Gremlin’s Fireside Chat

There are some events in anyones life that makes one stand back and scrutinize life, the universe and everything because you find you need a new or updated perspective on life and what is and is not important. I had one of these this week.

It all started on Wednesday afternoon towards the end of a busy software drop cycle with a call from my wife; “Don’t worry” she said, “The crèche has called me to collect Maeve because she is not herself, and is running a temperature and has a small rash”. My wife went on to inform me that could I work from home on Thursday since the crèche won’t accept Maeve for two days because of if. “No Problem” I said, and the call ended there.

An hour latter I get another call from my Wife. “I took Maeve to the Doctor, and the first Doctor – not our regular GP – called the regular GP in for a second opinion and after examination said they were going to call an Ambulance because Maeve may have Meningitis; they have given Maeve something to bring down her temperature and started a course of Antibiotics”.

This of course shocked me to the core – our little Maeve may have a life threatening illness!!! – I was filled with dread and fear. My “Tweets” on the way to the hospital by train I suppose say it all:

“Doctor assuming worse case scenario of Meningitis – Needless to say we are worried. Making way to hospital and worried; Pray it’s nothing”

“feeling empty. Need to see Maeve and my wife – I love them both more than I can say”

“at Sandymount dart station – won’t this train go any faster!”

“at Landsdowne road – three stops to go. Need to keep my mind distracted”

“At grand canal dock – or should that be google Ireland. Two to go”

“at Pearce station and the wet weather matches my mood”

“At Tara street dart station and time to get off”

“at children’s hospital in A&E. Wife and Maeve in with consultant before I arrived. Will have to wait….10 green bottles standing on the wall”

“Maeve admitted to hospital after ambulance dash through rush hour traffic. Doc’s think viral infection rather than meningitis.”

I finally managed to get to the temple street children’s hospital and wait for 30 minutes till the consultant A&E doctor had a look at Maeve and I could go to the bed in A&E where they were – this was around 20:00 hours. My wife looked pale and tired, Maeve also and apparently it took four attempts till they could get enough blood from which to run tests upon. Maeve was naked apart from the nappy, not because the ward was hot (it was warm) but to help keep her temperature down. Near her left elbow Maeve had an IV point taped up in case the doctors needed to feed her, take more blood or give her medication.

We waited in A&E until 23:00, with the Nurses checking on Maeve from time to time predominately taking her temperature – which was high.

Maeve was given an isolation room in a public children’s ward. Which had a TV, a couple of chairs a sink and a folding plastic/form mattress which we could sleep upon.
During the first night the medical team came in (around 4am) and said that on consideration and the rash they were going to perform a lumbar punch. They had to hold a screaming and squirming Maeve down whilst the doctor performed their third lumber punch of the shift.

Mercifully the test came back as negative for meningitis, but that left the infection as “a n other virus”. The medical team – whom we have nothing but praise for – said that they would keep Maeve in for a second night and if things were looking as good as signs were showing and the initial blood tests came back on Friday as clear then they would release her either Friday or Monday (lab for some reason does not work Saturday or Sunday).

Late Thursday afternoon Maeve started to show signs of her “normal” colours – energy coming back, inquisitiveness and independence of spirit.

Friday the blood tests came back OK and were were out of the hospital after thanking everyone – which was good since by this time Maeve was bored with the new environment and wanted to leave the isolation room.

We would like to thank everyone for their call’s and support – very much appreciated and needed when you are torturing yourself over what maybe or what could have been.

I would like to take this opportunity to say sorry to my sister for worrying her. We were up visiting her a couple of days before Maeve fell ill, so I thought it important to tell her what was happening – just in case her children (one only 11 weeks old and therefore no jabs) showed any sign.

Thanks be to God it turned out to be a fuss over relatively nothing.

I have finally shaken what is commonly referred to as “the post holiday blues” and back in the harness of research and development. The memory of days baked in sunshine amongst fantastic mountain views are now but fond memories – although I am far from missing the swarm of mosquito’s who took me as a nice source of food.

Maeve progress has been sustained and steady. New words she understands are coming out thick and fast – yesterday it was “night, night” when she went to bed; and “mine”, “no way” and “go away” are in everyday use. Maeve is an independently spirited girl who loves to do things for herself. For example its almost impossible to put her in her travel seat and strap her in. You have to let her climb into the car and into the seat before she will allow you to strap her in.

Maeve tantrums have increased as expected – especially if she does not get her way.. hopefully the terrible twos won’t last for long. Things have improved somewhat by ensuring that she maintains her old routine by getting to bed by 9pm so she can get a good nights sleep before she awakes at 6am.

We started our family Bavarian holiday by flying out on the Dublin on Wednesday morning at 07:20 and after a couple of hours flight we arrived in Munich. Hiring a VW car from Hertz took an hour and the next time we come we will not use hertz since all the other providers had no queues. We are based in beautiful Bavarian town of Murnau.

Today we visited Neuschwanstein Castle and the beautiful rococo church at wieskirche. The castle is beautiful with fabulous views but is smaller than I expected but the whole thing is a tourist trap. The church is in the middle of no-where, a UNESCO heritage site and absolutely draw dropping.

Maeve is having a great time. One new skill Maeve has learnt is to ‘chink her beaker’ in a toast when our we offer. Civilized is what our daughter has become.

Fortunately Maeve has recovered from her virus and is back in the creche. Every day I notice new things about Maeve – like for example she can feed herself with spoon and fork. Her baby babble has increased a lot both in its range and its diversity; Maeve also tries to copy what you say. Maeve can also hold a pen in the right way for writing – as in how an adult would hold it and not like a crayon in her fist. Fine motor controls there daughter.

Maeve gave me her first “proper” kiss today – any by proper she pursed/puckered up her lips before kissing me good morning. Bernie explained that the creche had told her that Maeve was a part of a group of three girls (all who moved up to a bigger class together) were seen by the creche staff hugging each other and kissing – all very innocent and sweet for the smutty minded amongst you.

Today we spent visiting grandma, my sister and the Aoife the new born baby.

Maeve has contracted some unspecified viral infection (according to the Doctor); Maeve is running a temperature and has started having a rash. Today we know where she contracted it from and that poor baby has had it for a week and still out of the creche; This means that Maeve will be out for the week – causing chaos in her working mom and dads professional lives.

Yesterday her mom worked from home, today I did it.

Maeves has been pretty good. Her temperature varies between hot and normal. When she is “hot” she is thirsty and drinks a lot of fluid then falls asleep for an hour or so. When her temperature decreases she is back to her boisterous self happy and laughing. But its still a lot of work.

This evening, Maeve definitely threw her first temper tantrum. It came about after we gave her some chocolate and as with children it becomes caked all over her face and hands; at this point Maeve went to my wife for some comfort and cuddles – and the lovely lady my wife is, she provided; Only to become covered in chocolate slime. My wife was naturally unhappy at this and put Maeve down. Maeve came over to me and I said “don’t come to be me with that chocolate face” – and which she wailed and howled in an obvious tantrum, in her mind rejected by both her parents; Maeve stomped off into into her toy room and we saw her throwing her toys across the room and upturned her table howling her little head off.

Took ages to calm her down.