Hannah’s Annual Cardiology Appt

That time of year - annual Cardiology appointment. Last year’s appointment threw us for a loop so the past 24 hours have made my stomach flip.

We were up at 5am, out the door at 6am. Echo was at 7am - we decided to roll the dice and not sedate her this year. Hannah was quite cooperative - woo! Tim held her arms while I tirelessly sang songs for a good 20 minutes straight. The room was dim and twinkle lights moved on the ceiling so that helped. 

Her EKG was quick and easy and Dr. Kimball came on in around 8:15am. He has a very straight face - which I imagine most Cardiologists learn - and after listening to her heart, he started out “Well, I’m very happy with how things look...” THANK THE LORD. I said “Oh thank goodness, I was so anxious,” and Dr. Kimball looked very sympathetic and said “Oh I’m sorry!” It was reassuring that he was concerned about my comfort : )

Hannah’s valve leakage is stable at “moderate,” even a slightly bit better. Dr. Kimball thinks a re-repair is unlikely, but not guaranteed. If the leakage stays stable for years, then we would likely be in the clear. If that path was constant, we could also consider going off her blood pressure meds. 

SO - a very good morning with lighter shoulders. 

It’s Always March: Hannah’s Dehydration

I can always guarantee I - or someone in our home - gets sick in March. Not in December - February when most people get the flu. WHICH thankfully we did not get, but nevertheless, no illness is a ball of fun.

Sunday evening, as Spring Break was ready to start, Nora was feeling yucky and had a small fever. Monday she woke with a 101˚ fever and cough. I stayed home that day. Tim stayed home Tuesday. Wednesday she was fair to get back to the sitter’s (whom I already had to pay a full week to watch BOTH girls). 

Thursday late morning I get a call that Hannah has thrown up. Son of a gun. I pick the girls up by 11am. Hannah threw up a bit of blueberries. She didn’t seem too down, only slightly clingy, no fever. “Only” threw up some peas once more at 6pm. She slept fine all night. 

Friday then went to my parents and had a pretty regular, fun day. Saturday we woke up and something was off with Hannah. Could not even lift her head up and continually asked for water.  

Regular fun day at Grammy’s!

After watching her for a while, we realized she was most likely dehydrated and took her to Cincy Children’s Liberty Campus (we did this on purpose because it’s much quieter) by 9am. We got right in and after some bloodwork - which she didn’t even fight - her labwork showed definite dehydration and her glucose levels were down to 38 - real bad. 

Nora was a champ after being gone for nine hours : (

They hydrated her through an IV and the next set of numbers was better - glucose up to 110. Her third reading unfortunately went back down to 68 which was cause to keep Hannah overnight to monitor since her blood sugar wasn’t stabilizing. The on-duty pediatrician said if it kept at a level of concern, an Endocrinologist would need to get involved - that set me on edge. She had no growth concerns, but in the back of my head I thought “Diabetes?!”

Better, but not enough to be released.

Heading to our room for the night.

Since I did the sleep study, Tim said he’d stay the night with Hannah. I took Nora home after hitting Kroger for snacks for both Hannah and Paleo Tim (that’s till an epic tale for another day). I took Nora home and tried to settle for the night. Oh, and get Easter baskets ready because Sunday was Easter. 

Thank heavens Hannah’s evening glucose level went back up to 110. That number stayed steady through the next morning. I dropped Nora off at Nana & Papa’s so I could hop to Children’s for Hannah’s hopefully-soon-discharge. 

The poor thing had an IV in her hand for over 24 hours, her hair was greasy from eating veggie straws, and her PJs were dirty. The RN did one last glucose read after being OFF fluids and Hannah was stable - we were out the door in under 30 minutes! Happy Easter!

I hope we never go through that again and have learned our lesson to keep the girls hydrated after illnesses, too !