14 months

We had the kids' birthday party on Saturday, and I received some oh-so-gentle ribbing from family members with regard to my very limited blog updates. So I planned to put a little post up with some pictures of the party and all of that good stuff.

Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for that one...because I don't have the pictures downloaded yet and the camera isn't with me at the hospital.

Yep, the hospital.

We made it 14 months, which is pretty amazing for a little one with sickle cell disease. Cece has had a runny nose and a bit of a cough for a few days and we thought it was just allergies...and then Sunday she had a low grade fever...and I took her to the doctor yesterday morning and it looked like a simple virus. Then the fever spiked and all of that changed.

At 6:30 last night I brought Cece to the Emergency Room to be evaluated and admitted. Now why they would call that place the EMERGENCY Room I truly don't know. We have had some long stays down there but this was the longest by far. At about 11 we were coming up to our old haunting grounds, Room 203. At midnight we were checked in but Cece was a bit wound up and not at all ready to sleep. So we watched Elmo and then about half of Cars before falling asleep, snuggled together in the hospital bed.

She had a very rough evening of being poked, prodded, xrayed and IV'd. And even though we know exactly what to expect and exactly what it will take every time we show up here, it doesn't make it any easier for anyone. It is heartbreaking to hear your baby girl screaming while you have to hold her down for procedures. But it is what has to be done...so we just pray a lot and do whatever we can to comfort her.

Fred went home about 11:30 and had to be up at 5 to go to work this morning. It will be a long day for everyone, but for now the princess is sleeping peacefully. That is a blessing.

We'll probably be here until Thursday morning, assuming the hematologist wants to wait for her blood cultures. Her fever was still over 101 this morning which guarantees another full day at the absolute minimum. I promise to update when there's any news to share, but the usual routine is just waiting it out.

None the less, we made it 14 months. And for that we are grateful!