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Sunday, April 26, 2009

Tired Does Not Begin To Describe It

So we have been home a few days now-I think. I do not even know what day/time it is for the most part. We struggled when we first came home with dizziness and jet lag and tummy issues which were all pretty miserable, but normal. What has not been normal and was not expected is what else we have been doing in the last few days. Meet our new best friend around here, Mr Penguin:Mr Penguin is Zoe's new nebulizer with which we are having to give her breathing treatments every 4 hours around the clock in addition to a few other medications we need to give her every day. Remember how I said she had some chest issues we were concerned about in Ethiopia? We had a pretty tense night there our last night as she was wheezing and pretty much panting and getting very little air in the middle of the night and I felt completely helpless as I didn't even know who to call, where to go, how to communicate, etc-it was very scary. So I called on the Great Physician (repeatedly!!!!) as I sat holding my precious little girl and slept with her sitting up and He miraculously carried us through that night, but I was more than ready to get home and get her to a doctor as I knew this was not just an ordinary case of the sniffles. She was blessed to have a pretty good trip home which was great because again, I have no idea what I would have done if she had another wheezing episode on the plane. We got home and by bedtime (really by dinnertime) we were honestly delirious from exhaustion and collapsed into bed. I was awoken in the middle of the night by Zoe's frantic rapid and tight breathing/wheezing and just scooped her up, went into our bathroom and turned the shower as hot as it would go, shut the door and sat in the home-made sauna with her. I was thinking she probably needed to get to the ER but I was so out of it I couldn't figure out how to do that since Pat was sick in bed and my mom was downstairs in our guest room-yes, I know I could just go get her but I was SO. TIRED. I literally could not function and was just paralyzed so we just sat there in the steam praying and dripping with sweat till she at least slowed down the frantic panting and things seemed a little looser in her chest. We slept the rest of the night, with her glued to my side in my bed and me with one eye open. The next morning she seemed pretty pleasant, but still horribly junky coughing/rattling/wheezing so I took her to the after hours clinic where I was blessed with an angel of an on-call doctor. He was so nice and very concerned-he did say if we had another night like the one we had to get to the ER immediately (and that I really should have the night before but the steam was the next best thing, ugh) and he waffled back and forth about sending us on to the ER right from his office (a little disconcerting-I was feeling a little panicky by then) but decided he would just give me the meds and equipment and teach me how to do all the things they would do at the hospital so that hopefully we could get things turned around a bit and avoid the hospital if possible. So, I came home with 4 new prescriptions and Mr Penguin in his little igloo carrier. As well as a screaming baby who had had ENOUGH of being out and about at the doctor and pharmacy. I then McGuyvered up a little mist-tent in our room for her to help her have warm mist to hopefully keep things from tightening up too much when she sleeps-it is a full sized sheet that is pulled over her crib and down and around the vaporizer on the floor so the mist hopefully stays in her sleeping area and not dispersed all over our room:
We have our appointment for tomorrow already scheduled for her general check up so the on call doc told us to definitely keep that appt to follow up and there is a good chance they will do a chest x-ray and a few other things that sound equally enjoyable. We are looking forward to going because we need to know what is the next step and how can we get our baby doing better and a few other questions. Anyway, we are tired beyond words and just want to SLEEP. We have to set the alarm for every 4 hours during the nite too to do the breathing treatments until the doctor gives us the go ahead to change that. Sometimes I am so tired I do not realize I am asleep, standing up. I cannot even explain it. So anyway, I didn't get my last few days' posts up from Ethiopia since the internet/power was down-I am sorry and they are written and I may post them in the next day or 2 since I will not have a lot of time to write I do not think. And fro the AGCI folks reading this, I also got some time with the waiting babies and will let mommies and daddies know how that went, but right now we are just trying to even function!! So I will get with you, but please give me a few days to email you if you can stand to wait while we figure out exactly what we are dealing with with our Zoe. I will leave you with a cutie picture of her at her first bath last Monday when we got to bring her back to the hotel with us, and ask you to join us in praying that we can get our little lady well asap because she just seems miserable. Thanks!!

Little Miss Zoe Mahlet

19 comments:

Aubrey said...

Oh Jody! I'm so sorry you're having such a rough transition! Zoe is adorable and I hope she feels better soon so you can all get some rest! Praying for you!

nell ann said...

Jody-
We will definitely be praying for you and your little sweetheart! I hope you start feeling yourself again soon and that the sleep you do get is really restful and refreshing! I am anxious to see more pictures and read stories of your time in ETH. Welcome home, even if it is crazy!

Michael said...

I am in love with your little lady!! I am so sorry that she is sick....that's the pits:( Aren't you so happy that she is here in the USA getting medical treatment. Praise God for that!!!!!
I could just kiss her little cheeks...she is super CUTE!

Michelle
www.mfamilyblog.blogspot.com

Ang said...

Hello Jody,

This is really strange...my husband, son, and I were just talking about his nebulizer when he was a toddler yesterday. He is now 9 years old. When he was about 18 months old, he was diagnosed with childhood asthma. I'll never forget when my husband brought him home with the neb. It looked like the craziest contraption. We did breathing treatments through the night many many times, so I can't imagine what you're going through with just returning home. I will certainly be praying for you and your family. I don't recall if I've mentioned it in my last comment, but my husband and I are from PA and are adopting a boy and a girl (o-12 months) from Ethiopia. I think I might be starting to have panic attacks over our decision..small joke...but seriously...having two babies in the house will definitely be a challenge...BUT..it's what God has brought to us and He will see us through. He'll see you through, too.

Rest, Healing, and Wisdom to you...

Angie Laubach

Michelle said...

She is adorable and I am praying. May you get some rest soon.

Tisha Alexander said...

Jody, I am so sorry that Zoe is so sick. She will be in my prayers. I hope they get to the bottom of it today and things start turning around so you can get some much needed sleep.

Margaret (Dawn's friend) said...

Praying for healing in little Zoe's body and for rest for you all! She is just beautiful!!!

Eastiopians said...

That is SO scary! I am so glad that you guys made it here safely and that she will soon be diagnosed and treated accordingly. Please keep us posted, as we will continue to pray for her health and your rest. I'm so glad that she is in your care. I wonder if I should take our nebulizer to ET when we go just in case? Something to think about for sure. BTW, Zoe is ADORABLE!!!! :)

Theresa

TPB said...

Hey Hilts,

We're praying for Zoe's health and rest for you guys. I can't even imagine your exhaustion. Zeke had a chest x-ray summer before last, and it was no big deal to him at all---the easiest of all the tests we had to do that day, for sure! Hang in there!
love,
tiffany and boys

Kristin said...

Sending out a prayer your way. Just a tiny glitch in the Matrix, but look at your girl! How exciting and blessed you are!

Mandy said...

She is so adorable! I will be praying for you all and for the doctors to figure out how to help her. I am just amazed at the perfect timing of you getting her home so you can love on her and help her get better.

Anonymous said...

Jody, she is just beautiful! We will be praying for you all! We've spent many a night in the bathroom when Drew was very young--very scary!

We can't wait to meet her and re-acquaint with Calli when we return in July!

Much love to all,
Dawn

Jess & Matt said...

Jody,
We will be praying for little Zoe. I am so sorry to hear how very sick she is. I hope she feels better real soon and you get the rest you need.

Jstar said...

Oh my goodness - what a hard arrival home! We will definitely keep y'all in prayer - God can multiply sleep just like loaves and fishes :)

Kristi J said...

wow...I can't believe you even found time for me today....I even appreciate you MORE now if that is possible :) I'm so sorry to hear about Zoe....crazy stuff...keep us posted...and thanks again for the treat today :) kj

Erin said...

Oi Jody! I pray you will have rest and little Zoe will start breathing better fast. How awful! Talk about compounding miseries :(

Carrie said...

She is so beautiful and you are all in our prayers. Hope things get better for you!

Patrick D. said...

Pat & Jody,

Welcome back to the States! I'm glad that things worked out well during your trip and your new addition to the family. Hope all goes well w/ Zoe and the other siblings.

God bless,

Patrick D.

Dawn said...

zoe zoe... i miss you and so does jaxson!! get better please!!

love you guys!!