The Vacation That Wouldn't End

A couple of weeks ago, Scott, Ellie, and I left for a long weekend down to St. George.  We had a great time:  golfing, swimming, going to the park, eating at Nielsen's (a shameful number of times in just a few days), and spending lots of time together.  

On Saturday, I asked my mom when she was going home (wondering if it was Sunday or Monday) and she said she wasn't leaving for a whole week and asked me and Ellie to stay.  So, we decided to send my dad and Scott home to go to work and school all week while the girls stayed back to play.  Or so we thought.

Ellie woke up on Sunday with a little cough but she acted fine so we weren't too worried.  After church, we kissed Scott goodbye and started to really relax.  That night she woke up coughing every half hour.  I brought her into bed with me so at least I didn't have to go into another room to comfort her.  It was so sad and we were exhausted in the morning.

But she still acted okay so we tried to go to the pool for a few hours.  We had lots of fun and then I put her down for a nap and went back outside (with the baby monitor in hand) and read People Magazine's coverage of the Royal Wedding.

Ellie woke up from her nap with a 102 degree fever.  And it all went downhill from there.

We went to Instacare on Monday night and three hours later she left with a chest x-ray, diagnosis of pneumonia, and a fatty shot in her little leg.

Went back on Tuesday to Instacare and they sent us to the hospital.  More chest x-rays, an IV of fluids and powerful antibiotics, and four hours later, we went home with a tired little girl (who now hates all doctors, nurses, and anyone resembling medical personnel).

Returned to ER again on Wednesday for yet another chest x-ray (which is actually worse than a shot because we have to hold her arms above her head while she screams...which makes her move...which leads to repeating the x-ray until over and over again until we get a clear one), a shot in each little leg, and vowed to never, ever, ever get sick again.

That week:

• We watched Tangled at least twice (from start to finish) each day

• I let her nap on the couch and sleep in bed with me because she refused to get in the crib

• We were grateful for righteous strangers who were able to give Priesthood blessings
• She ate raisins and apple juice and almost nothing else
• We learned that Ellie inhales pool water when she goes under which can contain germs which can cause bacterial pneumonia in a little girl.
• We learned not to let Ellie's head go under the water when you take her swimming.

I have never been more ready for a vacation to end.  Scott and my dad both came back down the next weekend and we finally made our way home on Sunday.  Ellie was ready for her own place again, too.  She actually squealed when we pulled into the neighborhood.  Scott and I were both blown away with how happy she was to be back in our house with her toys, her crib, all safe and sound and healthy.

Hooray for being healthy and for being home again!

PS - Sorry we put such a damper on your vacation, Mom.