I haven't written for a while because I have been so busy. Last week Lily was hospitalized for three days because she was running a fever and since then I have been struggling to get caught up with work, etc.

Lily's fever lasted less than a day and was low grade, so we weren't too worried. However, she did have low white blood counts that week and extreme fatigue, so we took her in right away to the doctor. The doctors at PCH follow the same protocol for all patients, which is a fever over 100.4 and low counts = hospitalization.

Lily had her first ride in an ambulance from the clinic to the hospital and by the time we got to the hospital, her fever was gone and did not return the whole time we were there. I was so thankful that she was not seriously ill, but also quite frustrated that her doctors did not want to release her until her blood culture came back negative for bacterial infection. I understood their rational: "better to be safe than sorry." However, I tended to disagree with the idea that the hospital is the safest environment for someone in this circumstance (she was obviously not seriously sick). Yes, in the hospital we had direct access to doctors and medication, but we also had direct access to lots of sick people and hospital germs. At the hospital, we also got lack of sleep and unhealthy hospital food, neither of which are good things for someone trying to heal. It is also stressful and depressing to be locked up, indoors without fresh air!

However, in distinct Lily fashion, we tried to make the best of it and look at the bright side of things. There was the play room with lots of games and crafts to do everyday. There were super nice nurses who are willing to give lots of attention. There was plenty of time to lie around watching movies. And there was the fact that Lily felt good enough to enjoy these things! Yes, we are learning more and more that there are so many things to be thankful for no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. J