The Kavanaughs: Marshfield

So, the third trip in our world tour was a trip to Marshfield, WI to visit St. Joe's Children's Hospital! Definitely the least favorite of all 4 trips. So, the day of the memorial service (Tuesday, 8/3) Jocelyn woke up with a fever. Great. But she didn't have any other symptoms, so I figured it was a tooth. Gave her some tylenol, made it thru the service, and headed home a bit early. She was starting to get a little wheezy in the afternoon/evening, but nothing I was too concerned about. She still had the fever Wednesday morning and was still wheezing. I called the dr. and made an appointment for that afternoon. Calvin took her since he didn't work until later. He called me about 3:00 and said I needed to come up to the clinic because they wanted to admit her to the hospital! What?! When I got up there, he said they had decided to send her to Marshfield (they have a really good pediatric department and an ICU if necessary). And that they wanted her to go in an ambulance. Yikes. Apparently when the dr. was doing her exam, Jocelyn got upset (because she doesn't like doctors touching her) and she was having some gasping of breath during that time. And the wheezing was still going on. We had to wait over 2 hours for the ambulance, and when Calvin asked if we could just drive ourselves (it's a 1.5 hour drive) she said, no, it wasn't safe for her. So, we hung out in the ER in Eau Claire, they did some blood work, some chest x-rays, and started an IV with fluids. Then we made the trip over to Marshfield. I rode with her in the abulance, but had to ride in front. She did amazing on the ride over - she was dancing with one of the EMT's and then fell asleep. She cried a lot when she woke up, but I tried to talk to her and calm her down - I don't think it helped. The EMT's were so wonderful - really everyone was wonderful the whole experience. I have a new respect for families who have sick children - what a huge stress that must be.

So, we got to Marshfield, they kept her on the IV and just monitored her oxygen levels for a while, then gave her some steroids to open up her airways, and in the middle of the night gave her a nebulizer to help with the wheezing that had returned. Thankfully her fever was gone by Thursday morning, her breathing was much better, she was drinking on her own again, and we were able to go home! The diagnosis was she probably had a virus - most likely croup, and that she'd be fine in a week or so. What an experience! The scariest part was obviously the not knowing. But everyone was very calm and really didn't appear to be too nervous (that's probably part of their training) so that helped me stay calm too. Jocelyn was such a trooper - she was so brave and didn't cry nearly as much as I thought she would. I'm pretty sure she'll hate doctors forever now though! She's 99% better - just a little cough now and then, but is like her old self. She was all better on Saturday! She's been really clingy though - and only to me. I don't mind though - I'll take it while I can get it!

Sleeping in the hospital crib - she really liked the bed!

She didn't hurt her arm - that's on there so she wouldn't rip the IV out. Aren't the hospital jammies cute?

Calvin's bed

My bed

Mom and Dad were on their way back from Oregon, so they made a detour and came to visit too!

By mid morning she was too antsy to stay in bed, and we couldn't leave the room - they didn't want other kids to get her sickness - they have kid cancer patients there. Sad.