Hi all, Elliot was last in the hospital when I wrote my last post, and he was discharged on Friday afternoon. The first day the doctor told us that it was bronchitis but that diagnosis changed to pneumonia after rechecking his x-ray and symptoms.
I apologize that I didn’t get to update afterwards…it’s been a rigorous schedule of breathing treatments and antibiotics, fever control with medication, checking his oxygen, multiple follow up visits with the pediatrician, and caretaking at home. This week only, we had 3 doctor visits and a chest x-ray. Now he’s on another kind of antibiotics on top of the original one prescribed to him. He’ll be done with all the medication this Sunday. Tomorrow we are going for another follow up and that is the 4th visit to the doctor.
This is the first time in his 13 years that he’s been this ill and he’s been quiet this whole time, which is rare. He doesn’t want to talk, move, or do anything else except sleep, lay down, and sip water. The coughing fits are the worst. When he gets into them, we all stare cause there’s nothing we can do to help him and we kind of want to run out of the house to avoid getting sick ourselves.
Ellis is masked up at home too and does most of her things in the other room. Everything is separated for now. I’m constantly wiping commonly used surfaces with Clorox wipes and washing hands way too many times during the day.
Somehow, I’ve been managing to take care of everyone and keep to his breathing treatments with a nebulizer every 4 hours. The other night Elliot woke me up at 3 a.m. complaining of chest pain, and I freaked out. I was going up the stairs to tell Chris and my arms were shaking from fear. It was shocking to see how my body would melt down like that. Him being sick is new to me. But Chris checked with Elliot and realized that it was muscle chest pain from all the coughing. Emergency averted. God keeps me sane in all this chaos and still brings me moments of rest when I feel worn out and exasperated with too much to do.
Thank you to my friends A and D for refreshing us with food and treats!! Appreciate your thoughtfulness and positive spirits. And thank you to all my friends and blogger friends who have been sending us encouragement, prayers, and support. You are all so appreciated!!
Another appointment tomorrow to check how he sounds after starting a new antibiotic. I hope recovery is on the way very soon!! Thankfully, Ellis has been healthy and doing her own thing. Last night she told me that this experience is a good one for both her and Elliot. She thinks she understands what it’s like to be the one who isn’t sick for once, to stay out of the way at home for the sick person, and to go to all the appointments together. For Elliot when he was in the hospital and had an iv, he commented how Ellis deals it: “this is so uncomfortable.” He said the same thing when he was nauseated for hours in the first night of his sickness coming on. We’re all learning life lessons through this experience!
In 2 weeks, Ellis has her heart clinic appointment to review her MRI results and an exercise test. Oh wow…children are an amazing blessing but raising them is mentally, physically, and spiritually challenging! God, please give us all extra energy, patience, and health to raise Kudos and a shout out to all the hardworking, attentive, and loving mamas out there!!!
19 responses to “Day 10 of pneumonia”
Iām thinking of you and your family. I often had bronchitis as a child and young adult, but they didnāt have the same treatments back then as they do now. It never went into pneumonia for me.
Last night in my sleep, I visioned Ellis and Elliot texting to each other to communicate because they are separated. Giggling that I would think that. Or that they would be shouting to each other through the air hallways. Also, silly are my thoughts.
I hope my outlandish thoughts in my sleep makes you laugh, Esther. Sometimes laughter is a good medication! xoxo š
Sorry for the late reply. I read it when you sent it 3 days ago and laughed when reading your comment, because what you saw in your sleep is exactly what they do in real life. They send each other YouTube clips and text over phone even when they are in the next room. It’s not silly…it was accurate. We have many chat threads…one with the whole family, one with the e-trio, and one for each kid.
Bronchitis is terrible and the coughs will likely damage the ears of those around the cougher. But pneumonia is another story…yikes! The doctor still hears crackling in his right lung and we’re going in again for a recheck this Thursday. (hopefully the last follow up after 4 visits already last week).
Please stay well this coming season with the onslaught of flu season and other respiratory viruses!
š¤£šš¤£ texting!!!
Hi Esther, Yesterday, was picking up my thyroid prescription at the pharmacy. I checked again to see if the Covid vaccine was in yet. It finally arrived! So I went inside. I got vaccinated for COVID 24-25, influenza, and pneumonia! This is my first time to get pneumonia vaccine. The pharmacist said only some people qualify. Because I have CHF, Congestive heart failure, I qualified.
Both my arms are sore, but I had no really bad reaction. Just the normal symptoms of vaccination.
I wonder how Elliot is feeling. I imagine itās a very slow process for recovery.
And I wonder if you are thinking to get vaccinated for all three too. You would probably qualify as a care taker of a heart patient, maybe.
Esther, that is quite the arsenal designed to make Elliot feel better again – the schedule is pretty intense as well. I hope Saturday’s doctor’s appointment goes well. And then Elliot recovers and you have to think about Ellis’ heart clinic appointment. The year 2024 might add a few gray hairs to your pretty black locks. Uni looks like she is up to the task of keeping you comfy on those hospital stays.
Oh my, the gray hairs are bad. This has been one heck of a month for me with 2 hospitalizations and myriad of doctor appointments.
Elliot’s cough was terrible with his fever lingering for days, which I have never experienced with him. He breaks out in hives with his second antibiotic, so on Saturday the doctor prescribed him Zyrtec and Probiotics. It is a whole arsenal but he just finished his 2 rounds of antibiotics today. Whew. And Ellis has not caught it!
Uni has been a steady companion since 2007…too bad I didn’t manage to take pics of her through some of our hospital adventures.
Thank goodness Ellis has remained unscathed – yay for that. I can’t remember you mentioning Uni on your hospital adventures before – it could be me. Gray hairs and wrinkles – our badges for weathering the storm(s).
I am so sorrry. This is so stressful for all of you. I hope he recovers quickly. Thoughts and prayers are flying his way.
Thank you, Cindy!! He is on the mend and doing much better.
I hope he is all better soon.
I’m glad Elliot is home again and continues to improve. Take care and get rest whenever you can. <3
Thank you! I’ve been trying to rest when I can and to take walks outside to just be alone and get some fresh air. Caretaking is nonstop work and when the cough wasn’t improving, it felt hopeless. Thankfully, things are looking up and we have become more relaxed about the timing of the breathing treatments.
Very good, and I’m glad that everything is improving. <3
Goodness gracious Esther! So many treatments to remember. Many years ago, I started texting my husband whenever I gave the kiddos any medication so I could look back and see the time stamp. Kudos to you for keeping track of everything in such an organized way!
I hope everyone feels better soon!
That was a smart move to text your husband! When you’re busy and tired, it’s easy to forget and maybe forget or double up on the doses.
There was so much to do that I had to take notes or else my sleep deprived mind would forget something. Recovery is underway and we are all relieved. It was like holding our breath for him and also for Ellis to not get sick.
I hope everyone feels better soon! I hope he recovers quickly. Thoughts and prayers are flying his way. Get rest whenever you. Tack Care, Eshter!
You’ve done an amazing job with the kids, Esther. They are blessed to have you as a Mum.
This has been such an ordeal Esther. Sending you big hugs.
Continuing to prayer for you all, for health & wellness to be restored to All of you. He loves you and holds you close.
I hope you are so tired . How your kiddos? God bless you š!