The Tovington Post

So, on Monday Tova woke with croup.

Nissim was also a bit sick with a cold type thing. But not really bothered.

Tova was also not fussed, she was however as white as white could be and looked very much like a little vampire baby!

I gave her Pred and waited. I know that is what they would have done if I rushed her to hospital, because she didn't seem so bad that she would need adrenaline right away. So, we waited.

After two hours, she wasn't worse.

She spent the day watching Dvd's and eating.

No loss of appetite.

We nervously went to bed on Monday night, Nissim woke us about 300 times and Tova joined in a for a about 100 of those. Yuval and I were a touch tired on Tuesday.

I gave her Pred again on Tuesday morning.

I was in shock that we hand't called an Ambulance yet.. How strange.

We canceled all her therapy appointments, went for a walk around Caulfield park, ate sushi and Raffeteys in Chadstone and basically did nothing all day.

All Tuesday Tova was as white as a ghost, but ate us out of house and home.

Nissim was a little poohead and woke us another what seemed like billion times on Tuesday night. Tova woke a few times again. I think she slept in our bed for a while. But again, no hospital.

Wednesday, the croup cough was gone and replaced with a 'normal' cough, but it woudn't stop. I got scared and confused. So on Wednesday afternoon after a rosy faced Tova refused to eat her lunch, I took her to the ER. After waiting for an hour and  a half to see a doctor (I have never waited that long before, and I dind't mind at all, it is nice to be bored in there, better than the alternative). The doctor listened to Tova's lungs for a good 10 or so minutes. He said she had good air entry and that we could go home. Tova didn't have a massive temp and she was happy enough. And she had been drinking lots (not eating though).

Actually it was pretty strange to hear these words fall from my mouth with such confidence after the doctor asked me if Tova had  lost her appetite ..  "Oh, I don't care if she eats or not, she is sick, sick people don't eat".. What? haha, it was funny to hear myself say i don't care if she eats or not.. And truly mean it. What a milestone.

Another mile stone was being told we could go home after 3 hours of hosptial.

Tova had a good sleep last night, so did Nissim. I had a talk with Nissim about sleeping in his own bed all night and not calling out to adults.  It seemed to work. We all had a full night of sleep.

Tova woke pink and happy. Nissim seems to be completely well.

Tova went to playgroup and Nissim to swimming lessons then off with my mum for the day (and he sleeps there tonight).

Play group told me Tova had a good day. I took her to John her Bowen therapist. She was very happy to see him, and as always he lit up when Tova crawled through the door! They really love each other.

I think some of the potions that John has given me to give to Tova for her immune system and respiratory issues, must be working!

So, croup, sick and no hospital = happy me!

This could be it, the end of hospital days! Imagine that! Wonderful.

Tova is still a little off her food today but breathing well and not coughing at all.

Well, Tova has been fine during the days and coughing a little in the colder hours of the morning eg: from 5am onwards.

Once she is up, she stops coughing pretty much.

We have had a heater and humidifier in her room during the night, perhaps that is helping somewhat.

So, no hospital for now.. maybe this really is the beginning of a new non hospital going Tova!

Nissim has been asking how to sign lots of words as Tova mostly communicates with Auslan (she can hear, but for one reason or another does not talk, well she does say aba, ipad and umbrella). He has been asking how to sign 'Nissim', rather than teach him how to finger spell (which Tova knows how to do) Yuval and I looked up the sign for the meaning of his name in English = Miracles. That is now going to be his sign name. We will show him tonight when he gets home from creche.

Early this morning at about 2.30am I was woken by a croup coughing Tova. However, she was sleeping and didn't seemed stressed.

I let her sleep.

She woke Yuval and I a few more times during the early hours of the morning, but she remained calm and sleeping. Yuval went to work at about 4.30am and was on standby for a call from me telling him to rush home because I was taking Tova to hosptial.

Strangly, I didn't have to make that call.

I let Tova and Nissim sleep until they woke up. Tova first at 8ish and Nissim a while after that.

Tova ate her massive breakfast as she always does and was happy and bright as though nothing was wrong.

Nissim refused to eat toast in the car and insisted on eating a proper breakfast at the table. So we were late to creche. Fair enough.

I was umming and aahhing about taking Tova to creche, but decided that since she was acting completely normal and happy even, it would be mean to keep her home with me. So I took her to creche. I gave them the run down and told them that if they were unsure about anything at all to call me and I would come get her.

I sat by my phone all day waiting and expecting to get a call. I really thought Today would be spent in hospital. But they didn't call.

Tova had a great day at crech as did Nissim at his.

So now we just have to make it through tonight. I wonder what will happen. I have set up the humidfyer and a heater in Tova's room to help avoid croup.

I guess I will go to bed early in case we end up in the stupid hospital all night. Gawd, I shudder just thinking about it. not again... please....

Poor Tova.

We have had a couple of scares with Tova having noisy breathing over the past few days. But it has passed quickly and we haven't needed to go to hospital.

Eating is pretty much the same. Eating heaps, being fed, practicing self feeding.

Drinking is still hard for her. We are trying to get her to close her mouth when she drinks, but it isn't really working. Drinks are a 3 bib event, and usually a change of clothes.

Nissim is being cute as ever. He is a gentle and caring boy who says lots of funny things. Every night after the kids are in bed I think about the things that they said to me during the day. It always makes me laugh. They are so fun and so funny.

We weighed Tova last night. She was 11.1kg.

I hope we don't have to go back to hospital, not sure if I can cope with it again. It is so yuk and so scary every time!

Nissim had a cold a week ago, I got it a few days later, then Tova and now Yuval.

Tova ended up with Croup, in the ambulance, hospital stay overnight and home again the next day.

Need I say more?

Tova's eating is very much the same.

Nissim however has gone on hunger strike, for example, Tova ate 1.5 sausages today and Nissim struggled to eat half of one! This has been going on for over a week. I hope it is just a sickness related issue.