How do you blog 4 days in the hospital???

A couple of weeks ago Sammy started complaining of pain when she went to the bathroom. I took her to the Dr. where they thought she may have a UTI. I took her home, a few days later they called to say there was no infection, but there was sugar in the urine. Took her back in, peed in a cup, found no sugar. Then we headed to Utah. I received a call from the Dr. that Sammy had a rare and serious bladder infection that was very aggressive and would quickly move to her kidneys and cause damage. She called in a prescription to Utah and we had no luck getting Sammy to take it. We get back to AZ, take her in again, pee in cup again and realize that this is real and we need to take care of it. And when I say we need to take care of it, that means we take her to the hospital right away and have her admitted for IV antibiotics. Remember my post about the finger poke to check for glucose? And now I need to have an IV put in? So off to Banner Desert we go.

She loved the bed that moves up and down!
We got the IV put in and she was very, very brave. They let her pick a new toy out of the special closet.
Passing time with mom:)
Sammy really missed Megan. She was thrilled when Megan finally made it in to visit. I guess they really do love each other!!!
Megan brought presents for Sammy. Sam loved the fuzzy socks! (It looks like her feet are on backwards!)

Grandma and Grandpa sent Sammy a cookie bouquet and brightened her day! Yummy Yummy!


The second day the kids were able to go to the playroom for medical play. They decorated a doll with the emotions they were feeling about being in the hospital.

Sammy put an IV in her doll, took her blood pressure and made her take yucky medicine.

Happy Doll!

Sad Doll :(

We had a tragedy happen that night. Sammy complained of her hand hurting while the antibiotics were hooked up. The nurse said it could cause some irritation, and lets be honest. My girls can be a little dramatic. Imagine how bad I felt when I realized that the IV had been messed up and her meds were going in under the skin. Her hand was very swollen.


The worst part? They had to take her IV out. Now what? Do we put another in? Can we get her to take it orally? The next morning the nurse tried to get her to take it. It took half an hour of fighting, but she took it.
Later that morning Sammy got another delivery. Thanks to her aunts, uncles and cousins!

A girl could be positively spoiled going in to the hospital! Presents, your own TV, arts and crafts, people bringing you food. Would she ever want to leave? That night we had to try and take the meds orally again. This time it took two nurses and the threat of the IV and 45 minutes to get her to take it. The doctor was ready to release her, but I knew that if I took her home she would never take the meds for me. I begged them to keep her in the hospital to ensure that she would get what she needed to be healed. You can just imagine how PO'ed Sam was at me. She was very much looking forward to going home. So was I. But I knew that she needed to stay there to get the help she needed. We were awake at 6:00 this morning for her medicine. She took it right away! Hallelujah! Even though that was at dawn this morning, we still weren't released until about 1:30. The wheels turn so slow. To kind of sum up my week, I had no computer access this week since I didn't leave the hospital. While waiting for the release papers, I was walking down to the play room when I noticed two computers kind of tucked away. AHA! I sat down, booted up the Internet and right at that second the nurse came up to me with the release papers. Awesome.
Oh, happy times when I got home. I am absolutely weary. You would think in a Pediatric Unit, they would expect parents to be spending the night. That being said, you would think that they would provide something nice to sleep on. Not just a crappy recliner. So I've been sharing a twin bed with Sam all week. Good thing we are both tiny. And to get home and shower in my own shower and dry off with a towel that is bigger than a dish towel and softer than sand paper.
I was nervous for tonight and her medicine. She has to take it until Wednesday. Much to my delight, she took it right away and didn't fight me. I guess she realized how serious her illness is and how serious I am when I wouldn't let her go home last night. Seven doses to go!
Many thanks to so many people! Kyle and Diana. Thanks for so much. Getting Megan to and from school and watching her while we were away.
Lori, thanks for taking Megan most of the day on Friday.
Erin, thanks for the six pack of Dr. Pepper! You saved my life!
Tina and Melody, thanks for the visits!
Plus, I received many wonderful phone calls from many wonderful people. Thank you everyone for all of your love and support!