and then on top of everything else...

First of all, apologies for not posting in awhile.

Secondly, there is an explanation for this...and of course the header of this post will make a bit more sense.

As posted previously, Autumn has had an eye infection (now for about three weeks) and it was initially diagnosed as periorbital cellulitis. During this time, and after four visits to the pediatrician later, it was suggested that the bumps that formed around the eye might be herpes (type 1) blisters...or for lack of a better description..."cold sores". Cold sores are basically caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1. Type 2 is the STD version. So on the forth visit to the pediatrician, it was strongly suggested that we get her into a pediatric opthamologist as soon as possible. This day would be Tuesday the 20th as it was that morning I had gotten her scheduled (barely) to see the P.O. which happens to be on the other side of town from us. I took that day off to take her in. That morning I woke up feeling a bit off...had some 'intestinal' issues and at one point felt alittle nauseaus...but I felt okay enough I thought to get going. Basically by the time I got down to the PO's office and checked in, I felt horrible. I called G at work and told her she needed to come down to the doctor's office because I didn't know if I was going to be able to manage Autumn or the rest of the appointment.

Good thing I did and good thing she left work and came down because within about 15 minutes I was in bad shape. I was throwing up, etc, and by the time G arrived I had gotten me and AR to the reception area and I ended up on the floor throwing up and short of breath to the point of where I started hyperventilating. Long story short, I ended up being taken from the doctor's office by EMTs and to the ER of the hospital which luckily was the next building over. I was released Thursday early afternoon. I apparently got hit by a nasty nasty intestinal virus or bacteria...the docs didn't know exactly which honestly...and basically my electrolytes, phosphates, and other related "levels" had bottomed out. I'm luckily feeling lots better now, but can't eat anything but bland food for almost a week.

Autumn did so wonderfully though. She didn't fuss and sat fairly quietly next to me the whole time at the doctor's office while I was 'being sick' until G arrived. She did well in the ER while they were there with me as well. The next day they both visited me in the hospital which made me feel really good.

So...Autumn had contracted Herpes Simplex Eye Disease. What was found was that she had two "cold sores" on the cornea of her eye, scarring of the cornea, and a mild ulceration. Luckily...very luckily, the antiviral eye drops and the oral antibiotics started kicking HSV ass and Thursday's follow up appointment proved to be positive. She got taken off the antiviral eye drops and her oral medicine increased in dosage. She has an ointment now that goes in her eye as such to coat it and the P.O. says that after she's done with the pre-requisite days of medicine they'll put her on a steroidal eye drop which will heal up the corneal scarring. Her eye looks incredibly much better in just the short time since Tuesday's appointment. And there will be no eye surgery or anything more dramatic involved...which I had worried about. WHEW!

So this last week has been a weird and trying week. But we got through it. The two last things I have to say about this last week is that one, G was amazing at how she handled everything and how she was able to single handedly administer eye drops and such to AR. She went into super-mom and super-wife mode and had everything handled...even this past couple of days since I've been home since I'm still recovering to an extent.

And finally, and as I suspected, there's probably not a greater feeling in the world than to have your little girl see you after essentially being away for two and a half days and come to you with a big smile on her face. Picking her up and having her give you a big long hug all the while going "mmmhhh....mmmhhh....mmmhhh..." because she missed you terribly. And yes, I got alittle verklempt. :)