes a cheater! Original & Hand Written Plagiarism Will Be Detected. This site is being monitored by CopyGator. Mmkay? Thanks.
I’m so glad your story had a happy ending
Thank you for this story it shows miracles happen every day. Thank you Lord Jesus for Kennadi she is a lovely gift…the gift of life which we should never take for granted. Thank you for sharing Casi!
Wow. Every day I am amazed at the stories told here. Casi, so glad things turned out great with Kennadi! Great narrative! Loved this post!
Katie´s last [type] ..Couch to 5K Day One
such a crazy story Casi! God is sooo good and we’re thrilled he showed you his greatness
jenny´s last [type] ..(FFF) In case you were wondering
God does work miracles and I sooo happy that Kennadi was one of his miracles.
Deanna Hernandez-Arza´s last [type] ..Charitable…