E-Coli/ HUS

I am going to try and catch up from the last few weeks, but I am starting with the most serious first, then will end with something happy!

The Thursday before Katelyn's birthday she got sick at daycare, causing her to miss her Halloween/ birthday party at school. We thought she just was having tummy issues from too much dairy. She stayed home on Friday with Brandon, and seemed fine both Friday and Saturday to celebrate her birthday party. (Thank Goodness!)

On Sunday, Kate woke up and got ready for church and came into our bedroom to complain she had a tummy ache. We thought it was just from the "non-nutritious" food she ate at her birthday party. Nothing like a day of chips, bread, cake, and ice cream. After laying on our bed for a while she started to have some explosive bowl movements, causing us to clean her up and miss church.
The day continued the same way, but started to include vomit. As the day progressed, Katy go worse and Brandon fell under the weather to a migraine also. This caused me to think the flu had hit our house and I was juggling between Hayden's need for food, attention, and diaper changes to Kate's need for affection, vomit clean-up and pull-up changes. Halloween was official cancelled in our house. Before I knew how serious thing were about to get I was ticked. I gad never missed a Halloween in my 29 years of life. My favorite holiday.

Sunday night to Monday morning we all camped out in the living room. Brandon on the couch crippled to his migraine, Hayden in her swing where I was trying to keep her as far away from Kate as possible, and Kate and I on the floor covered with sheets and towels. Within 24 hours Kate had gone threw 44 pull-up, many of which started containing blood. Then I knew we had a bigger problem and was glad I had already taken Monday off for the girls and I. As soon as the doctor's office was open we were there. Dr. McDermott quickly warned us she would like us to go to St. Luke's and place Kate on fluids for dehydration. As hard as that was to hear, I knew it was the right thing to do. After a lot of testing we found out she had E-Coli (Shiga Toxin 1 and Shiga Toxin 2). After a week of hospitalization we were ready to go home and Kate was showing great signs of improvement.

On Thursday night we arrived home, everything seemed great. But within hours Katelyn was back to vomiting. We immediately called the doctor on call who said that was common of kids that get out of the hospital. Many times, they think they are all better, when they are not yet 100%. By Friday morning, Kate was now having bowel movements of pure blood. Again we didn't delay and rushed her to the doctor's office. This time to find out we were being admitted to The University of Iowa Children's Hospital. I was a wreck. I knew this was now incredibly serious.

When we got to the UICH, we were originally told we were admitted to general pediatrics for observations. Upon checking in, we were moved to a Nerphology specialist and in seclusion. The doctors rushed in and gave a list of possibilities were they were sure they were dealing with HUS, a disease that follows E-Coli mainly in children 8% of the time.

Throughout our week, we monitored Kate's potassium, creatinine, BUN, and hemogloben levels constantly. The poor child was poke more times then I can count. It got to the point any time someone came through the door she broke down and started to cry. We were estatic to find out we escaped dialysis by the skin of our teeth. We were told if dialysis was needed, Kate would be placed on life support as a stint would have to be placed in her neck. (70% of children who have HUS need dialysis). Katelyn did receive 2 blood transfusions to try and get rid of all of the broken and deformed red blood cells in her body. It was amazing the change in her personality and energy when she had clean blood in her. We were on numerous IV meds for dehydration, nutrients, fat (since Kate had lost over 15% of her body weight), and to make her kidneys work hard enough to produce urine and get it out of her body.

When we first went in, an ultrasound showed Kate's kidneys were the size of an adults and non functioning. When we left, we had an exhausted but happy Katelyn dying to set up our Christmas tree.

I have never felt so helpless. There was nothing I could do but try and be a rock, even though I was crumbling quickly. My baby was laying in a hospital bed, fairly lifeless, yellow, with sucken eyes, just crying and whimpering in pain, wanting me to hold her while being hooked up to all kinds of machines.

The strength of religion and the power of prayer are amazing things, this was a test of my faith. I am a believer that God will not give you more than you can handle, but I was feeling he had way too much trust in how strong I truly was. Kate had so many prayers being said for her health and recovery. She made quick gains that impressed all the hospital staff. I am a firm believer that without those prayers, we could still be awaiting our Katelyn's fate.

We were so happy to come home. Even if I had to go back to work on Monday after being gone for two weeks, and have report cards ready to go home by the end of the day. On top of that get prepared and hold 24 conferences. It was a very busy week, but I wouldn't of changed a thing. Kate's bruises are starting to fade, and we are hoping this journey will soon become a distant memory.

'Tis the season to be truly thankful for the health, love, and prayers of many around us. Have a great Thanksgiving. I know we will.

Last few weeks

The last few weeks have been a complete whorl wind for our house. October was a crazy month to begin with, filled with a wedding almost every weekend and a large list of birthdays and fall events.

On top of that, Katelyn turned 3! We were so excited! Early in the summer, once costumes started appearing in catalogs, Katy decided she wanted to be a doctor. I took the theme and ran. We had a full blown doctor party. (I will try and make a separate post just for that.)

However, I thought I would make a few posts while I am actually home and both girls are sleeping to catch up on some of my posts. I know I have missed a lot, but it will just have to be that way this year. Sorry Brady, I know you seem to check this so often. I will give you updates, even though you always know the details anyway! :) Ok, yes I am being a smart a**.