Ashley Has RSV & Struggling to Breathe....

It always seems as if something is wrong. My heart is growing weary and I hurt for my little ones.

We took all three to the pediatrician on Thursday. Kory was the first to come down with the "summer cold" that they were all three diagnosed with. Megan got it second. Her symptoms were worse than Kory's that included a high fever, upper respiratory congestion, sore throat, and coughing that sounded like a dog barking. Ashley was the last to catch it with her symptoms being far worse than the other three. She's been throwing up in addition to running a fever of 103.6 to this morning 104.2. The Dr. yesterday said that there was no reason for concern and to give them all 5-7 days for signs of improvement. I attempted to explain the underdevelopment of Ashley's respiratory system and her asthma issues, but my feelings were that it was all just "brushed off".

This morning when Ashley woke up, she was screaming, coughing that sounded like a seal barking, and her temp was over 104. I wrapped her up and took her over to urgent care where, after chest x-rays, blood testing, & swab for RSV....the testing came back positive. She has RSV. There is fluid in the upper quadrants of her lungs which we are praying stays there and doesn't move to the lower part, which would mean pneumonia. Her pulse ox this morning was 91, which is on the high end of low, and she was really having a struggle to breath.

The Physician and staff were incredibly considerate and compassionate. After discussing with them the fact that our health insurance is not in effect due to a "discrepancy", they wrote her three prescriptions, Anti-biotics, steroids, and cough suppressant. These are in addition to her Xoponex and Pulmicort breathing treatments that we are supposed to give her every 4 hours for her asthma.

I always worry probably more than I should about my children, but that is who I am as a mother. Ashley has always had difficulty breathing from her premature birth. She was inti bated a lot longer than Meggie was and had multiple apnea episodes while still in the hospital. Please pray for Ashley that within the next 12-18 hours these medications help her health to improve so that we can keep her out of the hospital. Also, though, pray that I go with what my instincts tell me to do and not waffle because of extenuating circumstances.

I appreciate these prayers more than you know!! Thank you so much!

In His Grip~