We had a scare with Kayla as she came down with viral menigitis. Luckily it wasn't bacterial meningitis as that could have been much worse. As it was we had to spend a few days in the hospital. Kayla was very wary of the nurses as they seemed to either have a needle, rectal thermometer or other torture device. Here with mom she is keeping a look out for any armed nurses.

This was by far the sickest she had ever been. She had not been sleeping well and then came down with a fever and a rash and did not want to be put down.

Bobbie took her to the doctor on Friday and the doctor sent her by ambulance to the hospital. There she had a spinal tap during which she screamed bloody murder. Very hard to see your daughter that upset, sick and scared. The spinal tap confirmed the meningitis but it would take 48 hours for test results to see if she had the bacterial or viral variety.

Based on how she was doing the doctors were very optimistic that she would just have viral meningitis. Not long after the spinal tap Kayla started to perk back up as the tap relieved some of the pressure in her head. She even had some formula at that point, though she would refuse it later that night. She didn't sleep well that night and we had to hold her most of the night.

She still refused her food in the morning but finally just before noon and just before they were going to put her on an IV for fluids she decided to eat again. Not a full bottle but enough where they didn't need to give her the IV. She steadliy improved and the 24 hour preliminary results showed no sign of bacterial meningitis. That night she slept much better. Sunday morning she was looking even better and the doctor thought she might be able to be released that night if the test results came back negative.


Unfortunately her fever started to creep back up again. Most likely it was always there but masked by the Tylenol she had been taking - that morning she had stopped the Tylenol as the fever seemed to be gone and she was in good spirits. Because of this they decided it was a good idea to keep her overnight just as a precaution. The last reading of the bacterial cultures was put off until the morning as well.
That night she slept well, though three days sleeping in a chair were not doing great things for Dad's back. Her cultures came back negative and her fever was gone. The doctor gave the OK and we were released. She was very happy when we got home though she was very worn out and slept lots that day. Dad and Mom are looking forward to sleeping a long night in their own bed.

Kayla's Grandma Sue came to visit from Colorado and Kayla got to play hookey from daycare. They had lots of fun playing and going out for walks.

Grandmas's visit included February 14th, so they also got to spend Valentines Day together.