The Week in Review

Here's what I know: Sometimes, life is hard.

Here's how I learned that:

On Monday, Lizzie had a scheduled appointment with the pediatrician to check her jaundice levels. A couple hours before her appointment, she spit up mucus through her nose and mouth causing her to go all different shades of purple. We rushed her to the doctor's office to get her suctioned out. After suctioning, she seemed to come back to normal. Relief. While at the doctor's office, she had a few blood tests which revealed the highest level of jaundice her doctor had ever seen. So, we were sent home with a bilibed to break down the jaundice.

Later that night, while laying on the bilibed, she had another episode of choking. We rushed her to the E.R., where again, they suctioned her, and she checked out healthy. They watched her for a few hours and she didn't have any more spells, so they sent us home.

On Tuesday, she was to spend the entire day on her bilibed to help with the jaundice. At 4:00, she had another choking spell, so Sam rushed home and we got her back to the doctor--in just a diaper. Her doctor decided that he had seen enough, and we were admitted to the Children's Unit at the Riverton Hospital.

That night, they poked her more than I ever care to remember. She screamed and screamed, and I felt completely helpless. She was put on medication through an IV, and placed under a warmer to help her keep her temperature up, since she was having trouble doing it on her own.

On Wednesday morning, she had two more choking spells, so they ran a series of tests to figure out what was wrong with her. They were fearful of a lot of things, mostly meningitis, but thankfully, she passed the tests and started to show signs of improvement. Her temperature came back up, her jaundice levels went down, and she was eating without choking afterwards.

We stayed at the hospital until Thursday night at 8:00, when she reached 36 hours without any choking spells, and proved that she could keep her temperature up without the help of the warmer and medication. They believe that she has a really bad case of reflux, and since she is technically a "preemie" she couldn't keep her temperature up without assistance.

Now, we are back at home, and so far, healthy. She is responding well to her medication, and she is a completely beautiful, happy baby.

Throughout the week, I had plenty of chances to reflect on our blessings:

• The priesthood. As soon as we checked into the hospital, Sam gave her a blessing that she would be able to handle all of the tests, and in the end, be healthy.
• Family. It didn't matter what time we called, or what we needed both of our families showed up and helped. Halle and Chase were always well taken care of, and we are grateful that we didn't have to worry about them while we were dealing with Lizzie.
• A nearby hospital. We have been there so much, they should name a wing after us.
• Doctors and nurses. Lizzie quickly became the favorite patient, and she received excellent care.
• Friends. You know who you are. Thank you.

We are so happy that Lizzie seems to healthy again. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.