THE ADVENTURES OF ELLIANA & DEXTER: October 2014

Here is a picture of are TOUGH girl, Elliana doing her 100th breathing treatment for the week (totally exaggerating)! You are wondering what she has her face...well it is a breathing treatment! I am primarily posting this for documentation (for later).

Last Friday, Elli came home from school with a bad cough. She went to bed early to get some rest as she had an early soccer game Saturday. We weren't overly concerned as she had no other symptoms at that point. It started off as only the cough (no fever, running nose, sore throat, etc.). Saturday morning at 7am Ryan and I contemplated on if Elli should go to the soccer game. After she begged and pleaded with us we she convinced us to go. She had 3 goals and played an AMAZING game. After returning home that morning things began to go down hill. She fell asleep about 10:30am (mind you she usually refused to nap) sleeping for most the day. The one time she got up she said she felt fine and played with Dexter for about an hour and then went back to bed. At that point I noticed she began to run a fever in addition to her cough (which was a dry cough...not chest congestion sounding at all). It was about 7:30pm and as she was sleeping I laid in bed next to her to just cuddling. I noticed her breaths were short, hard and labored (in her sleep). Her stomach was going up and down as if she was just running outside. I had Ryan evaluate my observation.

At that point we started "google-ing" to see if we could narrow what it could possibly be. Nothing was standing out. Are main concern was the very publicized D48 virus. We decided to call our pediatrician's emergency line. One of the doctors at our practice called Ryan and chatted with him for over 30minutes. Due to me having asthma I had a nebulizer and she instructed us to do breathing treatments with my machine and call back in 15 minutes. We did so and Elli hadn't not improved. At this point her fever was low grade at not the main concern. Being that what we were doing at home is what they would do at the ER...she suggested we check Elli in her sleep every hour. She coached Ryan over the phone on signs and what to look for to evaluate Elli's breathing. Then every 4 hours to give wake her to do a breathing treatment. The doctor directed us to go to a specific urgent care the next morning.

The next morning (Sunday) Ryan took Elli in. They conducted more breathing treatments & took x-rays. They diagnosed her with pneumonia. Elli was prescribed a steroid and antibiotics along with regular breathing treatments. When speaking to our doctor Saturday she requested us to call in Monday and give her an update. Ryan did so and the on call doctor passed on the info to Elliana's regular doctor. Monday we received a call from Elli's regular to come in.

First thing Wednesday Elli went in. The doctor wasn't sure it was pneumonia and that she felt it was D48 virus. Being we caught it early and that Elli had 3 full days of treatment & meds there was no concern of being contagious. Again at that appointment Elli did a breathing treatment and we are do them 3 to 4 times a day till Sunday. I have to say our pediatrician's office & doctors have been extraordinary through this process. Other than Saturday, Elli thinks she is 100%. So that is good! It has been a full week today and she is much, much better! Thankfully!