Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend 2006 was spent preparing for Zoe. Its hard to believe it was a year ago, but I went for an ultrasound that Saturday because I was measuring small and the doctor thought we should make sure everything was ok. I was about 36 weeks and the concern was that Zoe was an IUGR (intra-uterine growth restriction) baby. Basically it looked like my placenta was wearing out and Zoe was not getting nourished. This could also potentially cause a stillbirth baby. The ultrasound did not have the greatest results so I got sent to the hospital for a non-stress test. That came back ok, but the doctor was considering bedrest so Paul and I went shopping and bought lots of groceries "just in case".

Thankfully I never had to go on bedrest, but I did have to go to the hospital once a week for non-stress tests and to EVMS for a high-risk pregnancy ultrasound. That in itself was interesting since they could actually measure the blood flow from me to Zoe. Anyway long story short, it was after the ultrasound at EVMS that the doctor decided to induce at 38 weeks. And her birth is another story in itself, but it definitely made for an interesting holiday last year.

So for Labor Day 2007 I had a pretty boring weekend planned--run the vaccuum, catch up on everything I was behind on, take it easy, etc. God saw fit to alter my plans. Friday morning Zoe just wanted to be held which was rather unusual. Normally she is squirming to get down and play. I didn't really think too much about it at first--just thought maybe she was tired or it was her reflux. We had taken her to the doctor a few weeks ago because she had started waking every 2-3 hours and would not settle down during the night. This had been getting progressively worse as she got older (I have since read that often happens as more food gets added to their diets). We had stopped treating for reflux after the milk and soy allergies got resolved and she stopped throwing up as much, but her pediatrician thought we should start treating it again as well as get some labs done. All the tests came back normal (praise God!) and the medicine worked wonders. Zoe slept all night the very first day we gave it to her. But I digress. By Friday afternoon Zoe had a fever. I called the doctor on Saturday and they told me to monitor her and call in on Tuesday if she wasn't any better. I did nothing but hold Zoe all weekend. She wouldn't sleep unless she was with me, so I took naps whenever she did since we were up and down all night. Monday I thought she was getting a little better, so we went to my parents for a cook-out. Monday night she thrashed around and cried and I couldn't get her calmed down (until we left for the hospital) so we took her to the CHKD emergency room.

We spent all night there while they checked for a urinary tract infection, ear infection, chest x-ray, etc. This involved a catheter which they missed on the first try and had to be repeated an hour later. Finally they determined it was a virus and told us to follow up with the doctor the next day. I'm glad we have a children's hospital locally, but it was much more reassuring to see the pediatrician the next day. She told us it was a GI virus that was lasting about 6-7 days. The big concern was that Zoe had not had a wet diaper for 12 hours, so we had to force her to drink from a syringe. The doctor wanted her to have 2 wet diapers by lunch the next day. She encouraged me to nurse her more since that had helped one of her other patients. Also, the doctor thought we were just getting to the worst of the virus. If she meant that's when Zoe would be the most miserable, she was right. Her tummy seemed to bother her more and she broke out in a rash all over her body. I was so thankful Wednesday morning when she wanted something to drink. And that was Labor Day 2007.


Zoe is finally over all the sickness although she's been a little cranky so I think she may be teething. Our next big event is preparing for her birthday on Sunday. We've selected a teddy bear theme and since Zoe likes spaghetti the menu was easy. I had hoped my child would not be such a picky eater, but the only vegetable she will tolerate is corn. Paul will feed her peas and green beans just to watch her spit them out (and to try to get her to eat them).


Below are a few pics of Zoe when she was sick. One nurse who did the successful catheter was so sweet. She gave Zoe the book she is playing with, got me a pillow so I could rest, and put on a Thomas movie for Zoe. She also sang to Zoe while we did the catheter and it calmed her down.