Jayne's Hospital Stay

Our darling little Jayne spent the last week of July at Primary Children's Hospital. It all started with a fever.  She'd had fevers off and on for about a week without any other symptoms.  Then one morning she was complaining of a sore throat.  Sure enough, her little throat was all red and swollen.  I took her to the pediatrician.  Her rapid strep test came back negative and the doctor said it was probably just a virus. 
The next morning, Jayne came into our bedroom crying that her throat hurt.  The left side of her neck was all swollen and she had another fever.  This time Nate took her to the doctor while I stayed home with Jonah and Lilly.  Then I get a text saying that they've been sent to Primary Children's for a CT scan because they suspect that she has an abscess in her throat. 
Thanks to some wonderful neighbors, I was able to join Nate and Jayne in the ER.  Our poor girl was just miserable!  They needed to place an IV for the scan.  Apparently Jayne has her daddy's veins.  They had to poke her 8 times before they got a successful IV.  Jayne was so good and didn't scream or kick.  Nate did a great job of keeping her calm.  I pretty much just held her hand and tried not to cry myself.  I hate seeing my kids in pain. 
The scan showed a good sized abscess on the left side of her throat.  It was beginning to constrict her airways.  She was admitted to the hospital and began receiving intravenous antibiotics.  Her strep culture also came back positive.  We were told that it would be 24 to 48 hours until her inflammation markers would be low enough for us to take her home.  Jayne was so weak and tired and had fevers off and on all night long. Nate pulled the night shift while I went home to be with Jonah and Lilly.  I was so grateful to have the help of my sister Sarah and my mom in watching the kids while I went back and forth to the hospital and Nate worked.  
Jayne was in the hospital for four days.  Her inflammation markers took a bit longer than usual to drop low enough.  By her fourth day, she was back to her happy, energetic self.  The abscess had shrunk and her levels were down enough that they let us take her home on some oral antibiotics.  

Jonah & Lilly came for a quick visit.  They thought the masks they got to wear were really cool.

Day 1--So tired and miserable.  They were so worried about having to re-do her IV because it was so difficult to place that they kept her hand all wrapped up.  They had to mess with it in the middle of the night because it got backed up.

Day 2--She had a bit more energy in the morning and did some coloring.  By afternoon, she was tired and her fevers were back. 

Day 3- Feeling quite a bit better, but the numbers weren't where the doctors wanted them yet, so we had to stay another night.  Aunt Rachel sent her the cute stuffed monkey and our neighbor Jackie sent the wooden dolls for her to play with.  They were both such a big help. Those and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" got us through. =)

Day 4- Feeling so much better!  The numbers finally dropped by more than 50% overnight and we finally got to go home.

Jayne is now fully recovered.  Lilly had a little bout with strep last week, but we caught it nice and early so she didn't get bad at all. 
When the kids are sick, your whole world gets turned upside down.  Nate ended up using some personal days and vacation days so that he could stay  in the hospital with her.  He was so sweet and I had to practically force him to go home, take a shower, and get a little sleep.  We're so grateful for all the help and concern from family, friends, and neighbors.