October 15th - Day 7

Chloe is still running fevers and unfortunately for her, every time she is febrile the physicians need to draw blood from her to be sent for blood cultures. For those of you who haven't seen her....she's a pretty chunky (well fed) baby. The residents usually require two to three sticks before they can draw sufficient blood. Just as an fyi - when we first admitted her a week ago, the ER staff attempted to stick her well over 20 times to start an IV. I'm sure the fact that she was in a septic shock didn't help the situation.

Today the team here is attempting to rule out all possible factors which may be contributing to her daily fevers. Number one: remove foley catheter. Chloe is finally looking like herself again now that she's lost all that water weight from the fluids/blood products she's received since being admitted. And number two: change/replace her arterial and central venous line because they have been in place now for a week. Not exactly an easy task since she's such a chunky monkey. We're hopeful that by doing so this will rule out or discover the cause of her fever.

As for Olivia, our oldest daughter, it's been a difficult week for her as well. I'm sure even at the age of 3 she knows something is not right. It's sad knowing that she associates Chloe's hospital as the "spinning door" because there is a revolving door at the entrance of the hospital. She's been to the hospital everyday since Chloe has been admitted but has yet to see her. Olivia asks about Chloe often only to hear the same reply, "Chloe is in the hospital because she's not feeling well." We attempt to keep Olivia's schedule as routine as possible but as you can imagine is very difficult. Michelle and I have not slept at home together for the past week because we have either been both sleeping at the hospital or rotating who stays overnight with Chloe.

So, the roller coaster ride continues for Chloe as do the highs and lows that we experience throughout the course of a day. We constantly rack our brain thinking if there was anything we could have possibly done differently to prevent this. Alas, we're met with the same answer from all the doctors with whom we speak, "No."

Once again, thanks to all who keep us in their prayers.

Rethier, Michelle, Olivia & Chloe