Fair Fun gone wrong

So after our fabulous time at the Utah State Fair we enjoyed a couple of quiet days adjusting to life with two students and a baby's changing nap schedule. Then things got a little ugly. Ruby got sick on Tuesday, but was such a little trooper. We were not alarmed until Friday. After a Trip to the Pediatrician's and the E.R. for her, Ella decided to get in on the action. She got sick with a vengeance. After a day and a half of nonstop trips to the bathroom, Mom got fed up and took her to the E.R After a short conversation they pretty much nailed what was going on. The culprit EColi, although it would be another day before we had concrete evidence.

Wow, where do you pickup Ecoli? Oh Cows carry it?! REALLY?!!! Apparently cows are common carriers, although you do have to ingest the germs to actually contract this bacterial infection. So if you happen to have contact with a cow and then you don't wash your hands and say eat something or just suck on your fingers, Voila, EColi! And since Dad was oblivious to the many signs directing everyone to wash up, it's not a real surprise. Mom knew better, too, but hey what's a few germs? It doesn't help that it is actually one of the more infectious intestinal diseases, it takes a fraction of the germ spores to infect compared to "regular" bacterial infections.

Ella got an overnight stay in the Rapid Treatment Unit, she thought it was almost as good as staying in a hotel. All I know is that I walked in with a child writhing in pain and crying for help, and by bed time our Ella emerged. Dancing around next to her bed and eager to explore the toys outside her door, she thought it was all fun and games. Gratefully, for all of us, that was all she needed. She was back at school two days later.

The discharging Doc was anxious to have us understand what they had discovered and what it meant for Ella and Ruby. Oh, how bad could that be - they seem fine! The strain they had contracted was the worst kind to get - the same kind that got dished up in the big spinach epidemic - cows pooping in the irrigation water. It can cause a syndrome called Hemolytik Uremik Syndrome and can wreck havoc on Kidneys and cause you to attack your own blood cells. OH POSH - we are sooo fine NOW! It was so nice to get everyone under one roof, even one night in the hospital is one too many.

Here are a couple of highlights Ella Shared while we sat in a hospital room together.

"Mom, why are we staying in this life, i like being Chinese people." Hands up in an I don't know sort of shrug.

After a day of IVs and E.R.'s, just before drifting off to sleep. "Mom, today was fun."

"Wow mom, I am so much better feeling! Can I go to school today?" said in her best enthusiastic voice, and with an I.V. dripping into her little vein.

"Mom, my best invention is LOVE." how do you ever top that one?