Our First Emergency Room Trip
The good news: We made it a day shy of 18 months without illness.
The bad news: A rather beautiful day ended at the emergency room.
Earlier Tuesday morning, MIL called to let me know that Waylin had a fever. My heart sank. I wanted to leave work immediately and go scoop her up. We decided to try some Tylenol and see if that made it better. She had a second dose right before Ben brought her home, and kids have this uncanny way of running around in circles within like 20 minutes of getting Tylenol. It is baffling, really.
The weather was gorgeous, so we decided to let her enjoy one of her favorite activities (since she was feeling better)...GOING OUTSIDE! My goodness! She just loves it! She actually reached up and grabbed both of our hands at the same time and it was just the most precious moment I've had in a long time. I didn't even know she knew how to do that. Of course, she knows how to hold your hand when you ask. But, not the idea of holding two different people's hands at the same time. I can't really describe the feeling other than something electric flowing back and forth through our hands. Maybe that's a special kind of love felt as a family in a really special moment. All I know is that it felt incredible and I can't stop smiling thinking about it!
It was like her genuine way of telling us that we are the two people that she loves the most and shows us that together is where we all belong. *tears*
She is my barefoot Cinderella!
I’m a serious #barefootgirl (oh god, should I have not hashtagged that? There are weirdos that like to look at feet 👀⁉️). So much so that I wear flip flops *almost* year round. The minute the snow is gone, even in 30 degree weather, I’m slipping those bad boys on. I grew up playing barefoot outside. It was a way of life in the 90s! So, I let Waylin live a little and she loved it. It’s amazing how they can find the smallest rock and hand it to you, isn’t it? You swear it’s imaginary, but then hear it drop when you realize she’s got eyes like a hawk and it really was a rock! 😂 #whoaicanrhyme
We put our shoes back on to do some exploring in the backyard.
***Please don't judge our badly cut lawn!***
I push mowed this the day before, and while I actually don't mind mowing, I am absolutely, without a doubt the WORST lawn mower. I start every job off with the intention of making pretty Wrigley Field-esque lines, and something just never goes right. I swear it's a complicated geometry class.
FUNNY STORY: When Ben and I first started living together, I begged him to show me how to mow the lawn. *currently ashamed of young Stevie* But damnit, I wanted to ride the mower and I definitely wanted to ride it in the street like a REAL small-town gal.
I promised Ben I wouldn't crash into anything, and off I went! I was waving to him frantically with the biggest smile on my face. I was clearly proud of myself! Ben didn't have the heart to tell me right away that I didn't drop the deck down, so I wasn't ACTUALLY cutting the lawn!
Waylin enjoys throwing rocks into the lake. She's really great at winding up her arm and tossing things! All thanks to MIL and the "snowball fights" they had with these stuffed snowballs all throughout winter (it's Spring and we still throw the snowballs around!)
We probably need to buy some fish food or something instead, but a couple rocks won't hurt!
We did what all parents do with a feverish child: cool bath!
I will update this post with a link to my next post because the story of this night's bath time needs its own post! #greatness
After getting ready for bedtime, I took her temperature again. This time is was a lot higher...over 103! I immediately told Ben that it's "go time." I ended up leaving for the ER by myself. He just started a job and he needs his sleep, so I told him I would call and let him know if he needs to come in. I quickly packed the diaper bag and left.
I made it a couple miles down the road before I started crying. I have owned my grandpa's car for almost 3 years now, but I had no idea how to turn on the overhead lights so I could see her back there. I was so worried about her spiked fever and the fact that I couldn't see if she was breathing. I reached back and grabbed her fingers a couple times to make sure she would grab mine. She was really upset because it was well past her bedtime and she was tired.
MIL called and said she was on her way to come sit with me in the emergency room. I thought that was really nice of her, especially after she had had a really crazy day. We had to wait almost 2 hours to see a doctor. It was really frustrating, and while her temperature was lower at the hospital, it was still a fever. We didn't leave the ER until 11:30, and immediately had to go to Walmart to pick up Motrin (liquid gold, BTW).
Being first time parents, we are worry about every little thing. Is this normal? Should she be doing this yet? Should we be doing that? It never ends. I always struggle with knowing when to go to the doctor. It's hard when they can't tell you in detail what's wrong and how they feel. You have to completely rely on your mom instinct that something isn't right. While she didn't have influenza and just some kind of viral thing that had to make its way out of her system, I am glad that I took her in. That peace of mind really is priceless.
It surprises me how quick a good day can turn into something else (and vice versa for you optimists!) I was so happy to get her back home and into bed. She has broken the fever, but still doesn't feel 100%.
The best prescription is cuddles...and Motrin!
UPDATE: You're going to want to read the bath story. Trust me. 💩
