.jpg)
We got a new camera for Christmas and there's a bit of a logjam with all the great photos we are taking, so I am sorry for the lack of illustration. It's already been an eventful year, first reaching a number I never even though of in all my life plans - 2010 - who knows why? We celebrated by having a boring dinner and then going to bed at 11 pm.
We also had the terrible experience of Claire developing pneumonia and being in the hospital for 4 days - Jan. 2-6. She is doing great - back to normal and finally off all medicine and breathing treatments. It was a horrible to watch her struggling to breathe and hard to put her through all the treatments she needed to get better. Her pneumonia was caused by a bacteria called mycoplasma, which our doctor says attacks the whole respiratory system and is often just walking pneumonia in adults and teenagers. Apparently, the difficulty in diagnosis is reconciling the way the lungs look with the outward physical symptoms. Claire's lungs did not look so bad, even though her breathing was labored, that's why our first trip to urgent care only got us an antibiotic, and I blame myself more than the doctor for that, although he was not much help.
Later that day I could tell she was not improving and was starting to be lethargic, not eating or drinking, and still working hard to breathe, so we went to the emergency room where they recognized her distress and checked us in immediately. After many hours, tests and tears, we were admitted and she was started on oxygen, IV fluids, antibiotics and steroids, and nebulizer treatments with albuterol and additional steroids. She was quite a trooper through the whole thing considering she's two. She hated the nebulizer and could not stand to see the IV in the crook of her elbow or have anyone touch it, understandably. She did enjoy the limitless TV and apple juice. One of us stayed with her the whole time and after the first 18 hours she improved at a good pace.
We had a lot of help from good friends watching Audrey until my parents could get here. It is nice to know that we have people to call in an emergency, even though we'd much rather not have an emergency. Audrey took it well, mostly, worried about her sister and sending back toys and books every time one of us stopped in to sleep or shower.
I'm not sure when I will be back to normal, but I am grateful Claire is OK - that is the most important thing - and am watching her and Audrey carefully as the cold season continues, hoping we have faced our worst crisis for the year and, even better, both their childhoods. I can dream, can't I? Being a parent is a rough business. We have had plenty of hospital experience and would be glad to be done with it for good.
And during the past few days, and I am told, the coming few days, we are enduring one of California's worst rainy seasons ever. People say we don't have weather, but sometimes we do and we are seriously not prepared for it. I filled my gas tank, bought water and a pile of canned goods, just in case. Today I took Claire to Bed, Bath and Beyond for some mindless browsing. It had been raining for awhile already when we went in, but poured so much during our shopping they were sandbagging the entrance when we left. I was soaked up to my shins getting to the car. Not complaining, it was kind of an adventure. But there was even a tornado warning for Los Angeles, which was a bit alarming, but not too much because I survived the one that hit our town when we lived in Texas, so I know what to do (get in the closet and hope you are not in its path). We are fortunate not to be in an area that floods or slides. Later we are going to drive down to the beach to see 25 foot waves.
Here's to the rest of the month and the rest of the year being eventful - in a fun way, Melissa
