Three Days

Three days seems like a lifetime when you're waiting for the weekend but for us it wasn't enough time. After just three days of having Annalise home we had to rush her to the hospital because she was having a really hard time breathing and eating at the same time. We thought we would be there for a day maybe two but our trip quickly turned into the scariest experiences of my life.

We checked in at 1:30 am on January 2 and we were quickly moved in because RSV season was in high alert. Annalise was seen by the head respiratory therapist who suctioned her nose and mouth to clear anything out, she didn't think there was going to be much because she didn't sound bad but within minutes we were all proven wrong. I watched and held my little girl's hand as they worked on her to help her breath, she cried every step of the way and would only stop for a second when she saw I was next to her. It broke my heart to see her cry and I cried right along with her.

After minutes of suctioning and crying it was very apparent that Annalise's oxygen level was dropping she was given oxygen but with each doctor that came in to see her we were soon told that she would have to be admitted and they were going to have to put her on a CPAP machine. Once again we would have to see her with machines hooked up to her but this time seemed worse. I tried to pull my self together but the more I looked down at the gurney and saw my little girl in so much pain the more tears just fell from my face.

Our little one endured so much while she was in the hospital first her IV was put in wrong and the nurse insisted I was wrong, then the CPAP machine was bothering her so much and she was fighting it that they had to sedate her. After the first night and a change in nurses I made it a point to have the IV checked and sure enough I was right... they removed it because she had a second one put in by the NICU PICC specialist and she had done an amazing job that the first one was taken out and within minutes you could see a change in Annalise, she was comfortable and happy once again.

The CPAPA machine was removed after a couple of days and then we received the okay to feed her and for the first time in days I was able to hold my little girl in my arms and once again tell her everything was going to be okay she just had to fight.

Annalise spent 5 days at the hospital and I spent every minute both day and night with her I wasn't going to take any chances that something else would go wrong. Like a little fighter that she is Annalise kicked the bronchiolitis' butt, she had picked it up from the doctor's office 2 days before when we had taken her for an "introduction" to her pediatrician (we changed locations and thus doctors).

Annalise came home on December 29th... doctor's visit on December 30th and then at the children's hospital on January 2nd with bronchiolitis... Our little one was keeping us on our toes.

December 30

Hating the CPAP

Feeling better but still swollen

Showing off her new hat

Annalise with her turtle that Daddy bought her while she was in the hospital... Finally going home.


Annalise was finally discharged and we were told to keep a close eye on her and if there were any changes to bring her in right away... well she made it exactly a month to the day before we were back again but this time she wasn't as bad. She only had to have a breathing treatment and some x-rays and we were able to take her home that same day apparently because of how small she was it took her body over a month to fully get rid of the bronchiolitis.

We have definitely had our share of hospital and doctor's visits but I'm happy to report that Annalise is doing great and brighting up our world with her smile each and every day.

December 29th

The day we brought Annalise home was one of the happiest days of my life, I was so excited to finally bring our little one home but not before spending the entire day at the NICU going through paper work, tests and of course last minute supplies. I remember looking at the clock and thinking okay NOW can I take her home... it was definitely a long day. In the last hour of double checking we had everything and last minute questions being answered all of a sudden I was scared... what if something happened? I was so use to hearing the beeping of the machines and being able to see where her heart rate was and how her oxygen level was that I wasn't sure what to expect once we got home. I was scared of the unknown but with Marco in hand we sad good-bye to what had been Annalise's home for 59 days and stepped out into the world...

Annalise's Home for 59 days

All bundled up and ready to go

Thank you Erin!!!

Off we go... little did we know that the first week we won't get more than 1-2 hours of sleep at a time. It took us all some time to get use to things but in the end it was all worth it.