Six Fireworks Shows and a Miracle

Before we get to other things, I figure some of you would rather hear about this. 

This fourth of July, I was priviledged to see not one, not two, but SIX fireworks displays.  Yes, I love fireworks, but that is NOT why I got to see so many this year.

On Thursday, our Avery Goose woke up with a bit of a fever.  Nothing to worry about, so we went to Keara's park class on our bike/trailer.  About 30 minutes into it, Avery crawled over to me, and crashed in my arms.  Not normal, but sweet.  So I held her for the next 45 minutes until it was time to go home.  She was starting to feel really warm now, but I woke her up and leaded the girls in the trailer.  Within seconds, she was asleep again in Keara's arms.  When we got home, I laid her in her crib where she slept for the next hour and a half until I woke her up.  She was boiling at that point, so I gave her ibuprofen.  She took another nap a while later, and woke up feeling and acting much better.

We had been invited to our neighbors for a play date, so we headed over around 4:30.  After being there for about a half hour or so, Avery again crawled to me and crashed in my arms.  She was feeling warm again, so we took her temperature.  101.5.  No big deal, but something to keep an eye on. 

But then she started shaking with the shivers so badly.  So I called a pediatrician just to see if there was anything I should be concerned about, as well as to initiate contact with a doctor since our insurance kicked in THAT DAY and we hadn't ever been to a doctor.  I got off the phone and her temp spiked to 103.5.  I took the girls home and debated about going in to see a doctor.  I generally don't worry about temperatures, but she was so lethargic and couldn't even lift a hand. 

I decided to NOT go in, but rather gave her more ibuprofen and a luke warm bath which greatly helped.  She made it thru the next couple hours, but in the middle of the night, she woke up vomiting and dry heaving.  I've never had to hold a 10 month old over the toilet to throw up.  She was hot and miserable again.  So I gave her more medicine and put her back to bed.

The next day, she followed the same pattern.  Her  temperature would go up to 103.5 until we gave her the medicine, where it would drop to 101 until the meds wore off.  We went thru that roller coaster thru Friday, then Saturday, and finally on Sunday, when it had been over 72 hours of this, I called our old pediatrician to get some free advice.  They recommended taking her to an urgent care because it sounded like it could be a urinary tract infection.  So I did.

They had to get a urine sample which, from a 10-month old, means either a bag or a catheder.  They tried to cath her but had a hard time so they recommended we go to the ER at the children's hospital where they would have better luck.  Her white blood count was high so they knew she was battling a major infection, but couldn't verify it without the urine sample.

Off we went to the ER.  Avery did amazing well for being so tired and it being so late for the third night in a row.  They were able to cath her and found that she does indeed have a UTI.  So they gave her a shot of antibiotics and we were finally able to go home.  She is doing much better, though still isn't herself yet.

I was so glad that we were discharged just after 10pm because all fireworks started a little after 10.  So as I drove home, I had fireworks to the east, south, and west of me until I got on the highway, where I then had them to the west and northwest.  It was SO fun!!  People were stopped in the onramps to watch the display or pulled over on the side of the highway.  Everyone was driving 30 miles an hour, watching the sky.  I kept my windows down so I could hear the booms.

We still haven't gotten Avery's antibiotic because our insurance doesn't cover the one the ER prescribed, but we're about to head out to a doctor's appointment to get a new prescription.  Thru this all, I'm just amazed that we haven't had insurance since March.  We were finally approved, but it wouldn't start until the first day of the month after our first premium payment was received.  We found out about our approval on the 27th of June so we paid our premium on the 28th and coverage started on the 1st.  The first was Thursday...the day Avery woke up sick.  I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven who is mindful of our needs!!!  Miracle still happen!