We took Carmen to the ER last night. After 3 doses of Augmentin for ear infections, she broke out in a rash from head to toe, literally covered in spots. Her breathing was more labored than usual and then her oxygen went down. I gave her oxygen but her levels stayed low. I called Alice, a nurse I know from church, and she came over. She felt that Carmen needed to be seen so we took her to the ER and she was admitted. Hopefully, she will get to come home tomorrow. She is doing much better today after IV antibiotics, a ton of nebulizer treatments and oxygen.

We really hope to be able to keep Carmen home and out of the hospital. I am going to talk to her doctors about getting everything possible in our home so that we can treat problems as they occur and avoid ER visits! Dave especially is concerned that all the hospital visits are unfair to Carmen- she gets poked and prodded and kept awake. And, it’s so hard on Lauren to have me gone.

One funny thing that happened in the hospital: we were waiting in the ER and a receptionist found us and said that a lady named Shar from Church of the Redeemer was on the phone for me. I thought, “How could Shar have possibly known we are at the emergency room?!” I asked and Shar said that she called our house and we weren’t there so she tried the hospital and there we were! Shar and Rick came up to the hospital and then Shar stayed with Carmen and me until 3am! Thank you so very much, Shar. You did NOT have to do that and I did keep trying to send you home. But, it was wonderful to have company and I enjoyed our talks!

Please keep Carmen in your prayers. We hope she is home ASAP.