The Illness

I realize that those of you who read this blog, have already heard about The Illness, but this is for posterity's sake...

On July 19 at 5 am I awoke to Macey yelling, 'Mom, I threw up, I threw up!' I rushed to her room and found her holding her hands in front of her face clean as a whistle. I quickly carried her to the bathroom, where she did actually throw-up. And throw-up she did for the next 3 days. She had a fever and her body ached all over, especially her left pelvis, thigh.

Thinking it could be flu, I took her to the pediatrician Monday morning. There she was given a strep test first thing, which she tested positive. The Dr suggested a urine test but Macey did not want to have anything to do with her or with peeing in a cup. So, the dr said since she has strep we'll just go with that. She was given Amoxicillin and off we went.
By Wednesday she was no longer throwing up, but she still had 102 temp. Over the phone the DR changed her prescription to Augmentin. Thursday night she peaked at 105. We took Macey to the Medical City Children's Hospital at 5 pm on Friday night. Her main symptoms were a high fever and severe leg pain. A pediatric orthopedic surgeon was consulted predicting she had an infection either around her bone or inside it. An ultrasound ruled out a hip infection.
Saturday morning Macey was taken downstairs for an MRI. She had to be put to sleep. Poor girl! The MRI results showed an inflammation of her leg muscles, but not in the bone. However, the radiologist noticed that at the top of the MRI her kidney looked abnormal. An ultrasound Sunday and a CT scan Monday showed that her left kidney was severely swollen. She started a round of strong antibiotics that the kidney dr predicted would last 2-3 weeks.

 Macey watched lots of movies.

 When she was fever free for 48 hours she was allowed to visit the playroom. The blue pole is her IV pole.

 The Sumners came one night with dinner and fun. This was the first visitor Macey was excited to see!

 Sophia was the next friend to visit. Mia and Marcela came too.

 When Autumn came, the clown Zoe stopped by too.
Macey had to stay in the hospital until that Friday, making it one week there. Dan and I traded turns staying the with her 24 hours a day. Many visitors came and brought balloons, toys, movies, dinners and activities. We had many friends reach out to us for comfort and assistance. Uncle Mike came and helped with the boys and stayed one night with sister while Dan was on a business trip.

 Macey felt like playing on the floor. The bed was getting very old!

 Macey received lots of gifts to help her keep busy and cheered.

 This was my one picture of me and sister in the hospital just before we left.

 Alex helped carry stuff down to the car.

 Macey with 'Glamour' on her ride down and out!

Megan and Paige made this awesome sign for the front door!
Since coming home, I have had to give Macey antibiotics through a PICC line 3 x's a day. There is no end in site to this regimen. Hopefully before kindergarten starts! A home health nurse comes for blood draws and dressing changes. We have had one trip back for an ultrasound. But there will be more in the future until this is all taken care of.