Lacy's ultra sound, VCUG on March 3rd, and ER trip March 6th

Count your blessings. And that little smile looking at you there is one of the HUGEST blessings I could ever receive. As she smiled so sweetly in the car on our way to the hospital that morning, looking at it now makes me cry every time I see it. This day was literally torture for all involved...but, the massive blessing in that HORRID experience...it ends there. My baby is healthy. At the end of this awful day, I could not help being over come with emotion for the babies/children who are seriously ill and have to endure invasive and painful treatments on a regular basis. Our ordeal lasted a week...and it is over. One LONG, horrible week filled with intense pain, screaming, and crying(from both Lacy and the grown-ups)...but it's over. Although enraging to think about the unnecessary pain Lacy endured, God has restored all of us in then end, and confirmed the blessing of general health He has given us.

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again." Psalms 71:20-21

This post has taken me awhile to finish for many reasons. But, most importantly I needed to wait until my emotions were stabilized so I could accurately express what I needed to from our experience. The other is due to how some of the test was administered, Lacy's pain extended 2 extra days longer than it should have and EVERYTHING stopped to help comfort her.








Lacy was not able to eat for 6 hours before her VCUG, and no liquids 2 hours before. So, I obviously made the appointment for first thing in the morning to get it over with. The best we could do was 9am ultra sound, and 10:30 VCUG. We were to try and have a full bladder for the ultra sound, but she was needing to hold it from 8:30-9am. An answered prayer was they were early and good thing, because Lacy just voiced 'I have to go wee mommy' and they called her back. The gentleman admistering the ultrasound was great, he was SO incredibly fast getting all the pictures he needed with a full bladder, then we stepped into a very close bathroom and Lacy was able to relieve herself. Then back we went for a few more. Lacy really enjoyed this part, looking on the screen and laying on the special bed. This part went perfect, all those details we prayed for-answered.
Silly Lacy, blankie on head and special purple glove on hand. She is all done with this part!



Now, the anxiety kicked in, the next part could be hard. We were done super fast with that part and Lacy was getting a little cranky-a very hungry little girl. Thankfully, in the waiting room there was a kid section set up with a tv in there playing all sorts of fun shows that Lacy totally enjoyed.(the second picture a shot through the glass where ma'am was sitting with Lacy in the tiny room:) To my great suprise they called us back barely after 9am! So we were filled in and then had some waiting to do before they were ready to begin. They had a viewfinder that Lacy loved...so hilarious watching her react to the fun photos inside! The new toys helped keep her mind off her growling tummy and passed the time.



















How hilarious is that gaping mouth at what she is seeing! So cute.







Time had come. Lacy was to get in her 'pretty dress' with sea animals on it and she also got an anklet with all her info on it. Mommy got one on her wrist:) Soon after the nurse came back with a drug that does not help at all with pain, but relaxes the little ones and also makes their memory a bit fuzzy. When that medicine kicked in, we all were laughing so hard we were crying. It was a giggly, happy, DRUNK Lacy. Slurry words, then laughing in a drunk way because she could not get her thoughts out. That was quite the tension breaker....short lived.






This next photo rippes me up inside looking at that last smile, before the torture. Sweet, precious, INNOCENT little smiling face.
I do not think I can really talk about everything that happened when the test started. Mom and I held Lacy's hands, the nurse put in a catheter that was too big, where Lacy SCREAMED and sobbed, mom and I having to restrain her in the midst of her unnecessary pain. The doctor told me, the catheter will feel like a injection....and down there that is not exactly the best place for that. BUT, it's even worse when it's too big. SO, now Lacy is completely upset and in pain and we have to try AGAIN. And, that did not well either, it was not just poof- in. Mom and I tried comforting her, as she was screaming. Now...once the catheters are in, they are not supposed to hurt, but Lacy did NOT recover. And being that she is 2, it was very hard to tell if Lacy was just upset and scared or if she was in constant pain. And...now I had to leave my baby screaming in pain and walk away. Awful. I could not see her as my mom and eddy were attempting to hold her down and prevent her from ripping the catheter out. I just listened to her screams and tried to monitor if she was mad from being restrained, scared, hurting...and honestly I think it was all of the above. Unfortunately, the test was not as fast as the ultra sound. I can't tell you how long because all I was focused on was Lacy's screaming and if I needed to step in and stop it. It got almost unbearable for all when they filled her bladder with the contrast and plugged it so she would not go. That is quite uncomfortable, and if the catheter and or tape was still hurting her...a lot for a little one to handle. Then, they had to move Lacy around and get her in the correct position-terrible ear-peircing screams at this point. Finally Lacy was able to relieve herself. But for some reason she was RAGING. I came in shortly there after and Lacy was unbelievably agitated. I had already suspected, but the nurse said Lacy was having an adverse effect to the sedative. AH.....YEAH.

So, I did not even so much as look at the doctor, but rushed to the hysterical Lacy as he was explaining that it did not look like Lacy showed any immediate signs of reflux, but they would be taking another closer look. Eddy and my dad were listening to what he was saying. Mom and I were wrestling the gown off of Lacy and just trying to get as little back on her that we needed to leave. I knew the drugs were really affecting her as she did not calm down for a popsicle and usually she would SNAP out of anything for a treat. There was some chatter, but I said- time to go! I scooped up a FAILING, kicking/pushing/screaming Lacy in my arms- cradle style and out we all went. My dad was trying to rush to get the van for us, and Eddy and mom had all of our stuff. Eddy was so worried about me carrying Lacy due to being so pregnant....but I just WANTED MY BABY. I had to leave her through all of that, I did not care if she hurt my back...I wanted my baby-I HAD to leave her earlier, but I could be there now. And I knew she could not help it. So screaming I carried her all the way out of the testing area, through the waiting room and out to the car. A few minutes after we wrestled her into her car seat and drove back around to the front, Lacy in between heaves looks over at me and says
"I sorry mommy". I could not hold back tears at that point and tell her, 'it's ok, we were so proud of her-it's ALL done'. I was about to jump out since I had to use the restroom and Lacy bursts into tears "NO mommy, that Lady NOT nice mommy"-remembering the nurse that put in the catheters. I told her I was just going potty and she seemed 'ok'. I guess while I was in there, my dad went to inch forward and Lacy screamed "NO drive away Papa!" scared they were leaving without me.

I wish the worst was over, but it was not. Proper catheter insertion often causes irritation and intense burning when urinating for about 24 hours or less after it is removed. But, since Lacy was scratched more with the catheter that was too large...she was in big pain, all of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That being said, she was quite scraped up-more than normal...and especially more than was needed. My friend Erin said that anyone who really knows what they are doing with infant and toddler girls always knows to go VERY small for catheters. So for those next days, Lacy would cling to me and scream when she had to go-but attempting not to, resulting in a painful episode that would last for anywhere from a 1/2hr to an hour or more. Then after she just wanted me to hold her. Everything stopped during this time. I called the doctor on Wednesday morning as Lacy was a mess and I wanted to give her something for the pain. Nothing is FDA approved besides tylenol and motrin. GREAT. So, I started giving her that, but I do not think it helped much. I held a crying and screaming Lacy most of the day and then at night was so strung out, I could not wind down or fall asleep-exhausted from it all. So Friday morning, we seemed to be turning a corner...but not quite.

FRIDAY MARCH 6TH
I had one of my prenatal appointments and it was the screening for gestational diabetes. Since this takes longer than usual, I arranged for Lacy to head over to my friend Maria's house so she could play with Gabe and Hudson. Well, that morning all Lacy did was cry and push limits. I was EXHAUSTED by the time I dropped her off next door. I warned Maria that Lacy would be SUPER tired after our morning and away I went to my appointment. Lacy did fine while I was gone(Thank Maria, she just LOVES you!), but I could not believe how "tired" she looked. I came home and immediately tried to put her down for a nap. And guess what?! She went RIGHT to sleep! She did not even nap after tramatic tests on Tuesday with drugs...but she did this day. It was short and I was SOOOO tired by this point and all that had gone on from our week, I wanted to rest. So I scooped up Lacy and we went into my bedroom and I turned on Sesame Street and dozed. After I look over at Lacy, and I reach out and touch her...she was SUPER hot. Long story short, she had a fever of almost 103. As she was not fully recovered from her tests, I was to call if she came down with a fever of 101 or higher. Keep in mind, this was right at 5pm and the doctor's office was closed! I left a message for the doctor on call and then immediately called my friend Erin as I was so frazzled and a mess that this shook me up! While we were chatting the doctor beeped in.

The doctor wanted Lacy to go in to the Emergency Room to check for an infection and/or UTI and if not, also wanted her looked over with her fever while she was there. I called Eddy and we loaded up for the ER, not sure how busy or what we would be greeted with once there. We borrowed our neighbors portable DVD player and left for the ER. Thankfully, we were the only ones there-in the waiting room that is! We went back and had a wonderful nurse, who got all of the vitals from Lacy, then gave her a treat bag made from volunteers. Lacy immediately took a liking to the stuffed animal that was handmade in the bag. We got a urine sample from Lacy and you can see Lacy in that last photo, wearing her "tutu", flinging 'flip-floppy' around, and watching Barney on the DVD player, waiting for results.

So, Lacy was all clear from any signs of a UTI or infection, and the doctor looked her over since she did have a fever, but with NO other symptoms. We were instructed to overlap Tylenol and Motrin and if she got worse, bring her back. Well, by Saturday night, the viral symptoms appeared. The poor thing was not even fully recovered from her tests and came down with the worst bug she has EVER had, a congested chest cold with persistent fever. Lacy has been so healthy, that now at 2 and a 1/2 I had to call the doctor to see how long I could continue giving Lacy Tylenol and Motrin, since we have never been in this position before. That I think is an amazing blessing, such a healthy girl she has been!

So, here we are a week out and Lacy is still miserable, but better. Her fever was finally gone yesterday and she is slightly better. I have come down with a sore throat, little cough, and stuffy nose-but NO fever(as of yet). Eddy as of now, is also healthy.

Words can not express how thankful I am for my parents being there, helping, supporting all of us on that very difficult morning a week ago today. We love and thank you. The post below talks about recovery.