RSV

Three weeks after our little miracle was born, Mary Grayson was diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV is a very common virus that leads to cold-like symptoms in adults and older healthy children, but can be much more serious in young infants. Talk about scary!!! I started to notice MG sneezing and couhing a lot one morning after she ate. This went on all day.  She just didn't seem like her usual happy self and her coughing and conjestion became harder and harder to bear.  I called our pediatrician and spoke with his nurse who advised me to sit her in front of a steamy shower and to use saline nose drops for the congestion.  NOTHING helped!!! In fact,  it seemed to be getting worse. After a long sleepless night, Marvin and I decided to take her to the doctor.  Upon seeing her, he immediately sent us downtown to the Emergency Room at Texas Children's Hospital.  For those of you who have never been inside a children's hospital, it can be a very sobering place.  Little one's are not supposed to be sick.  After taking little MG's temperature, we were told she would be admitted and would have to stay for at least 48 hours, as is the protocol for infants with a temperature over 100.4 (MG's was 100.8).  We were also educated on what was going to happen in the ER while the hospital found a bed for our baby.  They had to find the source of Mary Grayson's fever, and it could be found in three places: her urine, her spinal fluid, and her blood.  Needless to say a sample of each was needed, eliciting a catheter, a spinal tap, and several blood draws.  Our little girl was poked and prodded for three hours!  Marvin was a real tropper and stayed with our baby the whole time.  Her mommy, on the other hand, was a basketcase, and had to leave the room so her sobs did not disrupt the staff treating her.  I can honestly say December 18th will go down as one of the toughest days of my life.  I was helpless. There was nothing I could do to help her.  We were admitted and spent 48 hours watching our little munchkin receive antibiotics and breathing treatments.

In the ER at Texas Children's.

Getting her "mini facial" (breathing treatment).

Feeling much better and ready to go home.

Something in your heart changes when you have children. Life is no longer about you, its about them; protecting them, providing for them, and constantly loving them.  No...it didn't take Mary Grayson getting sick for me to come to all these realizations, it just brought them to my attention.  Our little girl was surrounded by prayers that weekend in December; prayers for protection, prayers for strength, prayers for  healing.  We learned so much about ourselves over Mary Grayson's stay at TCH.  We are stronger people and stronger parents because of it. We realize everyday is a learning opportunity with a child and we are looking forward to learning more about ourselves through the process.