Pneumonia

We have had a hard couple of weeks. About two and a half weeks ago, Ben came home from a friend’s home not feeling well. The next day he had a mild fever but was overall not feeling too bad. So he took it easy for a few days. He had a mild fever for about four days but as the fever went away he began to develop a bad cough. I thought it was just a cold.

As much as we wished Ben hadn’t been sick, we were feeling really grateful because no one else seemed to have any similar symptoms. But then a couple days later, Lydie got hit with it. She got hit around midnight one night and was so very sad. She had a much higher fever than Ben ever did. The next day was filled with snuggles, trying to make her comfortable, and trying to keep her fever down. That night, as I was giving her nightly medications, I checked her fever again and she was 103.4.

I had Mark go down and pick up Jacob from his church activity early and I got a bag ready for Lydie to take her down to the emergency room. Mark called the hospital and explained the situation and asked if he could come in a little later to work. Bless our other kids. Jacob was such a champ and took over things at home. Sarah and Ben were really worried about Lydie. Poor Ben was just pacing back and forth and kept going into his room to pray. It was so sweet and tender and heartbreaking all at the same time. He was so worried about his sister.

We drove Lydie down to the emergency room and they ran all the usual tests and she was negative for flu, COVID, and strep. They basically just told us it was something viral and to do our best with the medications we were already doing to try and keep her fever down.

The kids were so wonderful here at home. We came back about two hours later and Jacob had cleaned the kitchen and Sarah and Ben had been playing a game. They told us they had prayed together for Lydie. It was such a tender moment. These kids love their sister so much. And I was so proud of them for being brave and taking care of one another so that we could focus on Lydie. They were so relieved that we didn’t have to stay at the hospital.

Mark left to go to work and I tried to get everyone settled for the night. It was another long night for Lydie. Even alternating medications every three hours wasn’t enough to keep her fever down. I was “Google-ing” all the natural ways to help bring it down and spent another night with her, keeping a cold washcloth on her forehead, giving her a warm bath, and trying to help her sleep.

This level of fever went on for about for three days. It was really stressful. I was so worried about it sending her into a seizure. It was such a tender mercy that it didn’t. The fever continued but it was much less scary and more mild. Lydie even seemed like she was perking up a little bit and I had lots of hope that the worst was behind us.

But then that night the coughing set in. It’s always so hard when Lydie gets anything respiratory. Her little body just doesn’t have the energy to cough things out as well. So the following morning, I decided to take Lydie and Ben into her pediatrician. I wasn’t really worried about Ben, but since I was taking Lydie in and he still had his cough, I decided to get him checked as well.

Ben is a bit of a worrier. He was not happy that I was taking him in – mostly because he was just worried there would be something wrong. The doctor examined him first and pretty quickly told us that it was “walking pneumonia”. His response, “This day just got a whole lot worse.” Oh boy.

She then checked Lydie and it was confirmed that she had it as well.

Ben really was doing okay at this point beside his cough and the doctor prescribed him an antibiotic. There was a lot more concern about Lydie. Her oxygen levels were not great – her fever had been a lot more intense – and there was concern about her body fatiguing and not being able to cough. We decided to put her on the antibiotic and do breathing treatments as needed (and as she would tolerate them).

It was amazing how quickly Ben’s cough went away. I think he just needed that little extra boost to kick it out. He says he still feels like he gets tired more quickly but I am sure he will just get stronger and stronger each day.

Lydie’s course was harder. I was measuring her oxygen and it was not great. I was unsure about what point I needed to get help. She was really struggling to cough. It was so hard for her and she would end up making herself throw up. By this time, luckily Mark was off of work, so he slept with Lydie on the worst night and kept her propped up so that she could cough and breathe more easily.

But we have finally turned a corner and are finally feeling better! We are so grateful that it wasn’t worse than it was and that we were able to manage things at home even if we are all feeling pretty worn out. Hoping for healthier bodies in our future!