Gracie is home!

It is with great pleasure that I report we are all sleeping under the same roof tonight! Gracie was discharged late this afternoon.

Gracie was definatively diagnosed with the H1N1 virus. The doctors wanted to make sure that there was a cause related to her increased seizure activity and the high fevers assocaited with the H1N1 virus are clearly the cause. Her lungs remain clear so there is no respiratory factor for Grace. In my mind this was one of the most worrisome symptoms as this was the factor cited with so many of the childhood deaths assocatied with this flu. Thankfully, Gracie was not hit with this complication.

Gracie is generally miserable and cranky. I would expect this from any sick three-year old. She is getting headaches from the flu and an upset stomach from the TamiFlu and the anti-seizure sedative. It is not plesant for her - but not life threatening either. She can be comforted and wants to snuggle up and be carried about. It is nice to be able to do something to ease her.

Gracie was not drinking enough and she would not be released until she was taking sufficient fluids on her own. Last night, I was in the kitchen area and noticed the infant bottles. I took one in to her and filled it with her 'juice' (keto version) and she lit up. She quickly sucked down a full bottle - all two ounces of it! That is how we got her to drink enough fluid on her own. She went to bed tonight with her little bottle and a small smile.

To complicate matters, Grace was discharged while I was off with Rita to her eye doctor appointment. Rita started having problems with blurry vision from time to time. She got checked out at the pediatrician and then recommended for follow-up with the eye doctor. Well, Rita is getting glasses. She was very pleased about that. Anyhow, while she was getting her exam done and picking out her new frames, Tom was calling to have us come pick he and Gracie up at the hospital. Rita and I finished up and raced down to get them. Gracie needed some prescriptions filled but we missed the pharmacy at the hospital - they closed about 15 minutes before we all arrived. We took her prescriptions to the local pharmacy but they don't have any TamiFlu - let alone at the dose she needs. We managed with the other scripts. So we need to run back down to the hospital in the morning to get the TamiFlu prescription filled. She needs the next dose by 10:00 AM. The drug store said flu medicines are very hard to get and to keep stocked. Fortunately, we can get them at CHOP.

Thanks for checking in on us!