McKenna's Hospital Update!

Hello Friends...I'm home from the hospital for about three hours so I can get a shower, a short nap and do a load of laundry or two!! I wanted to give you all a quick update on McKenna. As my sister Amy already posted, McKenna has the flu and was admitted to the hospital because of her fever and because she is not gaining weight (she still isn't back to her birth weight). The good news is that McKenna's fever has not gotten any worse, it is maintaining around 100.7 It did spike up to 102 early this morning, but we got that under control. She is really congested, but it hasn't moved to her lungs. I must say, McKenna looks really cute in her little hospital gown!
McKenna is in an isolation room (which is actually really nice because we don't have to have any roomates and it cuts down on the number of people who come in the room), so anyone who comes in the room has to wear gloves, a mask and a gown.
Since I've already been exposed to all McKenna's germs and she's been exposed to mine, I don't have to follow all the isolation rules!! Can you tell I only got 2 hours of sleep?
Auntie Amy works in the Summit Health building right behind the hosoital so she walks over to visit McKenna on her lunch breaks and after work!! She loves taking care of her little niece!


It would be easy for me to go on and on about how this past week has been one of the worst weeks of my life, but it's also been a week of real growth for me!! When the pediatrician first told me that we should admitt McKenna to the hospital I cried, like any mom would do, but the amazing thing is how calm I have felt about the whole thing. I don't feel stressed out or worried about McKenna and to be honest that really surprises me (This is definitely evidence that people are praying for us - thank you). I am not usually a very calm person in times of crisis. I usually am the one calling the glass half empty, but over the last few months I have seen tangible evidence of God's faithfulness in the lives of those in my family. God has proven his love and faithfulness to us in so many ways and I know that he's doing that even through this situation. Things could be a lot worse. I was actually relieved when McKenna was diagnosed with the flu and not RSV or meningitis or something worse. McKenna is the tiniest patient on the peds floor, but she is also the healthiest. She doesn't need an IV because she been eating more. She doesn't need oxygen because all her saturations levels are within normal range. She hasn't even gotten any Tylenol!! She's a tough little cookie and even though we will probably spend at least one more night in the hospital, I feel confident that she will be fine in just a few days!!

Please keep praying. Pray that her fever doesn't go any higher. And pray that she continues to feed well. Also please pray for wisdom for Ryan and I as we have to make decisions on testing and medication, etc. for McKenna. There are a lot of conflicting opinions about caring for an infant this tiny and it's difficult sometimes to feel confident about the decisions we have to make.

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:
1. All the dear friends who have been bringing us meals!
2. Brian, Angie, Devon and Taryn for taking care of Christian...what a blessing to know that he's safe and happy even when we can't be with him.
3. Zac and Julie...I've been thinking about you guys a lot over the last 24 hours and everything you've gone through with all of your hospital stays with Olivia. You guys have set a great example of how to handle trials with strength and grace. Thinking about Olivia has put this little hospital visit in perspective for me!! (You can check out Olivia's story on their blog link on the right hand side of this page).
4. To everyone who has been praying...thank you!

"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matthew 21:22