She doesn't look sick, does she?

Then.

Now.

We have the top picture in a collage frame here at the house. As soon as KayTar was all hooked up in the ER she said, "Take my picture! Like in the frame at OUR house!" It kind of made me chuckle that she both remember the photo and the situation and place we were in when I took it. I had to make due with my pitiful camera phone, though.

In both photos, she is very dehydrated and her glucose levels are in the toilet. Most kids look like death warmed over. She? Looks like she was probably just jumping on the gurney. And she probably was. It just doesn't effect her the way it affects a typical kiddo. She continues to look well enough on exam, even when she's in a bit of trouble internally. Of course, I explained it to the nurses and doctors, but they still always look shocked when they get the labs back and compare them to her cheerful demeanor.

It's funny, after comparing the photos I realized she is wearing pig jammies both times. It makes me think maybe I should just stop buying pig pajamas. Bad juju.

She is such a different kid now than she was then, though. She was almost completely nonverbal then, she largely signed, sometimes in conjunction with sounds. She was not quiet for a MINUTE this time. I felt horrible for our roommates in the ER because of the constant chatter and party-like attitude. Their little poor baby was getting cathed and having blood drawn and my kid sounded like she was trying to gurney surf and throw a house party, despite her pitiful status. On the way to our new room the transporter said, "She sure has a lot to say, doesn't she?" because she commented on everything. "Oh, I like those stairs. Look an elevator. It is BIG. Number! Buttons! Look at the window. We're in the CITY. I love the town and city, Mommy. Where are my shoes? Look at your pretty shirt! I have my blankey. And bunny. Look at the floor. The wall is blue! Oh! Fishies! Look, Mommy, look! Are we going up? Are we walking? We're walking, Mommy! I see that sign! Are you carrying me? Is that my I-B? Look at my straw, in my hand. My hand is very DRINKY. It likes to have water in a straw. Mmmmm, so good water. In my hand!" and so on. And on. And on and on and on and on and on and on.

While we were in the hospital, she pretended that her IV arm was her "power hand" and we would bump fists and she would then shout things like "Power! YOU ARE A FIRE BREATHING DRAGON!" and then I'd have to be a fire-breathing dragon or a dinosaur or rocket ship. She only liked to bump fists with my left hand, though, because that is that hand with the "power gem" (my wedding ring). I accidentally used my right hand once and she said, "NO! IT DOESN'T WORK! USE YOUR POWER GEM! YOUR POWER GEM!" How could I make such a SERIOUS mistake?! They are going to take away my superhero license for sure if I pull that again.

I think that she's going to be just fine. The illness itself has passed. Yesterday she had spotty diapers and intake, but it was good enough. I expect today to be even better. WHEW. She surely keeps us on the edge of our seats, this rollercoaster ride of a child we've got.