ERs, DRs, and RAD

Wow our kids go to the doctors' a lot. It's never anything major (knock on wood), but still between Ry's visits to the allergist, Sophie's visits to the orthopod, a few E.R. visits here and there, and all the routine checkups, we are no strangers to the health care system.

Saturday Ry had a normal cold. Towards the evening her breathing started to get a little fast and wheezy, but this is pretty typical for her when she's sick. We finally called the nurse line when she started grunting after each breath and were advised to call an ambulance. That seemed like a big waste of money for everyone so instead we drove the one mile to the nearest hospital.

Diagnosis -she has Bronchiolitis and something called Reactive Airway Disease (RAD). Meaning if she gets a virus it can trigger her airways to tighten making it difficult for her to get enough oxygen. This causes the wheezing, fast breathing, and her colds to last for weeks (What? That's not normal...good job mom of the year). They admitted us for two nights, gave her oxygen and a bunch of Nebulizers, and told us to see a respiratory specialist (that makes three specialists for the McMinn girls).

Times like these we are so grateful to have awesome friends. We lured the McDonoughs to our house Saturday evening with the promise of dinner and games, and instead left them with Sophie and a bunch of under cooked chicken. Please still be our friends.