Sunday, December 19, 2010

Catching Up

It's been awhile since the blog was updated and that's because we've been busy...in the hospital.  On Tuesday night, Josie started to demonstrate signs of respiratory distress.  By Wednesday morning, we decided we'd rather be safe than sorry and we took her to the hospital where she was admitted immediately.  While this episode was not nearly as severe as past episodes have been, Josie's breathing trouble is always taken very seriously because history tells us the situation can decline rapidly. 
She doesn't look that miserable, does she?  Maybe she takes after her Aunt Leanne who really enjoys being hospitalized.  She says "Free Food!  Room Service!  Cute boys!  I don't want to go home!"

The pulmonologist concluded that Josie's lungs looked "wet" in her xray and judging by her rapid weight gain over the past few weeks, she was retaining fluid around her heart and lungs which was causing the breathing difficulty.  She was immediately started on IV Lasix so she could flush out as much fluid as possible and the situation turned around pretty quickly.  Her highest oxygen requirement was 3/4L which is not bad.  She didn't need high-flow cannula or CPAP or a trip to the PICU (thank God!) so we feel very fortunate.
I look very pleased in this photo because Josie enthusiastically took 1 ounce from the bottle which is a big deal for her!

We told Josie she better hurry up and recover because otherwise, Aunt Leanne wouldn't be able to come visit this weekend.  Hearing that, Josie snapped right out of it and we headed home on Friday night with a little boost of supplementary oxygen. 
Aunt Leanne helps Josie get into her pj's

Aunt Leanne was so excited to love on her little "Catfish with Ketchup" and Josie was equally excited to see Aunt Leanne.  We are having a little early Christmas celebration and gift exchange complete with a prime rib dinner this evening!  We'll keep the photos of the Dynamic Downs Duo coming!
Josie loves her Aunt Leanne

12 comments:

  1. So glad that you were able to get her in and out so quickly this time! I always ho and hum about taking Aubrey and my rule is better safe than sorry...better a couple days in the hospital versus more than a week!

    Keep healthy Josie!

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  2. When we adopted Addy at 9 months old her lungs were her biggest issue as well. O2 24/7, Lasix and Viagra. Significant pulmonary hypertension.Every time she got sick she ended up with need for more O2, Cpap, etc. Her docs were convinced that Addy's lungs would always be horrible. At 18 months she was O2 free! She has only needed oxygen when she had pneumonia/RSV. She has even been discharged from cardiology and pulmonology! Hoping sweet Josie does the same thing!

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  3. Josie is definitely growing and "filling out". Thats a good thing for the 5 and under crowd, not such a good thing for me as I am also "filling out" this time of year :) So glad the hospitalization was quick and you are home now with the favorite aunt!

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  4. Josie is getting so big! Can't wait until spring so I can squeeze those chubby cheeks and legs! This is the only time in ones life that this is appropriate!

    Miss you guys!

    Love - Jonnikka

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  5. So glad you are home and had some Aunt Leanne snuggle time. Merry Christmas, stay well Josie!

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  6. Glad Josie's doing better. With Aunt Leanne's smile, who wouldn't:) Merry Christmas!

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  7. So glad that Josie is doing better! She is such a cutie.

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  8. Josie is adorable! Even in that first picture when she was in the hospital crib-she looks so sweet!

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  9. so happy to hear you got out of the hospital quickly and in time for christmas!!! yeah!

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  10. Glad she is doing better. We were in the same boat this week. They had Ella up to 2L of oxygen for Pneumonia but could figure out why she was so happy when she was supposed to be so sick.

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  11. She is such a doll!!! I haven't visited the blog in awhile and she's grown so big!! She is SOOO PRECIOUS

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  12. Hi Everyone!
    This is Banana Cream Pie here, to wish Catfish with Ketchup and Aunt Cheeseburger Head a very Merry Christmas! And my Mommy says to wish Josie's Mommy and Daddy a Merry Christmas too!

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