On Wed night, things made an ugly turn, and I was waken up by Mei Mei's cry. When I held her in my arm, she was literally a hot pot. I had to convince my medicine-aversive hubby that things was not rosy at all and we had to bring her to hospital. We settled for a specialist, as I did see his point that there would be trauma in hospital. We landed at Kinder Clinic at Gleneagles on Thursday morning. Dr Gong is new to us, but he seems a fine doctor to me. Temperature taken at 39.9 degree; Paracetomal given immediately even before Dr Gong has arrived; tests ran and a relief to know influenza is excluded; Nebulizer given to clear the airway. Then we sat down, and Dr Gong gave the option of hospitalisation vs monitoring at home. Panic, I opted for hospitalisation. To date, I still couldn't tell whether it was a right decision. My pool little girl has gone through such an ordeal in the hospital until she has stress induced motion every time a nurse enters the room. My heart aches...
Contacted insurer, obtained Letter of Guarantee, admitted. Another choice between single bed vs 2 bedder room. Luckily my company covers up to single room and guaranteed bills.
Ward West 9, Gleneagles, bed 935.
Thursdays afternoon: Mei Mei had difficulty to breathe as the phlegm was simply too much and too thick. Trauma No. 1: Nurses came to inform that they had to perform suction, in order to clear her airway and get phlegm for culture. My girl was forced to lie down, wrapped by bed sheet to restrain arms/legs swinging, catheter inserted, thick phlegm out, tears out, hers and mine...
Thursdays night: Mei Mei could barely sleep for more than 5 minutes in a row, as she would cough herself up. With Nubelizer, phlegm was loosened and there were large amount in the whole airway. She was either not able to cough out and triggered vomiting, or phlegm coughed out from nose and mouth and sad mum was covered by both vomits and mucus. I held my girl the whole night. The first night that we were all together by ourselves since Jun, where Han Jin had taken over Mei's place after the China trip. I always thought of having a big bed, so that I can have both my kids to me at night. Paracetomal, Neurophine, Volaren suppository, all given, fever was still out of control. At 5am, temperature turned 40.4 degree.
Friday morning: Trauma No. 2: Nurse called Dr Gong at 5am. It was then decided that antibiotics was required not only by oral, but also through IV. 7am, Mei Mei was brought to a procedure room, again, bed sheet wrapped her with just one arm out, for the IV. Ever being a nurse myself, I had days that giving IV to more than 20 kids in one morning. It was a job to the doctor and nurse involved. It is a heartbreaking moment for the parents involved. Mei Mei cried, mumbled, 'Mum, hold me, get up, auntie go, Mummy, help..'. I couldn't help her out, instead conspired with the medical staff to hold her down. I strolled my fingers through her hair, and tried to calm her down. She gave in struggling, just staring at me with tear-welled eyes. My poor girl, how sorry mummy is.
Dr Gong came at 8am and explained that Bronchitis had gone deeper, pneumonia might be looming. After the IV drip, we were wheelchaired to X-ray to check on the severity of lung infection. I had to go back to work for half day for some urgent project UAT testing. Daddy took the slot in the afternoon and testified Mei Mei was a bit better in the afternoon. Auntie Imelda was there during the day, helping out quite a fair bit, to relieve me from holding Mei as she now only sleeps on me or Imelda. In the evening, Han Jin came to visit and Mei was very happy to see Gege came and played in the corridor. Her mood was much lighter whenever Han Jin came to visit.
Friday night, the fever was largely under control, hovering around 38 to 38.5. She sleeps better, so did I, under her. She was terrified with nurses, and we agreed that I would take the temperature and tell the nurses instead of them coming in. At medicine rounds, we either played hide and seek in the corridor or ran a bit after each medicine given. For nubelizer, I played 'who wants to be an elephant' with her. I also picked up my nursing skill to adjust the nubelizer volume and resolve IV drip collusion, all to prevent the sight of a nurse to Mei Mei.
Saturday, things got better. We even went out for a limited tour in the hospital. The fish tank at Medical Center block entertained Mei a lot, and we sang 'Fishes, fishes, where are you' together. Normal medicine rounds, nubelizer, IV drip, and temperature controlled around 37 to 38 degree. Mei slept even better in her lovely green cot (probably the first time since birth that she had a near whole night in a cot) and I caught up some sleep on the sofa bed. I even read a little Straits Times while waiting for an update from the nurse. There was this motherly nurse for night shift who is very caring, and full of smile. A little gesture of always holding the door until it closes won my heart, as minimal noise was welcomed for Mei's sound sleep. A pity that I did not get her name.
Sunday morning, the IV was blocked when the drip was nearly finished. It has to be taken out before the antibiotics and saline goes into the tissue instead of vessel. The soft needle has apparently kinked since Mei became very active again on Sat. Dr Gong was called upon, and he decided to let us be discharged. In conclusion, he mentioned that there were early lung infection evidenced by the Xray and it responded well to the antibiotics. Mei was 80% recovered and we need to go back for follow up on Wed. We loaned a Nubelizer machine from the clinic, bagged our stuff, thanked the staff, signed discharge form, came back home, sweet home.
A summary assessment for Gleneagles West 9 ward: Satisfactory. Nurses are very nice and accommodating. Service staff are nice and puncture. Rooms can be bigger but have nice bathroom. Meals are delicious. The paintings in the corridor is a plus, cute, educational and loved by both my kids.
At home, we used my newly-bought Braun ear thermometer to measure Mei hourly. Temperature was below 37.5 on Sun, no fever medicine required. Temperature was below 37 on Monday, and was around 36.5 today. Oral antibiotics continued. Everything is rosy again. We are due for follow up with the clinic tomorrow, in fact, today.
It was such a relief that this ordeal has come to an end. As a mother, I don't know whether I had made all the right choice for my precious little one. But mummy try to make the best choice at all available means for my loved ones. Han Yue, Mummy love you so much! We work together to fend off any possibility of ordeal in the future, and Mum will always be there, sunny or rainy.
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| 瀚月在Angelina家 |
周日（1月9日）
早晨，瀚月在Angelina家玩的挺开心的，流一点小小鼻涕。下午，妹妹有一点发烧，去了一家诊所，因为是刚开始，没有诊断，给了发烧和咳嗽药。
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| 3 宝3连拍 |
周一 周二 周三（1 月10号 11 号 12 号）
拜一拜二妹妹症状不是很明显，我们其实也没有狠心逼她好好吃药。只是体温时高时低。回想起来，妹妹都是在晚上比较严重，可是我晚上没有跟妹妹睡，不知道情况。应该是更小心些的。周二早上，我还带她去另一家常去的诊所，医生也说肺部清晰，应该是病毒感染，体温应该在三四天内降下来。
周四 （1月13号）
拜三晚上我听到妹妹在哭，来到她的房间，抱起她，烫手的妹妹。挨到天明，和老公商量一定要送妹妹去医院了。老公是个对西医蛮反感的人，经常看了医生，却不让吃药。折中，大家同意带妹妹去看儿科专科医生。在鹰阁医院的龚医生诊所，妹妹的体温39.9度，护士很是吃惊，打给龚医生，直接先上了退烧药。医生来了，做了一些检查，决定住院。妹妹的痰很多很稠，做了几次雾化治疗，并不见好，呼吸都有困难。医生决定抽痰。很痛苦的过程，我可怜的女儿。
到了晚上，妹妹基本上不能睡超过5分钟，会咳醒。吐了3次。抱了一夜，放下的话，呼吸会堵住。我基本上是胃内容物和痰盂。早上5点，体温烧到了40.4度。护士打电话给龚医生，决定开始静脉点滴抗生素。
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| 雾化治疗 |
可能太大了，速度很慢，再续。
抱抱。。。可怜的妈妈和妹妹。。还好， 终于熬过来了。。向伟大的母爱致敬。。
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