I'll push myself up through the dirt and shake my petals free
I'm resigned to being born and so resigned to bravery.
~Dar Williams

Sunday, March 27, 2011

How Squiggles Got Her Groove Back

As mentioned last week, Squiggles has been a very sick little girl.  She has been sick many times this winter (9 times and counting), but this time was by far the worst.  I had to take a week off work, and none of us slept in more than 30 minute increments.  

I’ve never seen Squiggles so unhappy.  When she wasn’t vomiting, she was either crying or whimpering.  She wouldn’t let me put her down for as much as a nanosecond, and kept grabbing my face and giving me this pleading look that seemed to say, “Why aren’t you fixing me?”  It was heartbreaking, and by far the most difficult week since becoming a mother.

After five days of vomiting and diarrhea, we took her to see the pediatrician (we had been in contact with her for a few days).  She had lost a considerable amount of weight (and she didn’t really have any to spare), so the doctor recommended that we take her to the ER for rehydration.  I wish I would have taken her in sooner, but I didn’t want to subject her to the pain of an IV (or expose her to other sickos).

Squiggles screamed bloody murder during the IV placement (of course), but then ran out of fight and fell asleep on a pillow on my lap.  Thankfully, they put the IV in her right arm, so that her thumb-sucking arm was free.

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She had a good night’s sleep,

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and woke up a different baby.  She has gotten better every day, and this afternoon we braved a trip to the park. 

It was a success.

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P.S.  She loves her new shoes – thanks, Cami!  She keeps bringing them to me and saying, “Ehhh?”

13 comments:

Jill said...

I'm so sorry you all had such a bad week. I hate it when my kids are sick like that. It breaks my heart!

I'm so glad everyone is healthy and ready for you trip OUT WEST!!! We can't wait to see you all. I hope squiggles isn't terrified of all of us strangers.

Good to see you smiling Squigs!

The Lymans said...

So glad she's back to her happy, squiggly self!

Diana said...

Oh, that is so sad! I'm so glad she is feeling better! I love the pictures of her in that bright pink outfit and the super blue sky behind her!

Kimberly said...

So glad she is smiling again!

SheilaO said...

That is really the worst when your child is so sick and the greatest relief when you see them getting better and stronger everyday. So glad she is better!

Angie said...

I have to say she is getting cuter and cuter every day.

Marsha said...

Poor Squiggles. Being sick is the worst. I'm glad she has such wonderful parents looking after her. That trip to the park looks fun.

David said...

I am so glad she has recovered. Glad for her sake and glad for our sake when she comes to visit us. Keep her happy.

Cami said...

Squiggles!!! You came back! Party time.

I'm so pleased she likes the shoes.

Michelle said...

I am glad she is back to her Squiggly self. Speaking of being behind on blogs, I had to read five of your entries to catch up.

ellen said...

Glad she's better!

Joe and Joanne said...

Oh no, Squiggles!!!

I canNOT believe she had enough weight in her at all to vomit and diarrhea like that. I held her at the bridal shower and she was a feather! Thank goodness for the IV...those are absolutely no fun to have put in but oh my goodness, that electrolite fluid they pump into you works wonders!

I'm glad she's feeling better (and that the parental units are too).

Jon. Jamie. Ethan. Lynsi. Katie. said...

Ohhhh poor thing to go through so much at such a young age! I am glad that you made it to park and she looks super happy.
I think it's so heartbreaking when tiny babies have to have iv's put in them!