our second hospital stay

our first hospital stay, of course, started the day Eden was born and ended the very next day. just about one month later, we had our second hospital stay (this time 48 hours). the morning of Friday, Nov 21st, i took Eden's temperature because she was feeling warmer than usual (she had been feeling rather warm for about a week). 100.4. the cut off for when it is an emergent situation for a newborn. so, i went to the pediatrician, and they sent me to the ER at CHOA Egleston, and they administered all the necessarily tests in a situation like ours. little baby Eden got a catheter to collect sterile urine, an IV to draw blood samples (and for the later antibiotics and fluids), and a lumbar puncture (the nice way to say spinal tap!). i wasn't prepared for any of this when i left for the pediatrician. i especially wasn't prepared to not leave the hospital again until Sunday evening. it was all such a shock.

when they examined baby girl, they found a rash all over but (of course) no fever. but they still had to move forward with everything in case she had some kind of bacterial infection that (in such little newborns) could quickly become a life-threatening condition. they administered serious antibiotics, and even anti-virals for a potential herpes simplex infection. i'm praying that all these interventions don't affect her long-term.

from the beginning, all the nurses and doctors reassured us that it probably was nothing more than a simple viral infection, and in the end, all her tests did come back negative (PTL!). it's too bad it was all for no real reason, but i thank God that we did go, because if it hadn't been nothing, we would have been wrecked. we already love that girl so much.

overall the hospital stay wasn't so bad. the first night was great, with excellent care. i think it actually the best night's sleep i've had since E was born (because i think i could really rest knowing that staff were watching over Eden). the second night E and i didn't get much sleep because of a grumpy nurse and a tech who CHANGED A SLEEPING NEWBORN'S DIAPER. E, of course, woke up screaming. that was probably the low point in the whole hospital stay, to be honest with you. so, not bad.

also, they give free food to nursing moms. so. that's cool.