smola09's mom said:
Where is everyone?? Did you all get lost on another thread??
This is the reason that I haven't been online this week ----
Tuesday afternoon Claire (4 and very small -- 29lbs) was helping me wash the car. She got mud on her feet and wanted them cleaned off. I went to get the hose and while I turned around she went inside. I asked Brian where she was at and he told me that she went inside --- my first thought was *My floors were just mopped yesterday and I didn't want her tracking mud all through the house* As soon as I stepped in the doorway I heard the crash......
I ran to the downstairs bathroom (a very small half bath) and she had fallen off the counter and landed on the side of her head. I called Jon and then had her sit next to me for a little bit to make sure she was OK. After about 30 - 45 mintues she started vomiting, ALOT. I called back Jon (he works less then 10min from our house) and he came home. We tok her to the ER where they did a CT scan. The worst feeling of our lives came when the Dr came in a few minutes later and said *We've arranged for a transfer by ambulance to Cooks Children's Hospital where they have Pediatric Nerousurgens that can help Claire.*
I wanted to be sick.......... She had fractured her skull and had blood on her brain. Those of you that have known me when I was pg with Claire know I have had the opportunity for a few sinking feelings! Starting when I was about 6 or 7 months pg with her. I figure God has something really wonderful in mind for her! And I can't (can) wait to see what that is!
Claire and I took our first Ambulance ride (and hopefully our last). After reveiwing her CT scan the Pediatric Nerousurgen decided to do another one the next morning (we already knew Claire was going to be admitted). They hooked her up to all kinds of machines and an IV. Gave her some medicene in her IV to stop her from vomitting -- she had been vomitting for hours now.
SHe slept lots during this time and when she was awake she was crying because her head hurt, she wanted to go home or she was scared.

They would only give her tylenol for the pain -- they don't want to *mask* something more serious that may happen.
Jill & Karen came to the Children's hospital aroun 9 or 10 Tuesday night. Jill brought water from Loudes with her to bless Claire.

I hope they know how much I appreciated them doing this! They arrived right when my mom & brother were getting ready to leave and I would have been alone until my sister & nephew arrived -- at this time I didn't realize my sister was coming up that night.
Jon needed to stay home with Brian (he's 8) so, that he wouldn't be too scared. Katherine came straight to our house Tuesday night and stayed with her dad & siblings. Michael (our 26 yr old) came by for a little bit -- he is NOT a good person to have around during a crisis.

He gets too emotional -- like his daddy.

My sister said one of the reasons she & Andrew came up immediately was because Jon could hardly stop crying when he called her.
My mom and one of my brothers arrived at the hospital very soon after us. Jon had called my sister (she lives about 3 hrs away). Her and one of my nephews (21) drove up as soon as they heard. My dad is out of town working (around 10hrs South) so, I told him to stay there and I would keep him posted.
My sister and nephew stayed with us at the Hospital from late Tuesday night (nidnight) until Claire was discharged around 5 -5:30pm on Wednesday.
Claire had her 2nd CT scan Wednesday morning (at 6:30 am!). It showed she still had a little blood but, it looked like it was starting to be absorbed and that was when we were told about the bruising on the opposite side of the brain.
That was when we were told that they had decided against surgery -- YEA!!!!!!!!! BUT, they would need to see her improve before they could release her. Lots of prayers got her through all of this.
She slept for most of Wednesday. She did wake up and talked NONSTOP when her dad, sisters & brother got there.

That was the first that she had talked without crying since it happened. My sister and I did notice that whenever someone brought her gifts she would smile really big for them --- she never smiled for her and i but, we didn't have any gifts.
From about 1pm to 3pm she slept really good -- even with a room full of people talking the entire time! LOL! And when she woke up it was the difference between night and day. SHe had impoved a huge amount.
The nurousurgen's asst. came in around 4pm and was very pleased at the difference. She still hadn't drank but, a sip or two BUT, I promised the Dr that I would be very diligent on keeping an eye on claire if they would let her come home (at this point they were very pleased with her improvement).
She was allowed to leave the hospital last night around 5:30.
One of the tough things is going to be keeping Claire from playing hard over the next 3 wks.

She's not going to be allowed to do very many of the things that she loves.

Those of you that know Claire can uderstand how difficult this is going to be for us! LOL!
Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes.
Stephanie in Arlington