6.18.2008

Breathe In

Hey, remember that baby I have?
This is my new favorite photo
Yeah, that one.

A few weeks ago I blogged about taking her to the pediatrician because we noticed her breathing was labored. Dr. Looove was concerned but gave her steroids, blah blah blah read the other post to get the prognosis there. Long story short, her breathing hasn't gotten better, so today Mike brought Maddie back to see the good doctor.

The first bit of good news is that Maddie now weighs eleven pounds, eight ounces! Beat that, Stefanie! The other bit of good news is that she wasn't hospitalized...thanks to the oxygen rocket.

Dr. Looove took Maddie's blood oxygen rate when they arrived in her office. It was at 73. A high-dosage breathing treatment was administered, and her number went up to 85. Still not the over-90 we need Maddie to be at. Mike took her to get an x-ray, and then another measurement was taken. Still at 85. At this point, Mike started to mentally pack Maddie's hospital bag.

Dr. Looove came back into the exam room and went over Maddie's x-ray with Mike. She said Maddie still has small areas of collapse (atalectisis) throughout both lungs. Dr. Looove said, that besides the atalectisis, her lungs look just like those of an asthmatic. Then she said, "if you didn't have oxygen at home, I would have to admit her."

For the next two-plus days, we have a strict regimen to follow. We are giving her a more concentrated breathing treatment four times a day along with her inhaled steroid. She'll be taking a diuretic with the intention of removing excess fluid from her lungs, and an oral steroid (different from the inhaled one) to strengthen her lungs. We have to put her on oxygen throughout the day, and she has to get two liters per minute instead of just a 1/2 liter. Friday morning she has to get more blood work done to make sure the diuretic isn't stripping her of important nutrients. Then, we're meeting with Dr. Looove just before lunch to go over the blood results and plan where to go from there.

Take note that Dr. Lung is not involved. But that's another story.

I knew that the first couple years of her life were going to be filled with doctor visits and trials. I've prepared myself for her many appointments and I know there are most likely going to be hospitalizations in her future. But it's still hard. I hate hearing her wheezy and labored breathing. It's heartbreaking to see her work so hard to draw in air, something that is effortless for the rest of us. She's getting bigger and stronger, but her lungs aren't. Tomorrow I will take comfort in the fact that she is still smiling, but tonight I am going to snuggle my baby and cry.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

i think you and mike have been very strong through all this. a good cry always helped me feel better, take care.

Anna Marie said...

I can't count the number of times I cried during Thomas's first year. It gets better. It really does. And crying will help you relieve stress and you'll feel better.

Hugs.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry. I know that it must be hard to take good new (11 pounds!) and then get slapped in the face with bad. I am praying for her. That seems like a lot of oxygen. Is it? And, Dr Google, is there a negative consequence to the oxygen use?

Kristin.... said...

Poor Maddie and poor you. Sending big hugs to you both. A good cry always helps, I promise. Glad Dr. Lung is out of the picture. Dr. Looove sounds so wonderful!

Mom said...

BHJ's mom....my heart aches for you and little Maddie. Snuggling and crying can heal a mulitude of wrongs....

Shauna said...

Oh man, it just has to be so hard. I ache for little Maddie, I can't imagine how you feel. What a little trooper she is, but it sucks that she has to be.

On a better note, 11 pounds 8 ounces!!! Way to go Maddie! It felt to me like Lucy was gigantic once she got up over 10.

Mom24 said...

(((Hugs))) Wallow in it...for a while. It might make you feel better.

Woohoo on the weight gain!

Good luck, she (and you and Mike) are in my prayers.

Gemini Girl said...

Oh heather- I am here with my hug- waiting fo ryou guys in ny.

I am sorry this is happening. None of it is easy. I wish I could help in some way, but this is something that she will need to outgrow. the positive in this is that she is growing and gaining weight- she could not have. We must always look for a positive.

Greg said...

I hope your little girl continues to gain weight. She is a sweetie. Keep up the good work.

Aunt Becky said...

Oh sweetie, I'm sorry. I know how scary it is.

Give Miss M a smootch and tell her to breathe DEEPLY. 'Cause you know, she'll listen to me.

Amy said...

Oh I am so sorry.....snuggle and cry sounds like a good plan for now.

I am thinking of you guys....

Hang in there girls (and Mike!). Brighter days are ahead!

Mommy's Boot Camp said...

WOW.. I'm so glad you are set up at home now so that you avoided another hospitalization. You must have a GREAT man there, I know how hard it is not to be there when your little one goes to the dr, but it sounds like Mike gets you all the answers to questions you have. You guys are a GREAT TEAM!!

Anonymous said...

Oh man, Heather, that sucks. I'm glad to hear that you're spared one more hospital stay, but I cannot imagine how hard it must be to listen to Maddie struggling to breathe on a regular basis. Cate's asthma flare-ups are few & far between (thank God), but they still distress me to no end.

Congrats on the weight gain. You're gonna have to bust out those 3-6 month size onesies any day now. :-)

Stacy said...

Okay, so I was just whining to my husband because Avery has roseola and has been an itchy feverish crying mess for four days and I'm about to lose my mind.

And then I read this.

You and Mike are amazing. I'm so sorry that Maddie has to go through all this, but think how lucky she is to have y'all to go through it with her. Your family is inspiring, and I know y'all are gonna pull through amazingly well.

Tigriswillreign said...

I wish there was something I could do for you. The impotence of on-lookers.

The Spohr saga has proven Maddie to be a sweet, happy baby despite her hardships. It has also proven that her parents are witty survivors despite ongoing heartache. I'm rooting for you and your princess. All laud true heroes!

Anonymous said...

Heather - I found your blog via BHJ who was my husband's college roommate. I am not savvy for the blogoshpere but thought I could offer you a ray of hope. My daughter was diagnosed with RSV when she was seven months old, five years of breathing treatments, sleeping in oxygen tents, pleading with God to trade my life for hers followed, I could go on but you know the drill. What inspired me is Maddie's smiling pictures, I have pictures of Kaetlyn smiling and laughing with tubes stuck in every part of her body. I just wanted you to know the hope for the future. Today Kaetlyn is a beautiful (albiet tiny) smiling, laughing highschool cheerleader, still loved by all, always happy, fills my heart with joy. Reading your blog brought back memories I forgot, but my daughter I see today fills me with pride and joy. I know someday you will feel the same. Gosh I hope I am not too sappy. But it is just so hard not to be when it is your child.

Rachel said...

I can't even imagine what you are going through right now.

Hang in there!

Danielle said...

Oh Heather. This sucks! I'm so sorry. Seeing your baby struggle is truly the worst ever.

I'll be thinking of you and your little rock star. Invite a glass of wine to your snuggle... you deserve it.

Nanette said...

Lots of healthy thoughts coming your way!

BabyonBored said...

Although we email privately, you know I'm with you through this shit time. Maddie will get better. But I'm sorry. It's not supposed to be this hard with your first baby. You aren't supposed to be worried about all these things. I'm here if you ever need to talk day or night. Unfortunately...night.

moosh in indy. said...

Darlin.
Think of the amazing abs she'll have from all the heavy breathing? She'll never have to look for a core on Craigslist like we have to.
Heh.
Did that work?
Pumpkin Ravioli?