Year's End

December was a crazy month.  I am like everyone else, trying to squeeze it all in and never quite living up to my own expectations.  Dakota was on overdrive and I had a hard time dealing with that.  He was quite literally vibrating with excitement and just couldn't think of anything else.  Then, before Christmas ever arrived, he would burst into tears because he was going to miss Christmas when it was over!  It was a crazy couple of weeks.  In the middle of it all our baby granddaughter got sick.  Thursday, December 22nd she just wasn't acting right and by the time her mommy came to get her she was feverish and glassy eyed.  They took her to the emergency room that night when they couldn't get her fever down and she was diagnosed with RSV, a virus that attacks the lungs of very small children.  It can be spread to anyone, but those over two or three usually just have a cough and cold.  Natalie got very sick very quickly.  Christmas Eve my daughter brought her here to be with us (we were all already exposed anyway) and to see Santa on the firetruck.  She was such a sad little thing, with a harsh cough, fever and labored breathing.  It was very difficult to watch, but our pediatrician and my daughter's pediatric nurse friend kept telling her to just keep the baby home and ride it out.  By Christmas Natalie was worse and the day after things were getting extremely serious.  Early on the 27th we got her back over to the emergency room.  Watching her try to breath and almost lose conciousness for the effort it took was one of the scariest things I have ever seen.  I was terrified that she would just shut down and stop trying.  She was admitted and the first 36 hours were tough, but she began a slow improvement right away.  By Thursday she had her IV and oxygen removed and by that night she was playing with toys.  Today, although bored and more than ready to get out of that room, she was doing very well.  She needs to tolerate her breathing treatments every four hours instead of every two and we are hoping that she will be home with us tomorrow to welcome in the new year.  My daughter has made me so proud, caring for the baby despite being very sick herself.  She is patient and calm and she handled herself like a pro.  She is a great mommy, just like I knew she would be. 

Here at home we have various coughs and colds going on, but everyone is doing okay.  We are looking forward to hanging out together tomorrow to close out 2011, having a family game night and enjoying each other's company.  The best gift of all, however, will be if we can celebrate with the baby nearby or know that she is sleeping comfortably in her crib at her home down the street.  I am extremely thankful that she has gotten well and should have no ill effects.