Apologize for missing so many who have helped this week. Thanks for everything from milk to prayers and everything in between.
Dropped
Lexi off at swimming Friday afternoon. Mike would as usual pick her up on his
way home. Madison was starting dinner and we were waiting for Mike and Lexi to
get home when I received the worst phone call of my life. Mike calmly said "Lexi
and I are in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, she drowned at swimming
but is alert and talking." I instantly grabbed the keys and headed to the hospital on the way out telling Maddy and Jack that Lexi drowned and I was headed to the hospital. Never had I had so much shaking all over my body, not sure how I drove to the hospital. I prayed like I had never prayed before. And then remembered my kids at home were probably in shock just like I was. I called Home and told them to say a prayer and I'd call them later. For some reason, I thought to call
Adrianne Jones. Julie was babysitting for us later that night. Of course she
could sense that something was wrong. Turns out they were by the hospital and
beat me there. When I arrived Mike showed me to Lexi's room. 3 EMT's, so many
nurses and doctors and then I saw my little girl laying on the bed. We both started crying
and I gave her the biggest and longest hug. The nurse saw me and said "this must be Mom." Lex was scared and so was I. But seeing her made me feel a little better. They began to run tests.
The Doctor said when
they received the call that a drowning child was coming in, that those senarios were never a good one. We were so blessed that it turned out the way it was, still scary
but Lexi was okay. They checked her vitals. Took an X-ray of her lungs, her
oxygen was dropping and they were afraid she had water on her lungs. Gave her
an IV, a steroid and antibiotic. She threw up lots of water most likely pool
water. A nice volunteer gave Lexi an owl blanket and a teddy bear. Adrianne called
Steve and Julie. Peter and Mike gave Lexi a
blessing. Doctor said because of her drop of oxygen and possibly a dry drowning and the trauma of the
drowning they would most likely keep her overnight. Turns out because of her
age and condition they felt sending her by ambulance to Primary Children's was
best for her because the RIMC did not have an intensive care unit and they were the best of the best. Okay, she wanted Mom to go with her this time. Only fair, Dad went on the ambulance earlier! My first and hopefully last experience. And Lexi's also. She's even smiling as we prepare to go on the ambulance.
They buckled Lexi up
and away we went in the ambulance. Her 2nd ride of the day! We arrived and
settled into room 3048. Her oxygen was steady so they dropped it to 2 liters
and would continue to drop it throughout the night. She needs to be off oxygen
for 6 hours to be discharged. On the ambulance gave her a stuffed cat. I am starting to see a trend here!
They were pushing off
from the wall to see who could hold their breath the longest. He said they were
supposed to push off, and come up for a breath and swim to wall but instead she
came up, didn't take a breath and then started doing freestyle as fast as she
could. They were not supposed to use arms. He asked Lincoln to tell her to turn
around and stop again when she stopped swimming. She was face down but saw her
arms twitch. He asked Lincoln to grab her all the while thinking what is she
doing? Thinking she was just laying face down looking st the bottom of the
pool. He moved on the other side of the lifeguard chair and noticed she was
sinking and fast. He yelled twice st the lifeguard and then Jumped in. He hit
her and said she was tense but not breathing and had blue lips. He brought her
to the surface and the lifeguard helped her out. She checked for a pulse and
began CPR. Gary did the compressions and two breaths. Lifeguard said no pulse
and was going to start again when Gary saw Lexi's eyes wide open and she put up
one hand. He pushed away the lifeguard and they watched her. She started to
cry. Gary said that was like hearing a new born baby cry it was the best thing.
He told her to keep crying and pulled her towards him and held her.
They waited about 5
minutes for the paramedics to arrive (a police officer did arrive sooner).
They put her on a
stretcher to take her for tests. It was 6 o'clock and Gary was expecting Mike
any minute. Mike said he pulled up the Rec center and saw the ambulances and no
Lexi waiting for him. He ran into an old co-worker. He talked for a bit but said
I need to go find my daughter only to find her waiting and ready for the
ambulance ride. She did not want to go and told them over and over again.
Instead they went together. Gary said it was a good thing Mike was late. I am also glad that I wasn't there. Traumatic just thinking about it.
Bridgit said Gary was
so upset. He gave Lexi a king size Swedish Fish and a stuffed owl. He really was the hero of the night, and so was Chloe the lifeguard.
Friday night, not sure we slept much. Lexi did fall asleep before the visitors left. The nurses came in every 2 hours, I was awake and my mind couldn't sleep. At shift change at 7am, I couldn't go back to sleep and neither could Lex. We ordered breakfast and then had a bath. Waiting for someone to come talk to us about when we could go home.
Her spirits were high, she was her normal self. Loved her new horse, she's showing off his name. She was however getting bored and asked every 5 minutes if she could go home and have her IV removed.
Eager to get us home, Mike was going to show up between basketball games at 11 (Maddy's game started at 1) with all the kids in tow to bring us home, I told him not to come. Still hadn't seen a doctor. The cardiologist came in about 4
and ordered a second EKG and an ECHO for 1.5 hours. She was so bored luckily
they had a movie on. It was long for both of us. ECHO is an ultrasound of the heart, she had to get a reading of all 4 sides. She watched the whole movie the Lorax. It was a long test!
The cardiologist at the ECHO told me they'd like her here til Monday. That was the first I had heard of staying longer we thought we were going home today. Another cardiologist confirmed that about 8:30pm. In her EKG she has a qT lapse. He said it could cause heart failure so they would like to monitor her heart another day, she'd probably have another EKG Sunday and a stress test Monday. If she passed the test he would clear her for exercise, all exercise. They just wanted to rule out everything since she passed out exercising. It's a possibility she just didn't have any breath but there's no way to be sure.
Mike showed up while we were in the ECHO, wish he would have brought me something but he showed up unannounced, probably because I kept telling him not to come. 2 days in same outfit, at least my jeans were comfy to sleep in.
Lexi was tired, it was a long boring day for both of us waiting to go home and then we ended up staying. Dan came to see her, she was brushing her teeth and said "no one came to visit me" I told her it was because we ALL thought she'd be home by now. She was sad she didn't have any visitors. We both slept great that night but did get woken up at 7am at shift change. Oh well!
Saturday nights sleep was much better for both of us. They also moved us to the cardiac floor or surgical unit to be monitored by more heart monitors then the medical unit, I believe it was called telemetry. Really just more stickers on Lexi's belly. The new room is nice and much bigger, we also have a great view of the city. Mike will bring the kids after church.
Sunday, she was given permission to go to the play room, have an EKG and rest. She played lots. There was also a Ronald McDonald Room that people were free to come and go in. It had a fridge that had food that was open to anyone. And almost anytime I went, there was food being served. They also had arts and crafts and candy at the front desk, Lexi loved taking a couple projects to her room.
Abby and Kami came while I was having lunch at the Ronald McDonald house, they kept Lexi company, she loved showing Abby all of her stuff at the hospital. They even colored her back pack.
Alli and Jen also came (Layla wanted to but had a bad cough), Grandma and Grandpa, Can't forget Maddy, Jack and Lilly and Dad! and Coach Goldheart from swim along with his wife and 2 daughters, His daughter, Madison saw Lexi, she was in the next lane over but thought she was just trying to touch the bottom of the pool. Also received a phone call from Lincoln's mother. He was so worried about Lexi, he tried to reach her but she was sinking. It was so neat to hear they had also been praying for Lexi. Angie and Davis Moore came with a white cat and cookies and then cousins and Grandma and Grandpa at the same time. I'm sure I'm forgetting some one. Thank you to all who came to love Lexi and wish her well.
Ashlyn was worried with her arm cuff that the nurses would keep her at the hospital. Lucky for her, she was able to leave with her family!
Julie aka Grandma pulled off my Christmas wish of the season. It's tradition to decorate sugar cookies, I was hoping to do it at home but since we were in the hospital she took care of it! She made the dough before church and then cooked them up after and made frosting and brought all the supplies to decorate them. It brought tears to my eyes. AGAIN! So grateful for a wonderful nurse, who found us a conference room to use so we could all fit. 7 kids and 6 adults, we even went to the Ronald McDonald house for milk following the cookie eating.
Grandma made her day and mine! Not a tradition we want to do again (in the hospital that is) but a great diversion from being stuck at the hospital.
Lexi was so grateful for a hug and love from her siblings.
Mike and the kids left about 6, because Cami Vail and Emily Saddler were bringing dinner over. Josh and Lisa came a little later and she loved looking at their wedding pictures. We found the Sound of Music on TV and sat and watched it, we texted home and they turned it on also. It was almost like a tradition but in two different places. Mike said the house felt empty with us gone.
Yep a little too much free time on our hands!
Monday morning came, it was a different hospital. We had doctors come in early and tell us our schedule. First up was a neurology, they wanted to do an EEG. More stickers with monitors but this time on the brain. Then they wrapped her head up and she had to sit still for an hour. Well not still but sit. Mike also came Monday to spend the day with us. It was so nice of his boss.
She didn't like me taking a picture, this was after the test, she was done sitting still! The EEG wouldn't show if she had a seizure but could show if she was prone to seizures. They told us many different styles of seizures to look for and to use caution as she could have another one. She really wanted a bath because she had lots of goop in her hair, but her stress test was now. We walked across the street via a tunnel over the road to the Eccles Center.
Stress test, they had her warm up by walking (Oh and of course she was hooked up to heart monitors) and then eventually running. She ran for 11 minutes up hill while talking and laughing. During her test, Mike and I had an EKG to see if we also carried the qT lapse gene. The tech, laughed out loud when she did Mike's, it's a children's hospital, she didn't have anything to shave his chest with and apologized up front if he had some hair removed when he pulled off the stickers!
after the tests, we talked with Dr Gamboa the cardiologist who cleared her for all exercise including swimming which she asked if she could go to later that day. Her EKG was normal, he suggested the delay may have been related to passing out. And that our EKG's were also good. We will go in a month and follow up with him again.
After the tests, she ate lunch and then headed to the play room. She did more crafts, played with barbies and meet a girl named LEXI who was back at PC with pneumonia following an open heart surgery she had a week ago. They played barbies, exchanged gifts and shared the same name. When we left, Lexi thought alot about little LEXI. She clearly looked sick, in additon to her heart she had other birth defects. BUT her spirit spoke louder then any defect. She touched LEXI's heart and our Lexi has prayed for her. LEXI was supposed to go home the day after we did.
After playing, Lexi came back to find Santa (and lunch). He gave her a red and green flamingo and visited a long time with Lexi. He mentioned a bunny for Christmas might be a hard thing to do!
I kept Lexi home from school Tuesday, just wanted another day to be with her and keep her under the wing. Lexi and Lilly enjoyed playing the day away, they missed each other. We went to work for a couple hours and then came back home and just spent time together. More visits by neighbors with goodies for Lexi and more tears from me. I guess I am numb still trying to believe all that has happened.
I am so grateful for all the support from family. Brent and Julie helped with the kids Friday and Saturday night and then with cookies on Sunday. Dad was first at PC to support me, Brent for driving up with Mike, Peter for giving a blessing, Julie Jones helped with Lilly on Friday, Jake took Maddy and Jack to the Jazz game (not even knowing what had happened), dinner from Jen on Saturday, Cami and Emily dinner on Sunday, Jessica dinner on Monday, The Richards dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday dinner from Juliana and Claudia and dinner Thursday from Adrianne and Peter and Rachel. More food then we could eat! BUT it will keep us going for the week also. Jen helping with Lilly all day Monday, Juliana on Thursday when I took Lexi to a follow up appointment, Annette for arranging all the meals and of course everyone that has prayed for our family. Lexi is doing great, she like me is still a little emotional at some of the details. For Coach Gary and Life Guard Chloe for being out life savors and not missing a beat. So grateful they reacted so quick and didn't miss a beat! Thank you for everything. The doctors, nurses, techs and staff at Primary Children's hospital. We saw so many sick children and are so grateful we have healthy strong children. My heart is forever grateful at having Lexi. One of my biggest fears is a child drowning ( I have nightmares frequently), I pray this is a one and only experience. No one would ever guess at swim team practice a drowning would occur. I always questioned why lifeguards were watching practice and now am so grateful they are. Thank you for the phone calls and texts and emails and comments on social media. We have felt your love. Family is everything and this is the best Christmas present one could ever want. She's home! Words cannot express how wonderful it is to say that. Thank GOD I can!
Mike showed up while we were in the ECHO, wish he would have brought me something but he showed up unannounced, probably because I kept telling him not to come. 2 days in same outfit, at least my jeans were comfy to sleep in.
Lexi was tired, it was a long boring day for both of us waiting to go home and then we ended up staying. Dan came to see her, she was brushing her teeth and said "no one came to visit me" I told her it was because we ALL thought she'd be home by now. She was sad she didn't have any visitors. We both slept great that night but did get woken up at 7am at shift change. Oh well!
Saturday nights sleep was much better for both of us. They also moved us to the cardiac floor or surgical unit to be monitored by more heart monitors then the medical unit, I believe it was called telemetry. Really just more stickers on Lexi's belly. The new room is nice and much bigger, we also have a great view of the city. Mike will bring the kids after church.
Sunday, she was given permission to go to the play room, have an EKG and rest. She played lots. There was also a Ronald McDonald Room that people were free to come and go in. It had a fridge that had food that was open to anyone. And almost anytime I went, there was food being served. They also had arts and crafts and candy at the front desk, Lexi loved taking a couple projects to her room.
We had lots of time to talk and watch movies and just be with one another. We did say a grateful
prayer with tears in both of our eyes that she was well and to find out if
anything was wrong in the testing they were doing. I received lots of texts from her Mom's friends. I read her a text from Kami /Abby and
Niki/Payton that made us both have tears in our eyes. After church Sunday, my phone beeped nonstop. The texts that came in where so full of love and prayers, we both could feel it.
One of my favorites read "I am sorry to hear about Lexi...all the prayers that were given in Primary that I heard today prayed for her to get well...faith of little children. It was precious!" "My primary class prayed for Lexi today. Hope you come home soon." Another prayer in sacrament and Relief Society were offered as well as many others in homes with friends. I am so grateful for the love felt to us through those prayers. Even though we were still at the hospital our family was blessed. She's in good spirits despite still being here and nothing on the outside being wrong.
Lexi asked the EKG tech if she could help with her test. The nurses also put her to work and let her hook up her monitors each time she got in and out of bed. During an EKG they put 13 sticker monitors on her and then do a 5 second test (at least it felt like 5 seconds). And then all the stickers come off.
Sunday afternoon, Lexi kept getting visitors. And usually they came with gifts and of course love and hugs! Flowers, balloons, stuffed animals, candy canes, candy, money, coloring books but most importantly to show that they loved her. I kept crying today as I had been the whole experience.
Thank you Grandma & Grandpa!
After the tests, she ate lunch and then headed to the play room. She did more crafts, played with barbies and meet a girl named LEXI who was back at PC with pneumonia following an open heart surgery she had a week ago. They played barbies, exchanged gifts and shared the same name. When we left, Lexi thought alot about little LEXI. She clearly looked sick, in additon to her heart she had other birth defects. BUT her spirit spoke louder then any defect. She touched LEXI's heart and our Lexi has prayed for her. LEXI was supposed to go home the day after we did.
The next events I don't remember a specific order: neurology came in and cleared her to go home, they sent us with a list of precautions and orders to follow including no swimming alone or tub baths alone, no climbing trees or tall ladders, the HOME team pediatric unit came and reviewed all the highlights from cardiology and neurology and then discharge from Sam our nurse.
Lexi wanted to remove her own IV. She held her arm like it was broken for 4 days. It was stuck on by lots of sticky tape, after 10 minutes we finally had to hold her down so Cydney could take it out. Scary and this girl is determined to do anything. I wonder if this experience will change her mind on being a vet and being a nurse instead !!
We packed up and left about 4:30pm. WOW, 4 days! Lexi and I were looking forward to sleeping in our own beds, I was looking forward to a shower ( Mike did bring me a change of clothes Sunday which I was SO grateful for) but most of all we were excited to be together as a family! The drive home we were in traffic, we decided to go to swim practice to say hi to her team. Upon pulling in the parking lot, I didn't expect the nerves to hit me. I held her hand as we walked in, they were all excited to see her. She gave Lincoln a high five and thanked him for trying to get her. We arrived home with dinner and the kids to great Lexi. Lilly wanted to see all her toys and Lexi was a little protective of them but did let Lilly play with them. We were so glad to be back home, Mike said it wasn't empty anymore. We had FHE and talked about the weekend. 
I kept Lexi home from school Tuesday, just wanted another day to be with her and keep her under the wing. Lexi and Lilly enjoyed playing the day away, they missed each other. We went to work for a couple hours and then came back home and just spent time together. More visits by neighbors with goodies for Lexi and more tears from me. I guess I am numb still trying to believe all that has happened.
Tuesday night Jack took this picture, Winter Solstice and a beautiful sunset.
I am so grateful for all the support from family. Brent and Julie helped with the kids Friday and Saturday night and then with cookies on Sunday. Dad was first at PC to support me, Brent for driving up with Mike, Peter for giving a blessing, Julie Jones helped with Lilly on Friday, Jake took Maddy and Jack to the Jazz game (not even knowing what had happened), dinner from Jen on Saturday, Cami and Emily dinner on Sunday, Jessica dinner on Monday, The Richards dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday dinner from Juliana and Claudia and dinner Thursday from Adrianne and Peter and Rachel. More food then we could eat! BUT it will keep us going for the week also. Jen helping with Lilly all day Monday, Juliana on Thursday when I took Lexi to a follow up appointment, Annette for arranging all the meals and of course everyone that has prayed for our family. Lexi is doing great, she like me is still a little emotional at some of the details. For Coach Gary and Life Guard Chloe for being out life savors and not missing a beat. So grateful they reacted so quick and didn't miss a beat! Thank you for everything. The doctors, nurses, techs and staff at Primary Children's hospital. We saw so many sick children and are so grateful we have healthy strong children. My heart is forever grateful at having Lexi. One of my biggest fears is a child drowning ( I have nightmares frequently), I pray this is a one and only experience. No one would ever guess at swim team practice a drowning would occur. I always questioned why lifeguards were watching practice and now am so grateful they are. Thank you for the phone calls and texts and emails and comments on social media. We have felt your love. Family is everything and this is the best Christmas present one could ever want. She's home! Words cannot express how wonderful it is to say that. Thank GOD I can!
