Sunday Update

UPDATE: Tylenol seems to finally be working.  After we climbed up another degree into the 104s, she is starting to come down now.  It's really hard when we can't use motrin for fevers.  She is feeling a little more perky and actually just ate the pizza they brought for dinner and is now eating pretzels.  (Her first meal since we've been here.)  My least favorite nurse has redeemed herself.  She was so concerned about Julia, she called Dr. Moore, one of the hospital peds to come assess her.  He was wonderful and said he can be back anytime if we need him.  She also watched Julia for me, so I could go down and get some of the cafeteria Starbucks :)

*********************** 

We were able to get some sleep from 6am to 11am.

 I really feel for all the people who work nights.  The body just doesn't like it.  Fortunately, Julia's on the same schedule and I have no other responsibilities aside from her in here.  The oncologist came around at lunch time (one we haven't met before- Dr. McLean comes back on tomorrow).  She said Julia's counts look good, so they went ahead and started the rocephin for antibiotic coverage.  Her white blood count is actually up from last Monday- huge blessing in this storm!! Her seasonal flu tests came back negative and the H1N1 are sent off and take several days (that's not what they're assuming).  She is still receiving Tamiflu, just in case.  Better safe than sorry.  Her blood cultures have not come back and will take several days.  At this point they are leaning strongly toward viral croup or parainfluenza (similar to RSV, contracted in crowds and child-friendly settings).  She has had croup twice before so we know she is supsceptible.  That said they still may start steroids to try and ease her symptoms.  She was doing okay when they left and had a few popsicles and some rolls.

This afternoon, literally as the doctor was walking out the doors, she started with a worsening cough.  She is very hoarse and feverish.  Her temperature is currently 103.6.  We waiting on the tylenol to work and praying this is not an indicator of the night ahead.  Croup generally worsens on nights 2 and 3, so they want to keep her here to avoid anymore midnight ER visits.  She does not seem to be in any significant pain.  She is content to just lay in the bed.  She hasn't moved on her own since Friday, but seems fairly comfortable.

Thank you all for your prayers and love!