In The Hospital

I have not sent out an update in a while.  Avigayil has had a rough winter.  She has spent more time sick than not. Most recently she has been sick for the past month. She has had 2 rounds of antibiotics and multiple rounds of steroids. The steroids turn her into a tiny manic depressive.  She gets a high from them and goes a bit nuts until the exhaustion of being sick takes over and she passes out on the floor in a very small heap of heavily breathing baby.


From Shabbos afternoon until Sunday morning she had 5 episodes of hypoxia, turning blue. She lost half a kilo in 2 1/2 days.  She is currently back in the hospital.  Her pco2 is very high and she is on the Vapotherm breathing machine. Yesterday they told us that she has influenza  (despite having had her flu shot) and RSV (AGAIN! ). Well, at least now we know why she keeps turning blue.

Please continue to daven for Avigayil bas Rivka Batya.  Thank you.

Rosh HaShana

As my baby lay fighting for her life, I stood in the shul of the hospital on yontif next to other parents who's babies where also barely holding on. We begged Hashem for the life of our children and the lives of our neighbor's children. Our tears fell like rivers to the Rabbenu Shel Olam as we cried out for mercy. We beseached Hashem "Please bring the moshiach! Why Hashem, are there so many other mothers like me? How many mother must cry for their children until it ends? How much longer must you suffer in pain along with your children? Please Hashem, let this one's baby survive the next surgery, let this one's baby survive the night."

As we approach Rosh Hashana we all have a special opportunity to help make that happen. There is a belief in Judaism that when one davens for another person in a similar situation, his prayers are answered for his friend and for himself. This year, as we stand in judgment, take a moment to think about thoes in your community suffering similar trials as you. The one who needs a job or hasn't yet been blessed with a spouse or with children. The one who needs a yeshua that you also need. Stand before Hashem and advocate for your friend.

We would like to wish everyone a Shana Tova. It should be a happy and healthy year for everyone. 

Still Sick

Avigayil is still sick. She is at home but still on oxygen all day. Her fever came back and the doctors started her on Zinnat, a particularly strong antibiotic. She seems to be responding to it as her oxygen requirements are dropping and her fever is much lower however, her lungs are still full of mucus and she is wheezing like mad. Please continue to daven for Avigayil bas Rivka Batya.

Home

B"H Avigayil is home. She is very tired and sleeping most of the time and still having difficulty breathing but we can do everything she was getting at the hospital here at home. She is still on steroids and oxygen and getting larger than normal doses of ventolin. Every time she gets one of these bad viruses I feel like the recovery time gets longer. We know that this winter will be rough because of her new exposure to children. We are going to try to be hyper vigilant and try to catch things early. As they say, there is no way around the coming storm but straight through. Our home is that it will be light rain as opposed to a hurricane.

Big step forward and a step back

Avigayil took a HUGE step forward this month. She started gan! It took a few days to adjust but she has really been enjoying the interactions with other children and of course the big slide. All the way to gan she says "Slide. Slide. Love slide." She brought home her first project which she was proud to show us and her first gan related virus.

Which brings us to the step back.

We are currently in the ER. Avigayil has viral pneumonia and a partially collapsed lung.  We are expecting this winter to bring challenges. For the first time she will be exposed to social situations and need to learn to interact with other children her own age. She will also be exposed to germs more regularly and frequently.

Growing

All my kids have been small. Small babies are not new to me. However, like most everything else, Avigayil took this to a new level.  She is now almost 2 1/2. Yesterday, we finally put away her 12 month size clothing. The challenges of being a preemie.

On the weight gain front Avigayil has been the same weight for over 2 month. This is not hreat as we want her to hrow but also good because she was sick during that time and didn't lose weight.  Thanks to the many of you offering to donate a pound or two! ;)

You Might Be a Preeemie Parent If

So I saw this today and thought, wow, that is so true!!



B"H Avigayil is almost back to her base line. This infection really took a long time for her to recover from but had it happened a year ago we would have been in intensive care for sure. It's hard but its another sign of how far we have come.