Bully appendix

Here's my quick version of what went on with Lucy's ridiculous appendix story.

You can read through this or just look at the pictures.  

Friday July 29th: In the morning she complains of a bad stomach ache, I treat it like she is dehydrated.  Randomly through the day she will mention it, but doesn't seem like to big of an issue.

Saturday: No complaints, I listen intently because I have been wanting to go swimming. I make sure and sure enough she's fine so we go swimming.

Sunday: She's busy playing with cousins and having the time of her life, no problems here.

Monday: There's a couple tummy ache issues, always pointing toward the belly button.  Goes to bed fine, I'm now no longer worried about dehydration, considering constipation?

Tuesday: She goes to Grandma's while I go to work. Plays in the water, eats junk food no worries.  That night she has that dumb tummy ache again, sleeps fine.

Wednesday: Tummy ache is worse, lots of crying. I take her to the Dr.  Urine test is done-all clear.  Sounds like constipation, let's up our ex lax shall we?

Thursday: I take the day off because it's slow at work (my boss broke his arm-kind of hard to do dentistry with a broken arm, that's another story tho.) Tummy pain thru the day, I call the Dr. They encourage me to continue on with the course, if it's still bad by Friday bring her in.

Friday: My Mom watches her at my place while I go to work.  Lucy stays on the couch most the day playing on her tablet with the occasional stomach pain. Again always pointing to the belly button area. I'm home and by 4 pm she is writhing in pain (still hasn't pooped, TMI you say? Grow a pair.) She spent the last hour crying, I made an appt at the Dr. but it wasn't until 6:45.  Her pain meds kicked in around 5 and she crashed.  Took her to the Dr. which she definitely did NOT want to go. Ran another urine test-clear. Poked around on the belly. Kind of sounds like appendicitis, more like constipation tho. Because once she's at the doc, nothing hurts. Let's do a blood test and in the morning if it's still looking bad we'll look at doing an x-ray-to see if blocked or possibly a ultrasound, cat scan  That night she was being medicated every 4 hours and was barely getting any relief. By 2:30AM Clay and I decided it was time to go to the ER. By the time we got dressed she had crashed and slept until about 6 just fine.

Saturday Aug. 6th: She's still in a lot pain. The Dr. calls and says he has her blood results, she has a high white blood count with bacteria which sounds an awful lot like appendix issues. We left Zoey with Clay's bro and sis in law (they came to visit us, we were such awful hosts). We quite literally dragged Lucy in for an ultrasound which showed fluid in her belly around the appendix. She needs a cat scan. We spend an eternity in the ER waiting for the cat scan and to talk to the Dr. and surgeon.  Their day became increasingly crazy!  Finally the surgeon came in and explained her scan.  Turns out her appendix burst about 5-7 days ago, probably the first time she complained of pain. (Good job Mom!)  Incredibly enough it had walled itself off and created an abscess that is about the size of a small lime. That's pretty big considering her appendix is about the size of her pinky. He definitely did not recommend surgery yet, way to invasive and dangerous to her other organs.  So we place a drain and wait. Eventually she was wheeled up to pediatrics and then back down to have the drain placed.  She was to be consciously sedated and was even double dosed. HA! That just seemed to give her more ammo.  She kicked, screamed and cried through the whole thing.  They wouldn't let me in for the surgery but I got a visual on the whole thing from the room just outside. Bless that surgical team for getting it done and not having to put her out! 

Waiting to get an ultrasound.  She was definitely in pain but honestly she was more afraid of having an ultrasound done.

Trying to explain to her that an ultrasound is no big deal.  Really you can't reason with her. 

After the ultrasound, waiting to hear back. Huh well that wasn't too scary! (Bug eyed Mom sighs, well duh! We tried to tell you like a hundred times!)

Getting that IV in sure was a pleasure.  Bless them for only having to do it twice. A dehydrated, squirmy 6 yr old, I figured we'd be trying for a while.  Whatever they put in that IV has calmed her right down. 

Bless Sprout for having a Calliou marathon.  That is the one and only kid show I cannot stand. 

Ironically though today is the day the Olympics started, which is also when Lucy was born the day the 2012 winter Olympics started.  Something with the Olympics and the hospital with this kid, I'll have to keep that in mind every 2 years,yipes! 

She does eventually crash but  only lasts seconds.  She's exhausted but doesn't want the Dr.'s to see her sleeping.  I don't blame her, it's too noisy to fall asleep in the ER.  A noisy, scary, sad place. 

Dr. Lemon's fine art work. Explaining our 2 options even tho their really is only one option because we're not willing to risk her other organs. Even tho I so badly want that dumb appendix out!

All pj'd up and waiting to place the drain. 

Cool right?!

They used an ultrasound and xray while placing the drain, that's why I couldn't be there, don't wanna hurt my baby fish. (This baby feels like a fish swimming in me.)

They removed a ton of pus, I got to see it, icky but awesome! Sad too because that's my baby in there with all that infection. :(

Eventually that color will change to a lighter yellow color, when it does we can remove the thing.  We call it her bubble.  Now that's she's home it's more intense having it.  She swings it around-scary!  And it's hooked to her pants in a loop, so easy to catch on things. Scares me so much, do not rip out!

It needs emptied every 6 hours and flushed once a day.

They do a great job trying to distract these babies while they're suffering.  

While my parents were visiting we ventured to the play room, she was happily painting but started to konk out. Don't worry we took her to bed.

Lots of fevers!  Fighting an infection is hard!

Haivng fun with beads.  She wanted to make Zoey a necklace. Loved that she thought of her sister first and made sure to use Zoey's favorite color, purple.  I loved this even more because when Zoey did visit her in the hospital Lucy spent most the time yelling at Zoey and telling her not to do things.  Good to know she does indeed love her.

This clock is in the play room.  Good luck trying to read it! So confusing!

 It was 10:53. Lots of late nights.  

Made a tiara for princess Lucy.

That little one is kind of a nut!

Many spoilings happened to Lucy while she was there.

Many visitors came bearing gifts and food.  

Tuesday morning we got the good news!  4 days later and we're busting out of here!

Her eyes are red and puffy because she had the IV removed and that's no fun.

So happy though!!!

The Dr.'s and nurses at EIRMC were fantastic and took great care of all of us.  Thank you to Dr. Lemon, Stacy, Wendy, Natalie, Diane, and Kenny. Amazing people!

The best part of a trial is the end and knowing that you have learned and grown so much no matter the ending.

How grateful am I that this has a happy ending and that my baby is still here. Heavenly Father has some important things for her to do on this earth. 

And in 5 weeks we'll hopefully finish this journey and have that bully appendix removed once and for all.

Thank you for your love, support and prayers. We've felt them.

We love you Lucy.