One baby, just a little out of sorts and warm to the touch.
One mama, wearily taking her breakfast back to bed to nurse and cuddle and wait it out.
One tiny hard patch on a baby arm when mama strips her off to cool her down...
I tried NHS direct first (usually so helpful!) and got some woman who refused to talk to me about the swelling in the arm and instead advised me to give her calpol to bring her temperature down and to stop breastfeeding her in order to give water to prevent dehydration!! I promptly ignored her, and off we went to A&E, knowing that it was likely we would be admitted again.
As we were. Another IV line in those little hands. Another stay in the Children's Hospital. Another ballpoint pen outline of an infection, spreading out of control as this little body fights. (This time the same cannula stayed in for the whole time, and she got plenty of doses of the antibiotics to control this infection - at some point we will have to consider tests to rule out an immune disorder now that this has happened twice.)
My hands have to be busy as she sleeps. The Coming Home Hat, mark two. I find myself with another tradition here, somehow...
Finding things to do on the ward. This little fireball baby cannot be restrained and has barely seemed ill the whole time we have been in.
By the end of the first day she was pottering up and down the corridors making everyone laugh. She kept waddling up to the nurse's station and banging on the desk until someone spoke to her! I have been so pleased with how the nurses were with her and how much care they took over letting us know what was going on, and giving us warning of procedures and apologies when they were running late. I feel really helpless in hospital, and nothing is under my control, so that extra mile made such a difference.
Crochet swing coat. I am SO PROUD of this little cardi. She looks a little grumpy here, but only because mama was making her sit still!
Baby comedian, up to mischief again!
Drawing on her leg during a visit from Emma and Connor. These three, such friends we have, it defies words.
Playing with a water bottle - not for want of toys. At least three people offer me a sippy, and then watch in awe as she drinks from my cup and eats adult food with a fork from my plate.
Pretending to be sleepy, throwing herself around on the bed, then laughing at me when I kiss and squish her. Expressions of amazement from the nurses that she can climb on and off a real bed, and that she is so confident and active. "We'll miss her, she's a real character!" says the Sister. And she is. Entertaining everyone all weekend, even the doctors who come to check her poor arm.
Yesterday was a hard day, a lot of the babies were unaccompanied again and the crying (oh the crying) Rowan hated it nearly as much as I did (though she didn't have the guilt from those denied impulses to cuddle them all)! Last night and this morning was so totally different, with all of the little ones in arms. I could see the lengths the nurses were going to, to make that happen, but oh I was so happy to see it. One nurse was doing paperwork with a tiny newborn in the crook of her elbow. *grins*
Ready to go home this morning! We are so so very glad to be back home, Rowan can't get over everything and has rediscovered so many of her favorite toys - plus followed the cat around for a while and laughed at every single thing she sees. She is also really proud of her new word "BOO!" which she is showing off by shouting at her sisters.
One thing though, you know you're home for sure when your three year old throws herself on the floor screaming and crying because someone trod on her imaginary friend... And when the baby pees on the sofa, when she has ECed at the hospital beautifully and dirtied ONE nappy (our only miss from the little bare-bottomed baby tottering around in a loose unpoppered vest)... Ah, it's good to be home. :)
When we got out, we saw Emma and Chris, then went straight to the woods as previously planned rather than just coming home and feeling like we had lost another day to this mystery condition.
The bluebells are starting to flower, and any day now the whole area will be carpeted in fragrant blue.
This smile, ah, what would a mama not do for this? Oh how I love her, my tiny, my crazy mini toddler, loving squishable funny precious daughter.
This fort was a new discovery, right in the middle of the woods in a small clearing. Martin and Emma decided it was probably built in the Easter holidays, then all the children had to go back to school and abandon their new den! Jenna and Morgan built up the walls a bit, dug a fire pit, and laid a pretend camp fire in the middle. :)
What medicine the wild world is. We are all much refreshed!
