Viral Meningitis

So last week on Monday and Tuesday was one of the most bazaar 2 days of my life... out of no where I hit a temp of 103 degrees and got very sick. I had a awful head ache and I just ached all over, the slightest touch bothered me . I got so dizzy- I felt so bad for Monkey because he walked in and I had layed on the ground lifeless haha and toys were everywhere, a blanket was on my head that Belle so lovingly put on me to help me, Paige was still in her stroller, and the kids were running wild for I think a couple hours- I was so out of it I just layed there. Monkey walked into this beautiful sight and tried to walk me upstairs and I completely passed out and wet my pants- as embarrassing as that is I did. I got in bed my body was burning up and I could not get warm I was shaking because I was so cold.... anyways long story short I was really sick for 2 days and got better very quickly I believe on pure prayers of my family and friends!


Now to the important part... all last week I was getting pretty concerned about Paige... All through each night she for some reason could not get comfortable. She had major gas and would cry in pain every time I would move her. I thought something was up but just thought she was having major pain with gas. I tried eating really good so whatever I was eating wouldn't bother her, but it didn't seem to help. So 11:30pm this last Tuesday night Paige all of a sudden spiked a 103 temp herself. I got really worried I tried to console her the best I could. Finally around 4:30am I called the doctor and she told me a temperature for a baby under 2 months is not a good sign and to rush her into the ER....


So I grabbed clothes and panic stricken drove to the ER... Poor Paige was just screaming- the only way to get her to calm down was if I held her close to my face and talked to her. I have no idea how to explain how I felt, as dramatic as this is I felt as if someone was ripping my heart out of my chest. My heart went out to every parent that has had to do this with their child. The nurses gave her and iv and the pain Paige was feeling was so severe... I could barely keep it together watching the nurses try to take blood samples...


So hours of testing and trying to figure out what was going on with Paige- her temp dropped a bit so we were sent home. During the next hours at home Paige got worse and her body turned the color of a lobster. She was burning up... I called the doctor telling them even with medicine her temp was getting higher. They told me to get to the ER immediately... They warned me that this was not good, they said usually infants that have a temperature that won't break or won't get better with medicine means they have a bacteria, which could be deadly. They obviously told me that it also could be something viral.


As quick as possible I got things together and our neighbor James came over to help Monkey give our sweet Paige another blessing. As we were about to begin my good friend Kristen stopped by. Absolutely I believe Heavenly Father sent her. All of us in the room James gave Paige a blessing. Paige could not stop screaming. The touch of Monkey and James's hands on her head hurt her so bad. Looking at my baby like this I felt as if I were going to break apart. I started covering my face in shear panic and Kristen came and hugged me while she was crying, which saved me from loosing it completely.


After the blessing Kristen told us to leave and Belle and Cash would be taken care of no matter how long. We booked it back to the ER and more test began. The nurses gave her another iv... I started to notice that Paige every time she was being touched would start rapidly shaking almost like she was having a seizure or something. Poor Monkey could not handle it, he could not take her being in any pain and almost passed out. The doctor came in to do a spinal tap on Paige and Monkey left the room and went into a little room where he could not hear her cry. I stayed and held Paige's hands and talked right into her face... I could not hold back my  tears. She just stared at me, tears pouring down her face, and her look I don't think I will ever forget.


The nurses started Paige on a medicine that completely kills any bacteria in the body. After we headed upstairs to stay in the hospital for 48 hours or longer if needed to finish up her 48 hour bacteria killing antibiotic and wait for her test results. After things were settled Monkey went home. That night Paige cried in pain... the nurses had to come do vitals every hour and came in more and more to make sure her temp wasn't getting higher. I held Paige so close... praying my heart out. I know Heavenly Father was with us because I told my Mom what was going on and seconds later got text after text of family and friends saying they were praying for Paige or they called the temple to put her name on the prayer roll.


Paige got through the night but her temperature was still so high. This was 30 plus hours now of a straight temperature. I somehow felt peace, I knew she was going to be okay. I held her little out control heated body all day just waiting for some kind of answer to what was happening. Belle and Cash came to visit. It was so hard for Belle to see Paige like that... she cried when she saw Paige's iv. Cash was more interested if the hospital had a snack he could eat! I felt so sad for Monkey it was his birthday... They left and Monkey couldn't take being away from Paige and came back that night. I ordered him a hummus plate! Happy Birthday Monk. He did get a great gift though that night Paige's temp dropped a bit. 

The next day the Doctor came in to tell me some results that came from the spinal tap. He told me Paige had Viral Meningitis. I had no clue what that even was. He explained that Viral Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, it is a a largely benign disease. He told me the symptoms of this are High fever, Severe headache, Neck and shoulder pain, Sensitivity to light, Confusion, Sleepiness, Seizures, sensitivity to touch, etc. I told him about my sickness the week before and he told me I had Viral Meningitis and most likely passed it to her. I felt so horrible- I obviously cried. He said he would like to continue to keep Paige in the hospital over night and through the next day because he does not know if she also had the bacteria meningitis on top of the viral. So we played the waiting game.

The next day Paige's fever broke!!!! She was so happy. She even smiled at all the people checking her vitals. Paige was getting better. I was 99% sure she did not have the Bacteria Meningitis. So we spent the day watching Bonanza and the I love Lucy show, eating veggie burgers, and sippin down some grape juice! I was so ready to take Paige home, but I don't think as ready as Monkey was to get Paige home. The results came and she was bacteria free and we were free to go home. Monkey got to the hospital came in the room, I was changing Paige's diaper- Monkey basically pushed me aside and finished changing her diaper and just hugged her. 


We finally got home... 3 days later! Home never felt so good! I came home to freshly picked black berries (from fun Aunt Kristen, Belle calls her),  freshly picked purple flowers thanks to Belle and Cash, Dinner made and brought by Julie, and Joleane my friends incredible homemade bread! I found out that when I left my family had meals brought (Karen, Julie, Susy!) to them every night and my kids taken care of (Kristen/Joleane) when Monkey had to take a final. 


Even though I never what to go through that again I will always be grateful for what I learned... I have some seriously SELFLESS incredible friends and family! I can't thank them enough for being there for my kids and husband when I could not. Or coming as quick as possible to give Paige a blessing (James). What stress and burden that was lifted when I did not have to worry one bit about home. Thank you all so much! I feel like I am forever in their debt! I am seriously overwhelmed by the power of prayer and the love of family. My family held a fast for us and I got hundreds of texts and phone calls telling me that we were in thoughts, prayers, and so willing to help with anything no matter how crazy the request. I have found a heart tugging respect (if that makes sense) and my heart goes to those families that have had their children in the hospital- I will be praying everyday for those in the hospital and for their families. I have had my testimony grow so much. My Heavenly Father is so aware of me and my family and especially my little Paige! He is aware of everyone. 

 This picture was taken after her fever broke. Paige was so much more happy. The nurses had to put a cast thing over her iv arm because Paige would brake the boards that were holding her arm straight.

 Here are my well groomed children coming to visit their sister! They both looked homeless. Well Monkey didn't look much better... haha sorry babe! And Belle's hair looked like a rats nest and smelt like one too, except Cash did smell like baby lotion. I guess he poured half the bottle on his face earlier that day! Monkey just laughed and said, "Well at least we had fun!"

 Happy Birthday Monkey! Have a hummus plate!

When we got home I could only hold Paige to feed her. Monkey would not let her out of his sight. It was almost like he couldn't find peace without holding her, knowing she was okay. This whole thing was very hard for him, very hard. I can only imagine how he felt not being able to be by Paige's side. That would almost be harder. I am so grateful though that he was able to be home with the kids. I thank his teachers and clinic people for being so understanding!